Visiting North Plainfield High School: 4 Days in December a Review

By Skip Pulcrano
Coach: North Plainfield Cheerleaders
North Plainfield, New Jersey

The days December 2-6, were incredible – educational – heartwarming – touching - connecting – emotional – at times painful yet joyous – tense and peaceful. In a word, they were remarkable. How quickly those four days passed – how short they now seem, yet they were nothing short of inspirational.

It was an experience like no other I have ever encountered, and I am sure it was the same for many others.

Watching you hold the attention and go beyond the point of captivating close to a thousand high school students was "a level of difficulty" so beautifully mastered. It was a teaching moment, a learning moment, with a special connection that only those with a special gift can achieve.

If I did not see it, hear it, and feel it, I would not believe that anyone could keep the attention of teenagers for more than an hour.  “Doc 05” did it methodically, masterfully and purposefully with messages of affirmation, hope and selfless service to others.

There was an awesome glow that filled North Plainfield High School and the community of North Plainfield on those days – a glow surrounding, a documentary that captured feelings and emotions on many different levels – a creative masterpiece of love and caring, graced by the genuine love and caring that came out of this piece, which also reflects the genuine love and caring that went into the production of "Shanksville PA: A Place of Transformation."

“Emily’s Legacy," the film about Emily Perez, the incredible passion with which you told her story with the heartfelt words of four North Plainfield students – her parents being there Tuesday evening – the special meaning of courage, patriotism, honor, self motivation of Emily and her family – what a wonderful gift to share with the students and community of North Plainfield – what power, what class, what inspiration.

Your tradition of giving gifts at the end of each premiere is so special and touching. But the gifts you have given my students that pour out of your documentaries and heart are lifetime treasures that surpass any other gifts they will ever receive wrapped in paper and tied with a bow.

Your paper is love and your bow is caring – gifts so precious.

A special note of congratulations to Tony and Kitch for having December 6th forever assigned to be "Your Special Day" by proclamation of the mayor – an honor earned with dedication and so richly deserved because of your service to our school and its students.  

And a most special feeling of gratitude to Joanne Biviano, The NPHS Chorus and the NPHS JROTC Color Guard, the creative talents and dedication of Tom Mazur and all who added to their creative contributions to a most memorable event and gift to our students, school and community.

And -  "Gratitude Beyond Gratitude" to Tony & Kitch Mussari for capturing America on its best day for four days in December here in North Plainfield New Jersey.

Searching for the Face of America

Film maker’s visit to classroom makes a positive impression on students

By Leigh Ann Schoffstall and Patrick Wesley, Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville, MD

On October 5, 2011, the MCOM/HIST 150 “Movies: History and Art” class had the pleasure of meeting with a prominent documentary filmmaker, Dr. Tony Mussari. Dr. Mussari, the former chairperson of the Mass Communications department at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, has been documenting the lives of others for more than 30 years. He was invited to speak to the class by the instructor, and his former student, Dr. Rick Ostopowicz (affectionately known as “Dr. O.” by the students).

It was just like any other night in the movie history class, only because Dr. O.’s class is anything but typical. Reflecting on that evening, students could tell that Dr. Mussari was very passionate about his profession. As he began to speak about his background, credentials, and his current and most significant task to date—another documentary in his “What is America?” film series, it was clear that this man is filled with wisdom and experience. He was willing to share his most life altering project with a class of diversely opinionated students. The project that is precious to him has spanned the last ten years.

Over a decade ago, Dr. Mussari decided that, instead of a Mercedes Benz or a month long European vacation, he would invest in a camera that he and his wife, Kitch, would use—along with their determination—to find the true face of America. Their dream and passion came through brilliantly in their latest documentary, where they capture for eternity the events that took place in the sky and on the ground in Shanksville, Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001. In the film, Dr. Mussari showcased high school students as they visited the 9/11 Shanksville memorial. Together, through this great loss many years ago, they attempt to find peace, solace, and some answers about the qualities of togetherness.

The remnants of 9/11 have a special place in the hearts of every American. More specifically, Flight 93 has a deep attachment with Dr. Mussari—so deep that he has spent 10 years of his life devoted to telling the stories of all the lives affected, rather than following the path of other film makers that just told the stories of the victims’ families. In the final documentary of the series, screened for the class, Dr. Mussari followed the North Plainfield New Jersey high school cheerleaders during their two-day experience of visiting the site of the Flight 93 crash, meeting the townspeople, and hearing the stories from the Shanksville perspective. It was very moving, as Dr. Mussari was able to capture the realism and make you feel like you were there. Additionally, the students shared their thoughts about what it means to be an American.

The culturally diverse group gave honest and compelling thoughts and feelings that were honest and hopeful.

After the screening, Dr. Mussari graciously welcomed comments and critiques. Most students commented on particular points of the film, such as how it highlighted the diversity of the students. It was so interesting for a class of about 15-20 students to watch the same film yet have such different views. A lengthy conversation after the film found many emotions floating on the surface. Like any great documentary, Dr. Mussari’s work gets emotional reactions in many forms. “This is the greatest compliment anyone could ever pay me,” said Mussari, who sees his passion crossing over into the minds and hearts of his audience. This latest documentary in his series made its viewers emotional like a famous painting or a timeless song.

At the end of class, Dr. Mussari had a surprise for the students and professor. Through his film series, he met Joanne Galvin, the woman who created the national 9/11 remembrance flag. Dr. Mussari explained that for the last few years, he was given the opportunity to pass along this flag as a reminder of the sacrifices that were made on that fateful day, as well as to display his gratitude for people sharing in his film making experiences. To that end, he presented the class and CCBC with this momentous flag. It was an honor to be a part of the presentation, as the flag is a tangible representation of how Americans will never forget the events of that day.

In our time together, Dr. Mussari did a lot of talking about the heroes of flight 93. These heroes gave their lives to protect the innocent, but we must not forget that heroes walk among us every day. Perhaps people who spend a large parcel of their lives and completely fund projects like this documentary could be considered heroes in their own right.

Most of us would never take on a project for 10 years. Yet, Dr. Mussari did, and he did it with pride and excitement. His goal to help us never forget the stories of Flight 93 and lives that were impacted in that small town rang true for the CCBC students. His work and words made us realize that we can all reach a little higher.

A Return to a Simpler Era

A Review of “Shanksville, PA: A Place of Transformation”

Dr. Rick Ostopowicz, Adjunct Professor—Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville, MD

We live in a digital age, where people have shorter attention spans and, therefore, need information in a much quicker and visually stimulating manner. In response to this need, documentary filmmaking has, in many instances, resorted to using “shock value” in order to keep viewers engaged. Fast-paced graphics, alarming images, and staggering sound bites are all too abundant in today’s documentary films, as filmmakers see a need to overwhelm the viewers’ senses in order to draw in the audience and get the message across.

Thankfully, however, there are still filmmakers that don’t see the need to rely on such “visual junk food,” instead using a minimalistic approach to tell a story with heart, conviction, and emotion. Through the film “Shanksville, PA: A Place of Transformation,” Mussari-Loftus Productions resonates the spirit of the small-town setting—simple, slower-paced, peaceful, heartwarming—in order to tell the story of America through the eyes of young people.

The film tells the story of the small Pennsylvania town that was changed forever on September 11, 2001, when United Flight 93 crashed into a field during the terrorist attacks that stunned the nation. In the annals of history, Shanksville gets very little attention in recounting the details of that fateful day; after all, the death toll was much less than in New York, and the crash site was much less prominent than the Pentagon. However, for the people of Shanksville, “9/11” marked a turning point for the small town—from disaster, shock, and sadness came hope, inspiration, community, and thankfulness.

In the latest film of their What Is America? series, Tony and Kitch Mussari follow the cheerleading squad of North Plainfield (NJ) High School as the students visit the Shanksville memorial site. Featuring young people with diverse cultural backgrounds sets apart the mood and tone for the film in contrast with other 9/11 documentaries; while many look back upon the events of that day with a somber mood, the Shanksville film uses the plane crash as the springboard from which hope and thankfulness leap forth.

As each member of the squad is interviewed, the viewer gets two distinct messages: reflection on 9/11 through the eyes of people that were very young when the events took place, and the view of the “next generation” about what the future holds. Each interview moves the viewer in a different way—for example, one student talks about being the daughter of immigrants, stating how she is her parents’ “gift to America.” Another discusses her desire to be a neurologist and the negative feedback she has received for wanting to pursue that academic and professional route. Meanwhile, a Flight 93 Ambassador  discusses the importance of Shanksville in the overall tome of 9/11—a small town that has opened its hearts and hearths to bring so many diverse people together in remembrance and reflection.

Intertwined with the interviews are sound bites from 9/11 and Flight 93 that allow the viewer to feel the raw emotion of that day as air traffic controllers and passengers struggled against the sheer gravity of the hijacking and crash. Also, Shanksville residents are able to provide their reflections of 9/11 and its aftermath, also demonstrating a solid state of reflection, remembrance, and optimism.

In just under an hour, “Shanksville, PA: A Place of Transformation” takes the viewer on an emotional roller coaster ride using nothing more than raw emotion, moving imagery, touching music, and intricate storytelling. With no tricks, no gimmicks, and no “lowest common denominator” shock value, the Mussaris show that a documentary does not need to lower its standards—and the standards of the viewer—in order to be effective and moving. In fact, by taking a different route that avoids showing explosions, bodies falling from buildings, and other sensationalist items, the Shanksville film gives the viewer wide interpretation of the meaning of 9/11, allowing one’s personal reflections to guide the thoughts about that day. Instead, we all see the unity and spirit of hope born from that faithful day, as told through the eyes of both the young and the “young at heart.”

All told, the Shanksville piece takes the viewer to a place very similar to the small Pennsylvania town in which it was filmed—a simpler place and time where people can get away from the distractions and shock of “modern” society to reflect, remember, and renew their spirits.
###

Shanksville, PA: A Place of Transformation

A Review by Tom Mazur

Tony Mussari has captured on film the essence of how 9/11 has transformed the America of today.

Reverently telling the story of the brave passengers of Flight 93, who prevented further tragedy on September 11, 2001, by forcing their high-jacked airplane to the ground in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, Mussari also presents America ten years later represented by cheerleaders from North Plainfield High School, in New Jersey.

The film affirms an America as a place living up to its promises. A resilient America.

This is the last in a series of 22 documentaries about, September 11, 2001, the story of Shanksville and America.

It begins with a scene of a now peaceful Shanksville field unfolding on the screen. Three separate times, three separate places and three separate groups of people are then juxtaposed in a story that will transcend time, transcend place and transcend ego.

The North Plainfield High School Concert Band is heard and shown performing “Flight of Valor” at their school’s Spring Concert. This dramatic musical tribute to the heroic passengers of Flight 93 becomes the underscore of scenes retelling the tragic events that occurred over Shanksville on September 11, 2001.

I am proud of how well the students in the band sound and grateful to Tony Mussari for including this music in his film. I am further impressed with how the sequence of visuals are synchronized with the dynamic changes in the musical arrangement.

I am moved by the actions of the residents of the very small village of Shanksville, who immediately after September 11, 2001 create a peaceful shrine at the field where Flight 93 violently pierced the earth; how they became caretakers of the site and ambassadors for the thousands and thousands of people who traveled to honor the sacrifice made for them at this sacred place.

Teenagers from North Plainfield, New Jersey, 300 miles and 5 hours from Shanksville, members of the high school cheerleading squad are seen in their uniforms, on a windy and rainy day, placing small American flags in the hands of tiny ceramic angels at the People’s Memorial. I am deeply affected by their dignity and grace.

Individually they speak on camera of their distress over the event that brought them to Shanksville, yet they also speak of their gratitude for the sacrifice that enables them to pursue their dreams of self realization, which all involve service to others in one way or another.

I am engrossed by what I am seeing and hearing. I am enfolded by the story. A story of such complex emotion, yet gripped with the simple thought, “What does it mean to be an American?”  “What would you do if you found yourself in a similar situation as that experienced by the passengers of Flight 93?” Swirls of furious thoughts are lifted to a sensuous peaceful feeling by the introduction of a simple melody and poignant lyrics that affirm “I’ll always remember the way we came together.”

I see 2001; 2011; and the future. I see Shanksville; North Plainfield; and America.

I see the passengers of Flight 93; the Ambassadors of Shanksville; and the Cheerleaders of North Plainfield High School.

And the film has brought it all together. Service to others; citizenship; honor towards one another; respect; resoluteness. America on its best days.  America’s tomorrow…Today. WOW!

"Shanksville, PA: A Place of Transformation" is an absorbing piece of living history that transcends sentimentality and reaches into the very heart of America at its best; not a place constricting or retreating within, rather a place that through the suffering of great tragedy continues to live its dreams, which is exemplified by the touching and impressive voices of the students from North Plainfield.

Dr. Mussari has created a transcendent, yet practical work of art.

Tom Mazur
Supervisor of Fine, Practical and Performing Arts
North Plainfield High School
34 Wilson Avenue
North Plainfield, NJ 07060

Dallas couple produces film inspired by the Sept. 11 attacks

By William C. Kashatus (correspondent)The Citizens’ Voice
Published: September 11, 2011


On Sept. 11, 2001, al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four passenger jets, intentionally crashing two planes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Everyone on board and thousands of those working in the buildings were killed. Within two hours, both towers collapsed, destroying nearby buildings and damaging others. A third plane crashed into the Pentagon while a fourth plane, targeting either the Capitol building or the White House, crashed in a field near Shanksville, after passengers tried to take control of it.

Nearly 3,000 victims died in the attacks. Of the 2,753 people who lost their lives when the Twin Towers fell were 343 firefighters and 60 police officers from New York City, and eight private emergency medical technicians and paramedics. Another 184 people were killed in the attack on the Pentagon. There were no survivors from any of the flights. The overwhelming majority of casualties were civilians.
It was the worst day in American history.

Documentary film producers Anthony Mussari and Kathleen "Kitch" Loftus were so moved by the tragedy they felt compelled to create a film series about America on its best day. They began with a series titled "What Is America?" – an impressive effort "to honor and remember all those who lost their lives on 9/11."

Every year since, the Dallas couple screened an episode of the series in Shanksville. But they also wanted to celebrate our country and its resilience after such a devastating tragedy. So last year, Tony and Kitch began their search for the "face of America" on its best day. The result is an illuminating 22-episode series aptly titled, "The Face of America," which can be viewed at www.faceofamericawps.com. The series is based on more than 140 hours of videotaped materials, 56,000 digital images and 430 interviews the Dallas couple compiled during the course of a 32,000-mile journey across the United States.

Unlike so many other film producers who’ve emphasized the "problems with the United States" and its involvement in the War on Terror, Tony and Kitch chose to focus on the positive aspects of America.

Their rationale is clear: when viewers are exposed to negativity, it causes them to think negatively and to expect negative things to happen.

So why feed the negativity? Create something more meaningful by focusing on the positive, like the contributions that ordinary people make every day to make our country a better place in which to live.

"In our travels across this country, we
found the next ‘Greatest Generation,’ in American history," explained Tony. "We wanted to highlight the people we met, the places we visited, the things we learned from Americans at the ground level- the physicians, teachers, soldiers, environmentalists, and high school students among others."

"These people may not make newspaper headlines but they represent the values that this nation was founded on: service, innovation, perseverance, and commitment. These are the people who make this country work. They’re not people of power, prominence and notoriety. Instead they go about their work quietly and purposefully without any fanfare or publicity. They are the people who represent the face of America on its very best days."

It’s a "grass roots" approach to documenting history, and one that insures that the unheralded efforts of everyday Americans are recognized. They are people like Dr. Stephen Post, who’s conducted groundbreaking research in Compassionate Care and Medical Humanities at Stony Brook Medical College of New York; Erin Donovan, an employee of the Boston Red Sox, who participates in the team’s "Home Base Project," a partnership with Massachusetts General Hospital in identifying, motivating and treating service members, veterans and their families who’ve been adversely affected by war; the cheerleaders at North Plainfield (N.J.) High School, who make an annual service trip to Shanksville to honor the heroes of the downed United Flight 93; Val McClatchey, who snapped the gripping photograph of Flight 93 immediately after it crashed; and Joanne Galvin, the designer of the 9/11 National Remembrance Flag. But the most poignant tribute is reserved for 2nd Lt. Emily Perez, who was killed in Iraq on Sept. 12, 2006.

Although the couple never met the young soldier, they had taken film footage of her drilling some first year cadets at West Point when they visited the military academy some years earlier. Serendipity intervened when Tony read a newspaper article indicating that Emily Perez was the first female Black/Hispanic honors graduate of West Point to die in the Iraqi war.

Impressed by her background, he set out to learn as much as possible about the once-promising young soldier. During their "Face of America" journey, Tony and Kitch interviewed Emily’s parents and her track coach.

"Emily was a bright young woman and a talented athlete," said Tony. "She was mentally and physically tough, and dedicated to serving her country and others. In fact, just before she was deployed, Emily donated her bone marrow to save the life of another human being. This young woman could have gone to any college or university in the country. But she chose West Point, she chose to serve in Iraq, and she made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Second Lieutenant Emily Perez represents the very best of America and was really the inspiration for the entire series."

When Emily’s father, Daniel, met the couple and learned of their intention to memorialize his daughter in their film project, he was deeply moved. "After Emily’s death, we felt forsaken by our president, military, and our nation as a whole," recalled Daniel Perez in a recent testimonial. "That’s what we thought until one cold winter day, Tony and Kitch came into our lives. It is through their loving and compassionate work that we’re able to see that Emily’s passing was not in vain or forgotten, but celebrated. Their selfless and inspiring masterpiece has been very instrumental in our healing process as well as restoring our faith in America."

Emily Perez, Joanne Galvin, Val McClatchey, the cheerleaders of North Plainfield, New Jersey, High School, Erin Donovan, Stephen Post and more than 400 others became the "Face of America" for Tony and Kitch.

"Since meeting these people, my love for this country has grown exponentially," Tony confessed. Kitch and I want to share that feeling with others. We want them to see how wonderful Americans are as a people, and how remarkable our country is." A quick survey of the materials on "The Face of America" website indicates that the local couple has achieved that objective.

The emotions one feels reading the articles and viewing the videos is profound, ranging from somberness to celebration, and reverence to national pride. Those feelings are enhanced by Mike Lewis’s sound track, which lends a melodic dignity to the films.

What distinguishes "The Face of America" series is a powerful appeal to the viewer’s intellect as well as heart. While the films capture the natural beauty of America at its scenic and human best, viewers are also exposed to the profound wisdom of Aeschylus, the Greek philosopher, who remarked, "Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God." The quote offers sympathy for those who’ve lost a loved one during the 9/11 tragedy and in the War on Terrorism.

Immediately after, the viewer is exposed to the inspirational words of journalist Norman Cousins, who reminds us that "Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live." It is a gentle encouragement to remain true to those things that are most meaningful in our lives instead of becoming bitter over the death of someone we love. Love, after all, is eternal, unless we allow the memory of that person to die.

These "voices of wisdom" appear sporadically throughout the series and offer viewers an opportunity to find meaning in their own lives as well as in the examples of those who are portrayed in the various films.

The dual appeal to the heart and mind has, over the years, become a signature of Mussari- Loftus productions, beginning with "Windsor Park Stories" which aired from 1997 to 2009, first on WVIA-TV and, later on WBRE-TV.

"If you can’t strike an emotional chord then a lot of people might be turned off," explained Kitch. "We’ve found that most people are looking for something to touch them, emotionally. It’s more meaningful to them than an intellectual approach. Once they’re given that, they might be ready to go to the intellectual level. If not, that’s their choice. But we want to reach as many viewers as we can and the appeal to both emotion and intellect allow us to do that."

While producing "The Face of America" might seem like living a dream for documentary film producers, the couple experienced some painful reality checks along the way. During their cross-country trip, they lost more than a thousand digital images, suffered a nasty car accident, and shortly after returning home, Kitch was diagnosed with cancer.

"Quite honestly, you deal with it," admitted Kitch. "What’s the choice? Okay, so we lost all those digital images. But Tony was able to find some similar ones in the public domain online. Our car was totaled, but thanks to safety belts and well-constructed head rests, we weren’t hurt. It was just a car; it can be replaced. As far as the cancer is concerned, I had the surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, and now I’m a survivor.

"Sure, cancer forces you to put your life into a proper perspective. In fact, we interviewed several people on our trip who were dealing with cancer. They were some of the most inspirational people we met. When they learned of my diagnosis, they became wonderful support for me. That alone made the entire project a blessing."

"The Face of America" is also the subject of a recently completed manuscript by Tony and Kitch. Titled "America at its Best," the work is currently in the hands of a New York literary agent who plans to identify a publisher before year’s end. It will be yet another inspirational gift from a remarkable couple who’ve given our region so many labors of love and a profound insight into what it means to be an American.

William Kashatus teaches history at Luzerne County Community College. He can be contacted at Bkashatus@luzerne.edu.

(Credit all the following photos to Mussari-Loftus Productions, Inc.) (2) Tony & Kitch Loftus-Mussari at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota in 2009; (3) Drill sergeant Emily Perez commands new cadets at West Point in 2005; (4) The People’s Memorial to United Flight 93, Shanksville, PA; and (5) Joanne Galvin presents 9/11 National 9/11 Remembrance Flag to cheerleaders of North Plainfield (NJ) High School as Tony Mussari films.

Published: September 8
The Times Leader

Couple honor Shanksville ‘angels’ with documentary and garden

BILL O ’ BOYLE boboyle@timesleader.com

Tony and Kitch Mussari believe the victims of Flight 93 are often overlooked.

DALLAS – Tony Mussari calls the actions of passengers on United Airlines Flight 93 on Sept. 11, 2001, “so symbolic of what America is on its best day.”

“It was quintessential America,” Mussari said.

Mussari, 69, of Dallas, and his wife, the former Kitch Loftus, 62, have transformed much of their property on Windsor Drive in Dallas into “Windsor Park” – a walking trail of greenery, ponds, benches and tributes. One of the tributes is to the memory of the 40 passengers of Flight 93.

(Kitch and Tony Mussari of Dallas in their Angel Garden, a memorial to Flight 93 victims of Sept 11. The garden contains markers and names of all the passengers and crew members, a Flight 93 flag and a rock for every life lost at all sites on 9/11. It’s a labor of love and deep respect for the victims, their families and friends, according to the couple, they produce an anniversary video about the crash each year. Picture by Clark Van Orden/The Times Leader)

Called “The Angel Garden,” it contains markers and names of all the passengers and crew members, a Flight 93 flag and a rock for every life lost at all sites on 9/11. It’s a labor of love and deep respect for the victims, their families and friends.

A weather vane near the top of the garden points due west towards Shanksville.

“Shanksville is always somewhat forgotten in the discussions of 9/11,” Mussari said. “The 40 people on that airplane prevented it from hitting the Capitol when both houses of Congress were in session. Their act of courage and heroism ranks among the highest and purest forms of heroism and courage in our history.”

Mussari leaned back and tried to put himself on the hijacked plane.

“Think about it. You know this plane is destined to crash and you are traveling in the last part of this journey,” he said. “You’re going about 565 miles per hour and you’re at the level where cell towers pick up cell phone calls and you have the kind of courage and determination to try to take over control of the aircraft.”

The Mussaris have dedicated much of the last 10 years to remembering Shanksville and the victims of Flight 93. Each year they produce an anniversary video about the crash and this year, the 10th, will be their final edition. They have completed 22 documentary films on Shanksville and Flight 93.

“We will still visit the site; it’s only four hours away,” Mussari said. “We have many friends there. As much as we don’t want to let it go, there comes a time that you must.”

Over the past decade, the Mussaris have taken many groups to the site – more than 500 students and adults in all.

“Once you’ve been there and you meet the people who are trying to keep the memories of those 40 victims alive, you feel much closer to them and the tragedy of Flight 93,” Kitch said. “You soon realize that 9/11 is much more than ground zero.”

That’s not to disparage anyone, the Mussaris quickly note. They honor and respect every victim of 9/11 and their families. But they feel too often Shanksville is not held in the same regard as the other events of 9/11.

Tony Mussari said when he first visited the site of the crash – and on every other occasion he and Kitch have been there – the experience is the same. People coming to see where the plane carrying the “40 angels of freedom” came down. Tony Mussari said the experience is so compelling, nearly every visitor wants to leave some part of themselves behind to pay tribute to the victims.

“In driving rainstorms, the people came,” he said. “In winter when the ground was covered with 6 inches of snow and in blistering heat, people came and left things. There is this connection with these brave Americans whose names nobody knew, but did what Americans do in their finest hour.

“We must never permit ourselves to forget not only the act of courage, but the values of the people who were both on the plane and the people of Shanksville,” he said.

Around the path from the Angel Garden is the Garden of Life. Here are rocks with words like “imagine, dream, belief and 125 more that speak to life.” A 37-year-old Chinese Dawn Maple Tree stands nearby. A bench underneath awaits visitors. Neighbors stop by with their children and grandchildren to watch the fish in the ponds and learn about life and history, including the events of 9/11.

“The selfless, heroic acts of those 40 people, put themselves in harm’s way to avoid a tragedy of even larger proportion,” Mussari said.

“They made their last moments the most meaningful of service that makes us all proud to be Americans.”

The first time he visited the site, Tony Mussari said he just stood there and looked at the large space where the plane crashed.

“Something happened,” he said. “I thought, ‘What would you do if you were on that plane?’ That thought, that feeling was overwhelming.”

Reprinted with permission from The Times Leader

www.timesleader.com

 

A Review of Visiting Shanksville in the Rain: A Screening in North Plainfield, New Jersey
By Guedis Cardenas

On Saturday, December 10th, North Plainfield High School faculty, Board of Education members, friends and families gathered for the screening of "Visiting Shanksville in the Rain."  The ceremony commenced at 4:30PM with the raising of the National 9-11 Remembrance Flag, followed by a reception, and finally the highlight of the night – the screening. 

From the moment Dr. Anthony Mussari complimented the concert band for their flawless performance, the audience realized Dr. Mussari was not going to give "your everyday speech." He started by eliminating the imbalance between the audience and him, he leveled us all.  Though he is an expert in his field, he did not regard his accomplishments as "better," and instead regarded the audience as celebrations of life.  Dr. Mussari reminded us how special we all were.  Though today’s culture focuses on comparing each others’ victories’, he did not – he regarded us as beautiful.  

Throughout the night, Dr. Mussari took us on a roller coaster ride – one that I can proudly say I am thankful for.  After a brief explanation of his background, our ride plummeted.  He asked us, "Would you still care what clothes you wore and what things you had, if the person you love the most was diagnosed with cancer?"  Culture’s current messages of superficiality were broken that instant – that superficial view pertained to many of us, if not all.  Our persona and beliefs were shattered and it was hard to hold back tears as both our hearts and minds raced to think of a response.  Dr. Mussari eventually broke the silence with, "Do not let adversity define you" – a lesson he learned from one of his closest friends.  With this, we picked up our shattered persona and rebuilt a new persona – one based on love, community, doing our best, and perseverance.

All those who came out that Saturday night realized this event was not the norm.  By attending the Shanksville screening, we were given a gift.  But, before we unwrap this gift, let us remember Dr. Mussari’s words: “Here lies the hearts and souls of people who give themselves because they care for the community and the future of America."   "Visiting Shanksville in the Rain" honored – and continues to honor – everyday people, the Face of America on it best day.   When we support, teach, honor, and help each other, we are what Dr. Mussari calls the Face of America on its best day. When an obstacle pushes us to our knees, and we get back up, we are America at its best.

Dr. Mussari’s and wife Kitch Mussari’s work, as well as all their loved one’s work was a gift for us and a reminder to continue doing what we do.  Let us keep being leaders, keep being a community, keep being the Face of America on its best day. 

Guedis Cardenas is the President of the senior class at the North Plainfield High School in North Plainfield, New Jersey.

American Cheerleader’s Squad of the Month

February 2nd, 2011

North Plainfield HS: The full story

By Brianne Carlon
Feb 2011

When Jessica Figueroa was in eighth grade, she watched the cheerleaders at North Plainfield HS in New Jersey closely. “What they did looked complicated, but they really got the crowd going,” she says. “They were the ones who made the game exciting. I looked up to them and knew one day I wanted to have people look up to me, too.”

Now a senior and a co-captain of the North Plainfield cheer team, Jessica, 17, has provided many reasons for others to admire her. In fact, every athlete on the team has, due in large part to their overwhelming commitment to community service. For the past four years, the team has taken time to honor those who lost their lives in the September 11, 2011, tragedies by holding memorials at all three sites. “This horrible event happened [during our lifetime],” says Christianna Blue, 17, head captain. “It’s important to keep their memory alive so no one forgets what happened to our nation.”

Dedication to Others

Two weeks following 9/11 in 2009, the NPHS cheerleaders ended up visiting the site where Flight 93 crashed in Shanksville, PA, about 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. While laying flags down during a rainstorm, they didn’t realize they were being watched. “Out of the corner of my eye I saw these kids with big flags,” says Anthony Mussari, Ph.D., who happened to be taking footage of the site. “I sensed something rich there, and taped about two and a half minutes of video,” he says. What came of this chance encounter was Visiting Shanksville in the Rain, a documentary about the Flight 93 tragedy. “It was an emotional experience,” Jessica says about being part of the film. “It made us closer as a team; it put things into perspective for us.”

Mussari followed up with a visit to the high school, thinking he’d get a few minutes of footage. “It turned out to be a year of visits where I spent time with the cheerleaders in classrooms and band rooms, at competitions and banquets and on buses and tours.” The footage will now be used for another documentary called Cheer for America, and the NPHS cheerleaders will be featured in a follow-up documentary, which will be screened in Shanksville on or around September 11, 2011. “They will also be in the book my wife and I are writing about traveling across America,” Mussari says. “When you talk with these young women, there’s a genuine sense of giving and caring that I haven’t seen in another group like this.”

The squad also visits the site of the Flight 800 memorial in Montoursville, PA. In 1996, the flight exploded moments after takeoff, crashing into the Atlantic Ocean and killing everyone onboard, including 16 students from Montoursville. “We’ve been leaving flowers at the [victims’] graves anonymously every year,” says Jessica. “In 2009, the parents caught us.” That led to the planning of a brunch with family members who lost loved ones on the flight.

All community service is voluntary, never mandatory, but the athletes are more than willing to participate. “Serving the community is immensely important to each girl and viewed differently by each of them,” says Coach Skip Pulcrano. “The common thread is passion and compassion. It’s a special kindness to help others.” The team has logged more than 40,000 cumulative community service miles, making it obvious why several people have said they give them “hope for the future.” “These young women show their patriotism, as well as their sympathy for those who’ve lost loved ones,” says Jerard Stephenson, North Plainfield HS principal. They’ve also volunteered at a local food pantry and collected clothes for victims of the Haiti earthquake, among other efforts.

And the team has been rewarded for its service. It won the AmeriCheer National Community Service Team of the Year award—twice (in 2007 and 2008). “We were proud,” Jessica says, “but we didn’t even know we were doing so much. Cheerleading brings out the best in us, because it gives us more responsibility in caring for others.” Principal Stephenson knows this to be true. “They don’t do it to win awards,” he says. “They do it to help. It’s an expectation now that if you want to be a part of this team, you need to be willing to give back. It’s built in.”

The squad was also recently presented with the 9/11 National Remembrance Flag, created by Steve and Joanne Galvin to honor heroes of 9/11. It was presented to the girls by Joanne at a dinner just prior to the Visiting Shanksville documentary premier in September 2010. “This is probably the most important and special honor my cheerleaders have received in all my 41 years of coaching,” Coach Pulcrano says.

Bring on the Competition

When it comes to competing, the NPHS squad feels confident about its training. “We’ve accomplished a lot this year,” Jessica says. Just a few short years ago, the team’s most difficult stunts were Extensions and Basket Tosses. Now, after practicing three times a week for two hours, the team has reached a new level. “We’ve conquered more complicated stunts, including full-downs from Extensions, and have created more intricate routines, too,” she says. And it must be working. “After a game or performance,” Christianna says, “people usually come up to us and say this is the best we’ve looked in years.”

While their main priorities are obviously school spirit and community service, the team takes October 15 through November 30 of every season to learn competition routines and compete. “We like the short competition season because it’s a challenge that pushes us to our limits,” says co-captain Monica Ramirez, 17. “Everyone is always ready to take the next step and is never scared to try something new.” Christianna agrees that practice and unity are contributing factors to the team’s success. “So many of us haven’t missed a practice in two years; we have an unbreakable bond,” she says. “We practice at such a fast pace that there’s no room for fooling around. Everything we’ve worked for has led up to this competition season.”

Let’s Hear It for the Boys

This year, the NPHS Canucks are trying something that hasn’t been done in a handful of years: Two boys have been added to the team. Paul Agui and Guedis Cardenas, both 17, are rounding out the 20-member varsity squad this season. “I wanted to prove that stereotypes about male cheerleaders are wrong,” Guedis says. “In the end, it’s your opinion that matters.” While he’d been on the wrestling and tennis teams, Guedis had never cheered before this year. “It’s been great so far,” he says. “Everyone has been so kind and patient. They’re extremely encouraging when I need to learn something.” This idea of community and support is what Guedis says is his favorite part of being on the squad. “When someone lands a twist-down she’s been working hard for, we all cheer for her,” he says.

Being on the team this year has given the guys a new perspective on cheer and their responsibilities and efforts. “A lot of people don’t know how much cheerleaders do behind the scenes,” Guedis says. “There’s community service, fundraising, practice and competitions. Cheerleaders help the community not to gain praise, but simply to do good.” And the girls are thankful for this new-found perspective. “After doing what we do every year, it gave the boys a new respect for cheerleaders,” Monica says. “And it creates a different vibe having them on the team; it’s certainly nice having their help!”

Squeezing In Some Fun

Between volunteering and competing, you wouldn’t think there’d be much room left for Friday night football games—or eating or breathing. But you’d be surprised. “We’re a school spirit team first,” Coach Pulcrano says. “Cheering on our sports teams is our main priority.” Football games are one of the squad’s favorite parts of cheer. “The crowd on a Friday night is awesome,” Christianna says. “When we do a cheer or stunt, how the crowd responds is fun and encouraging.”

Before each home game, the cheerleaders take time to pump up the football players. “We decorate the players’ lockers and bake treats for them,” Christianna says. The football players also get a chance to show their appreciation for all the spirit team does. “They give us a gift at the end-of-season banquet,” she says. “It connects the football players with the cheerleaders in a nice way.” The players and cheerleaders participate in a tradition together during away games, too. “On the bus, no one’s allowed to speak a word, not even a whisper, until the first right or left turn,” Jessica says. “Then we yell the cheer, ‘We’re Gonna Win Tonight!’ It really pumps everyone up.”

But there’s one tradition reserved just for the cheerleaders: sleepovers! Before competitions or big trips, like the ones to Shanksville, the team gathers at one of the girls’ houses for a night of fun. Sometimes they go to the movies and other times it’s just entertainment and games at home. Either way, Christianna says, “it brings everyone together as a team.”

A True Team

“All the young ladies and gentlemen on the [NPHS] team are great cheerleaders,” Principal Stephenson says, “but they’re also leaders in school, whether it’s through National Honor Society, the environmental organization or as class officers. Plus, they also have a commitment to giving back to the community.”

Through their actions and leadership positions, Jessica and the rest of the NPHS team have achieved their goal of becoming role models. “We don’t let cheerleading be just about competition,” Jessica says. “Cheerleaders should lead by example. We show our support for others. It’s the only way to be successful.”

Reprinted with permission from American Cheerleader Magazine,

http://www.americancheerleader.com/

Photographs by
Skip Pulcrano
Kitch Loftus-Mussari
Gene Flood

The Dallas Post
January 9, 2011
Face of America chronicles people and nature of country

By SARAH HITE shite@mydallaspost.com

Photo Credit
charlotte bartizek/ for the dallas post
Select images available for purchase in the
Times Leader Photo Store

A funeral sparked the projects that have shaped the lives of Tony and Kitch Mussari for the past nine years.

Kitch and Tony Mussari, of Dallas, have traveled the continental United States and produced a video entitled "The Face of America" about the people and nature of America.

Following the September 11 attacks in 2001, the Dallas couple attended the funeral of a friend’s son who had died in one of the World Trade Towers.

Kitch said Tony was so moved by the ceremony, it spurred action in remembrance of others who died on that day.

The pair produced dozens of documentaries based on the Shanksville, Pa. site where Flight 93 crashed on Sept. 11, and will screen their final documentary this year, the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

“Every year, our visit becomes the basis of the next documentary,” said Kitch.

This year, the duo expanded their search for ordinary people who commit extraordinary things with their “Face of America” project, which will include a documentary and book recounting their travels. They’ve driven throughout the 48 continental United States, racking up more than 30,000 miles, recording more than 110 hours of footage, snapping more than 57,000 digital images and interviewing more than 400 people – all in the span of about 100 days.

“This is about finding people who are representative of America on its best days,” said Tony.

The Mussaris said the cross-country trip was a natural progression from their Shanksville documentaries, which started in 2002 on a whim after seeing an article in an Ohio newspaper that chronicled a woman who was creating a picture book about the Flight 93 memorial site.
“We knew we’d like to do something,” Kitch said about honoring those who died during 9/11.

The couple met with Leigh Snyder, the woman from the news article, at Shanksville and ended their trip with enough footage for a new documentary series called “What is America?” which is screened at Shanksville every fall to commemorate Sept. 11.

The “Face of America” project has a more national scope, but the meaning of the project still resonates with family, friends and even strangers.

Tony recalled a frightening auto accident in Minnesota in the midst of the Mussaris’ travels. Their car was totaled and the two were stranded more than 1,000 miles from home.

“We were almost killed,” said Tony. “It was a total loss.”

Their project actually saved them during the ordeal – a man from the towing company checked out the “Face of America” website, told the rental agency and insurance adjuster about the Mussaris’ project and, within hours, the couple had another Toyota Prius to drive, with all gas expenses recouped.

“This has happened time and time and time again,” said Tony of others’ generosity as a result of the project. “The project and the way we’ve interacted with others opened doors for us.”

The Mussaris admit they’ve completed the project with a “peanut butter and jelly budget,” garnering donations from sponsors and putting their own money on the table. Tony said the most valuable source of help was from the kindness of others.

“People let us stay at their homes when they weren’t there,” he said. “Twenty-one of my former students reached out to us during the trip.”
Tony and Kitch are no strangers to media production. Before becoming the creators of “Windsor Park Stories,” a TV series that profiles everyday people who have done amazing things, Tony was the chairman of the mass communications department at King’s College and Kitch worked as a news radio reporter.

The Mussaris also produced several other projects, including a 21-part series called “Heart Scene” which follows a cardiac patient from diagnosis to heart surgery – an idea inspired by Tony’s 2007 quadruple bypass operation.

The “Face of America” project fulfilled a lifelong dream for Tony, who was inspired by his brush with death on the operating table.
“Since 2007, we wanted to do something special to celebrate heroic acts,” he said.

Kitch pointed out that Tony drove every single mile during the trip, mostly to prove that there is life for those who have undergone heart surgery.

So what is the “Face of America”? In addition to finding the geographic diversity of the United States (Kitch was surprised to see how flat Nebraska was), the Mussaris were happy to find that their beliefs about the American people were generally true.

“It reaffirmed the goodness, kindness, willingness to be helpful that’s central to America,” Tony said. “We didn’t have a bad moment.”

Visiting Shanksville in the Rain: A Review

By Guedis Cardenas
Senior, North Plainfield High School
September 28, 2010

In the modern age of "flashiness" "sleekness," this documentary was not. Subtitles and transitions were simplistic. But that was the beauty of it. It added character to the film – it added intimateness to it.

Think of documentaries from ten years ago. They had a grainy texture, transparent transitions, and boxy subtitles. There were no "flashy transitions, colors, format, etc." The film focused solely on the content.

Think of the smart-phones of today. They can browse the web, play music, GPS, etc. Yet, its main purpose is to call, and many actually have problems with it – i.e. dropped calls. Well think of the film as a “regular, old phone.” It promises to call and does just that, nothing more.

Visiting Shanksville in the Rain promised to showcase its members “in a way that brings out at the best in them” (as Dr. Mussari would say). And guess what, it did just that. All the distracting bells and whistles were removed. After all it’s documentary not meant to make your jaw drop because it is “pretty” but because it shows the everyday individuals like our cheerleaders doing their part to insure the legacy and memories of loved ones live on – I wouldn’t be surprised if a tear or two were shed.

The rain and grainy texture of the film intertwined together so both visual and audio aspects were present. Combined with music that beautifully matched the scenes, it added to the overall experience.

What I loved was that it did not look like a simple drag and drop theme from Sony Vegas, iMovie, etc. It kept a more classical approach, thus so, it radiated that it took great effort to produce – adding even more definition on how important the documentary was. That itself showed one of the traits of “America on its best days”: hard work and determination.

Yet, the real beauty of Visiting Shanksville in the Rain is what occurred behind the camera. For example, Dr. Mussari, his wife, and fellow friends put in an unbelievable effort. Like the great George Parks said, “It’s about us, not just you or me.”

So much work went on to share the story of the everyday heroes of America. Dr. Mussari and his comrades had little "movie time." All I could think is the correlation to “America on its best day.” There are the all-stars and CEO’s of this nation, but none of it could be possible without the other folk. They are equally as important, in which they do the jobs that those at the top do not do. Unfortunately, they often do not receive credit. But in the Shanksville documentary, the people behind the curtains did.

Dr. Mussari’s film is the epitome of how “America is on its best days.” It’s a film that gives credit where it’s due – in which the all-stars and the folks behind the curtain are on equal ground, sharing the limelight together. Because America would not be possible without those working behind the curtains and doing the tasks that many often do not want to do.

It is extremely hard to pinhole Visiting Shanksville in the Rain. If it were to be done … it would be “WOW.”

Contact us at: faceofamericawps@gmail.com

Couple praised for Sept. 11 films
The Times Leader
October 17, 2010

Tony and Kitch Mussari should be lauded for their role in keeping the spirit of Shanksville Flight 93 alive for the past nine years since the Sept. 11 tragedy.

Without any remuneration they have completed a documentary each year utilizing students, veterans and others to instill a spirit of patriotism and remembrance. The documentaries are nearly an hour long, and a considerable amount of time is involved to create a work of professional quality.

I have participated the past two years, and it has truly evoked some thought-provoking questions. One of the most outstanding is how we would have reacted if we were on that ill-fated United Airlines Flight 93.

They are now undertaking the arduous task of visiting the 50 states, filming ordinary people and interviewing them for “The Face of America” project, honoring the lives of those killed on Sept. 11. The dedication of this couple is tireless. My only wish would be for them to slow down a little bit, and Godspeed.

Clarence J. Michael
Dallas, PA

Windsor Park Stories History that was Straight from the Heart

Written by William C. Kashatus
Sunday, 15 February 2009, The Sunday Citizens’ Voice

“The courage to teach is the courage to keep one’s heart open in those very moments when the heart is asked to hold more that it is able,” writes Parker J. Palmer in his inspirational book, Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher’s Life. “Only then can teacher and students and subject be woven into the fabric of community in a way that enables us to truly understand ourselves as individuals and as a society.”

Anthony Mussari, co-producer of “Windsor Park Stories” with his wife Kathleen, is one of the most courageous teachers I know. Not only does he have vision, but the determination to realize his dream despite the critics who would have him fail. In the process, he created an inspirational television series that taught our community how to connect with the heart – the place where intellect, emotion and spirit converge to define humanness.

Sadly, Tony and Kathleen wrapped up their final production of Windsor Park Stories and aired it last month on WBRE-TV. February, designated as “Heart Month” by the American Heart Association, offers a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the twelve-year television series – a gift that came straight from the hearts of its producers.

Tony Mussari, an emeritus history and communications professor at King’s College, broadened his classroom in 1997 to northeastern Pennsylvania. His objective was to “give service to the community.

Together with his wife, Mussari began producing a remarkable television series called “Windsor Park Stories.” Their inspiration was a garbage dump that the couple transformed into a stunning, four-tiered garden nestled into the Back Mountain adjacent to their Windsor Drive home.

They believed that the beauty and serenity of the garden would serve as an ideal setting for a television series focusing on “the extraordinary experiences of people not so different from ourselves.”

“We intended to invite people who had personal stories of hope, inspiration, and service to share their stories on camera,” explained King’s College professor. “Our dream was that these stories would resonate with viewers who were dealing with crises in their own lives.”

When Mussari floated the idea with film producers in New York City where he was free-lancing, they told him it would never work, and suggested other, more profitable venues.

Instead, he defied the nay sayers. He raised enough money to pay for production costs and secured an agreement from WVIA-TV to air the program free of cost. A similar agreement was reached with WBRE-TV when Windsor Park Stories changed stations in 2006.

“To be honest with you, I really didn’t care about the money,” admitted Mussari. “Kathleen and I have always lived by a philosophy that you’re only worth what you give away. We wanted to do something that would better our community.

“We also believed there was an audience for our show that appreciated gentility and a good story,” added Kathleen. “Windsor Park Stories was designed for people who like stories that inspire, people who want to broaden their horizons, people who are looking for a peaceful way to live.”

When Windsor Park Stories debuted in 1998, it featured a series of episodes that chronicled the individual’s triumph over adversity. There was a veteran soldier’s struggle with depression; a married couple battling cancer; a young man who was coping with the death of his mother; and a World War II veteran who helped to liberate a Nazi death camp during World War II. All the subjects were local residents who shared their personal challenges, fears and triumphs. But the stories also offered viewers an historical perspective, whether in the context of family or a national crisis like World War II. In each case, the viewer was able to relate to the subject’s experience emotionally and/or historically.

After the September 11, 2001 Terrorist attacks, Windsor Park Stories expanded beyond the local region to address issues that affected us all as Americans.

Tony and Kathleen produced a series titled “What Is America,” which was filmed on location at Ground Zero in New York City and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where the hijacked aircraft Flight 93 crashed.

Other episodes included a retrospective of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team, which captured a Gold Medal at Lake Placid, New York; biographical vignettes of Federal Justice Max Rosenn and United States Congressman Daniel J. Flood; a ten-part series on the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York; and lighter subjects such as Victorian Cape May, New Jersey.

The genius of these episodes was that each one combined national history with current events and in the context of a personal perspective that appealed to the heart as well as to the intellect. In most cases, the episodes also contained a local link, usually a person who was born and raised in northeastern Pennsylvania.

One reviewer recently referred to “Windsor Park Stories” as “masterpieces.” I consider the television series one of the most creative expressions of social history that I’ve come across in my thirty-plus years as a historian.

What’s more, Mussari, true to his commitment as an educator, invited his students to share many of these experiences. As a result, he created an “open-air” classroom that not only taught the craft of documentary filmmaking, but also touched the hearts of his students. It was teaching at its finest.

As the television series grew, so did Windsor Park. “It started with one garden at street level, then it became the four levels,” said the Wilkes-Barre native. “Then we expanded to include a greenhouse and a hydrangea garden. Eventually it grew into the Angel garden, which we dedicated to the passengers of Flight 93. We completed the park last year with a small water garden called the “Children’s Garden,” which is dedicated to our grandchildren.”

One garden that has a special significance for Mussari is the “Garden of Life,” which he and Kathleen created around the time he began to experience heart difficulties.

In May 2007, Tony suffered two cardiac events within 10 hours. The following month he underwent quadruple bypass surgery. The experience inspired the production of 21 episodes titled the “Heart Scene: A Journey of Discovery and Recovery,” which chronicles the journey of a cardiac patient from diagnosis through recovery. It is the most comprehensive documentary of its kind ever produced.

The couple began producing the series just two months after Tony’s surgery. “I thought that it was pretty soon to start production,” admitted Kathleen. “But you have to strike while the iron is hot, too. You can’t go back two years later when nobody remembers you. Nor would you have the experience as fresh in your mind, so you wouldn’t be able to produce a quality piece of work.”

Mussari also wrote a book about his odyssey titled, “Step Into My Heart: Heart Disease and Open Heart Surgery My New Best Friends.” The book examines heart disease, the bypass surgery process, and the physical recovery process as well as provides deeper insight into the emotional and psychological aspects of confronting heart disease.

“We produced the ‘Heart Series’ as an act of gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and technicians who were a part of my surgery team,” admitted Tony. “But we also felt obligated to produce the series as a genuine public service. We saw this as an opportunity to save lives and help people who were hurting.”

Unfortunately, the current economic crisis as well as Mussari’s health took their toll on the couple’s ability to continue Windsor Park Stories. With the all-consuming demands of scriptwriting, interviews, filming, production and editing, it took about eight months to produce a season’s worth of programming.

Since the program was done as a community service, Tony and Kathleen made no income from it. Instead, they used their personal savings or revenues produced from free lance work to pay an estimated $2,000 per episode in fixed costs, video tape, transportation, housing, insurances, and set expenses. The couple did this for twelve years and without the assistance of any staff.

“Last summer we lost one of our underwriting sponsors because of the negative economic climate,” explained Tony. “Two of our other sponsors reduced their contributions, and another is still waiting for its annual allocation from Harrisburg to fund its obligations.

“The harsh reality is that I am a 67 year-old man with heart disease, and I am in no position to go further into debt to save the series. Two bank loans enabled us to pay our production expenses. With some belt tightening, we will meet our obligations to our creditors. We will do it the old fashioned way by cutting back and going without some things.”

Another harsh reality is that today’s commercial television is a business dependent upon revenues. Public service programs, no matter how well produced or how interesting or educational, are an endangered species.

Unless the filmmaker is willing to produce programming that focuses on physical violence, sexual promiscuity, or outrageousness masquerading as “reality TV,” there is no place for the product. That’s a shame.

Mussari and his wife will continue to produce their annual “Changed Forever” episode for screening in Shanksville in September. They will also continue to cover a select group of community events, write articles for the Windsor Park Theater, produce shows for broadcast on the Web, and write and distribute their weekly newsletter. But it won’t be the same.

Sometimes we don’t appreciate what we have until it’s gone. In “Windsor Park Stories,” northeast Pennsylvania had something pretty special.

Thanks, Tony and Kathleen, for putting viewers in touch with their hearts.

William Kashatus teaches at Luzerne Coounty Community College. He can be contacted at Bkashatus@luzerne.edu