Serendipity: Meeting Holly Berry

Written By Tony Mussari
Copyright 2012
Mussari-Loftus Associates, LTD
The Face of America Project
faceofamericawps.com
tony.mussari@gmail.com

“Serendipity. Look for something, find something else, and realize that what you’ve found is more suited to your needs than what you thought you were looking for.”  Lawrence Block

I drove into the parking lot of Luzerne Lumber shortly after noon on an unseasonably warm January day.  My mission was simple. I was looking for a package of roofing nails. I needed them to make a temporary repair to a section of our roof that was damaged during the fall storms that devastated parts of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Why did I wait so long, you ask?

The answer is too long and too complicated to relate here, but I will tell you that my responsibilities as a caregiver for my wife who was battling cancer at the time had something to do with the delays. Faulty work by a contractor who promised us the world and left us holding the bag had a great deal more to do with it.

That was yesterday.  On this day my course was charted and I was determined to get the work done before real January weather arrived.

As I made my way across the parking lot to the store, I thought to myself, there are more cars in this lot than I have ever seen.

When I opened the door, an overflow crowd occupied virtually every square foot of space. Most of these people were not there to shop. They were there to celebrate the birthday of an employee, Holly Berry, who had just learned that her treatment for breast cancer was officially over.

It was a moment that rivaled any of the best Hollywood crescendo moments, and wouldn’t you know, I was without my digital camera. A 20-minute return trip corrected that.

When I returned to the store many of the guests had left, but it was my good fortune that Holly Berry, two of her children and her father were on the premises.  They agreed to visit with me so I could take some pictures and talk with them about the event.

Holly is the mother of four children.  Her dad is a distinguished looking man whose face bears the scars left by the premature loss of his wife to breast cancer and the anxiety ridden months of his daughter’s battle with breast cancer.

Holly works at Luzerne Lumber. She has taken it upon herself to inform everyone who will listen about the danger of breast cancer. The owners of the store have been very supportive of Holly.  Her friends, family and coworkers spearheaded a fundraising campaign. The pink angels customers purchase to honor loved ones who have battled the disease are displayed in a prominent place in the store. They give testimony to the success of the campaign.

During a previous visit to the store, I purchased an angel for Kitch.

Holly Berry is a woman of dignity and class. She conducts herself in a very impressive way. When she talks about her situation, she speaks from her heart. She knows the disease as a caregiver for her mother and as a patient, and she is quick to point out that it is more difficult to be a caregiver.

The most important lesson she learned from her experience is not to take life for granted, and to use time wisely.

She has kind words for Dr. Dan Kopen who was wonderful to her mother when she was his patient.  They were students at Wilkes College, and they knew one another during their college years.

Holly was equally positive about her experience at Fox Chase where she decided to have her treatments.

When I asked Holly what she intends to do with the rest of her life, she did not hesitate:

“I intend to live each day as a gift.”

Holly Berry is a face of America on its best day.  She personifies the kind of courage, determination and value based-leadership that cancer patients need to survive. She is optimistic about her future, and she is going to make the best of whatever she will encounter. She is not angry.  She does not feel sorry for herself, and she does not lament what has happened to her.

Everyone should have a neighbor or friend like Holly Berry, and everyone should have employers like the people who own and operate Luzerne Lumber. 

In that store on that day, it was serendipitous that I saw America at its best. It is an image and a memory that will last forever.

Please provide feedback to:

tony.mussari@gmail.com

Service with a Smile and Kind Words to Match

Written By Tony Mussari
Copyright 2012
Mussari-Loftus Associates, LTD
The Face of America Project
faceofamericawps.com
tony.mussari@gmail.com

One of the measures of America at its best is service.  Two of our founding fathers, John Adams and Ben Franklin, penned words about service that are popular to this day:

“If we do not lay out ourselves in the service of mankind whom should we serve?”

“Well done is better than well said.”

Translated into aphorisms that define the concept of client service, I would offer these:

“The customer is always right.”

“The customer is King.”

Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart had very strong feelings about customer service:

“The goal as a company is to have customer service that is not just the best but legendary.”

“There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.”

Service in Action and Word

This week I met a woman who personifies all of the characteristics of customer service at its best.

Debbie Heberling is the manager of the hardware department at our local Wal-Mart store. When I called the store to ask about the availability of a Brinks Corded Motion Light, she greeted me in very welcoming way. She explained that she had not been in her department for three weeks, but she would walk to the aisle where the lights were displayed, and look for the product.

She took her time.  She was not inconvenienced by my request.  She was more than willing to be helpful, and she eventually found what she thought at the time was the right product.

She brought the light to a central location, and she made arrangements for me to pick it up.

When I thanked her for the time and effort she invested in the transaction, she said something that made a lasting impression:

“I am more than happy to help you. Without satisfied customers, I would not have a job.”

What a refreshing and thoughtful thing to say to a customer.  It made my day.

When I went to the store, the product was exactly where she said it would be and it had my name on it.

I asked for Debbie, and I was told she was working at register 20. I wanted to thank her, so I made my way to the register. We had a very pleasant discussion, and then I asked for the manager to record my satisfaction with Debbie’s accommodating service.

With that done, I walked to my car, and I drove home.

When I opened the box, I was surprised to find a light that was not corded. Neither Debbie nor I thought it necessary to open the box in the store.

When I made contact with Debbie to tell her what happened, she did not hesitate to apologize for the inconvenience. She took full responsibility for the inconvenience and she volunteered to do everything in her power to fix the situation.

“I am embarrassed,” she said, “when things like this happen. I do not like it when my department is disorganized. I take pride in my work, and I like to help customers.”

So what’s the bottom line here?

If every employee and department manager went to the client service school of Debbie Heberling every shopping experience would be pleasant and productive.

Please provide feedback to:

tony.mussari@gmail.com

Dickens: The Meaning of Christmas

By Kitch & Tony Mussari
Copyright 2011
Mussari-Loftus Associates
The Face of America Project
faceofamericawps.com,
tony.mussari@gmail.com

“A Loving heart is the truest wisdom.” Charles Dickens

An Evening with Dickens

Charles Dickens road to becoming the greatest writer of his time was not paved with gold. On the contrary, it was paved with abandonment, disappointment, and misery. As a child, he had all the road rashes the mean streets of London had to offer.

Sensitive by nature, self-educated by circumstance and purpose, in his 58 years on this planet he wrote 15 novels, several short stories, and many articles. Some would argue that Charles Dickens is the man who rescued Christmas. For that alone, we are in his debt.

David Purdue tells his readers that “Charles Dickens has probably had more influence on the way that we celebrate Christmas today than any single individual in human history…except One.”

On a sunny December afternoon, Kitch and I drove to North Plainfield, New Jersey, to see a student production of A Christmas Carol. Tom Mazur, Supervisor of Fine Arts at the North Plainfield High School, produced the play, and he wrote the musical score. The play showcased the talent of students, faculty and staff who brought Dickens and his “Carol Philosophy” alive in an outstanding and memorable way.

In my mind’s eye, A Christmas Carol is a story about redemption and transformation. It is a story that touches the human heart, and it leaves a permanent mark on one’s soul. Dickens presents a holiday season that, in his words, is "a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of other people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys."

Scrooge and Us

Essentially, the play is about a successful, unlikable, and miserly businessman named Scrooge who is traumatized into becoming a man of Christmas light and caring.

If you look carefully beneath the surface, it is about those of us who, like Scrooge, are in the race of a lifetime to make it and make it big. In the process, we risk losing our humanness. On our darkest nights, we may lose our capacity to feel the pain of others as well as our compassion and tolerance for people who are hurting and need help.

Watching the diverse cast of actors and actresses in North Plainfield perform Dickens play 169 years after it was written for audiences in Victorian England, it became a living statement about America at its best. It became a vehicle to showcase a place where people of many different backgrounds and cultures live in peace, harmony and understanding. They may have been wearing costumes that spoke to another time and place, but the smiles of joy and participation spoke to a place where one finds community, harmony and support. A community where there is no “brown bag” test, no color line, and no cultural exclusion.

Words of Transformation

The production of A Christmas Carol Kitch and I saw in North Plainfield took Dickens words to a new and inspiring level where every gender, race, religion, and ethnicity had an equal share in the blessings of life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness and excellence. At one point in the play, 60 students and adults graced the stage. Together they formed a vibrant, human collage composed of many different countries of origin, cultures, religions, and skin tones. It was a powerful image that spoke silently, but effectively, to the words of Dickens:

“I wear the chain I forged in life….I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it.”

“It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child himself.”

“It is a fair, even-handed, noble adjustment of things, that while there is infection in disease and sorrow, there is nothing so irresistibly contagious as laughter.”

"There are some upon this earth of yours, who lay claim to know us, and who do their deeds of passion, pride, ill-will, hatred, envy, bigotry, and selfishness in our name, who are as strange to us and all our kith and kin, as if they had never lived. Remember that, and charge their doings on themselves, not us."

"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide; and, if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death."

“Ghost of the Future, I fear you more than any spectre I have seen. But as I know your purpose is to do me good, and as I hope to live to be another man from what I was, I am prepared to bear you company, and do it with a thankful heart. Will you not speak to me?"

The play ended to enthusiastic applause. We said our farewells, and we returned to our temporary home at the Hampton Inn. It was late, but I could not sleep. My mind and body were restless so I searched the internet for a script of Dickens play. After about an hour of reading, I came upon these priceless words:

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone!"

As I right mouse clicked to end the session, I thought to myself, this is all I need to know and practice to make every day of the year a good day for Kitch, a good day for the people we meet, and a good day for America.

Thank you, Charles Dickens.

Thank you, Tom Mazur

Thank you, students, teachers, administrators and staff of North Plainfield.

"God bless us every one!"

Tony & Kitch Mussari
Producers
The Face of America Project
Please provide feedback to:
tony.mussari@gmail.com

A Radio City Christmas

By Kitch & Tony Mussari
Copyright 2011
Mussari-Loftus Associates
The Face of America Project
faceofamericawps.com,
tony.mussari@gmail.com

“Radio City Music Hall is as much a place to see as it is a place to see things.” Unknown

A Day in New York

Known as the showplace of the nation, there is nothing quite like a visit to Radio City Music Hall. For 78 years this historic theater has attracted people from all over the country and the world.

Constructed in 1932 as a venue for high class variety entertainment, Radio City Music Hall is an America treasure. It is big, beautiful and beckoning.  From the moment your eyes see the art deco façade located at 1260 Avenue of the Americas, something happens in your heart. You know instinctively you are in a very special place  

Joe Klemm captured part of the mystic of the theater with 10 words: “Few rooms scream New York City more than this gilded hall.”

For Kitch and me, Radio City screams America at its best. Everything about Radio City, the look, the feel, the crowds, the noise, the chatter of excited children, the child-like wonder of their parents and grandparents, especially at Christmas time, conveys a sense of celebration and community. Everything about Radio City is magical.

On this December afternoon, we joined Tom and Jacqueline Mazur for a 20-minute ride to New York City.  It was a glorious day. The sun was high in the sky, the temperature was unseasonably warm. The roads were crowed with like-minded people who were headed for the same destination, New York City and all it has to offer its guests.

After a short delay at the Lincoln Tunnel, we were in Manhattan.  Our first stop was Le Pain Quotidien a bakery cafe on 50th street. There we met a very pleasant waiter, Chris Britton.  He was soft spoken and very helpful.  Chris is a student at Pace University.  He is interested in criminal justice and marine biology. He works three nights a week and weekends. He is a very positive young man who is pleased with the life he has built for himself. It was a delight to meet Chris.

A Christmas Spectacular

Our next stop was Radio City. Although our walk to the theater was short, it took longer than we expected because the sidewalks were crowded with people who were on their way to Rockefeller Center and other attractions in the area. New York’s finest were everywhere. They made sure that traffic on the streets and pedestrian traffic on the sidewalks moved safely and smoothly.

On my way into the theater, I had a moment of high anxiety. An attendant saw my camera case, and she ordered me to leave the camera at the security desk. While I fumbled to get the digital camera out of the case, a pleasant guard assured me that the camera would be safe under his desk. He was filling out a green identification tag, when a supervisor appeared out of nowhere. With a polite, but authoritative voice, she told him to give me the camera. ‘It’s a small camera,” she said, “You can take it into the theater.”

After I caught my breath, I turned to the woman. As I said thank you, I instinctively embraced her in a warm hug of gratitude.

She smiled approvingly, and said, “I am glad to help you. Enjoy the show.”

In that moment, I remembered the words of Quabina, a parking attendant in lower Manhattan who befriended me in the 1990’s: “People are the same all over the world, some nice. Some not.”

Because of this unexpected act of kindness, I entered the theater with an extra bounce in my step.  To be honest, I felt like a child on Christmas morning. Everything seemed bigger and brighter than I imagined. Everyone seemed happier and more accommodating than I expected. As we approached our seats Santa Claus was welcoming the audience. It was the beginning of 90 minutes of sheer delight.

Everything Old Is New Again

The Christmas Spectacular features 14 scenes each with distinctive music and production values. The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers is Scene 5.  Described in the program as everybody’s favorite, it features 36 Rockettes dressed in red and white uniforms. It did not disappoint the capacity crowd. The synchronized performance was perfect. The complex and potentially dangerous ending was beautifully executed. Everyone in the theater was mesmerized watching each dancer fell backwards into the outstretched arms of two soldiers behind her.

The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers has been a staple of the Christmas show since 1933. On this December afternoon in 2011, the applause for the Rockettes from 5,931 people in attendance was nothing short of thunderous.

The Best Gift

Scenes 7 -11 got my undivided attention. Taken together they tell a mini-story about the Christmas spirit. The scenes feature an overwrought mother who can’t find the one gift she thinks her daughter wants, a well grounded daughter who doesn’t seem to be all that concerned about the gift and a thoughtful Santa Claus who tries to share perspective and wisdom.

The story begins in a department store. It continues in Santa’s workshop, and it ends after a 3-D Video Game.

Three of the scenes are tied together by the song Closer Than You Know/I Knew.

When the Christmas Spectacular opened in November, some critics were not impressed with the concept or the execution of this part of the show. 

I liked the attempt to make people think about what Santa called the best gift.

And what was the best gift?  

Well, it wasn’t the “Jumping Jasmine” doll, the so-called gift of the year.  It wasn’t Santa’s hi tech video game. It wasn’t anything mother or daughter could buy in a store or on-line. It was mother and daughter having fun together, spending time with someone they love.
The greatest gift was closer than they knew.

Scene 12, Let Christmas Shine, reinforced the message that the true Light of Christmas comes from within. Tthat’s a story we can’t hear too often these days.

The First Christmas

Scene 13, The Living Nativity, was described in the program with these words: “The beautiful and inspiring story of the first Christmas-told reverently in pageantry, music and scripture. It was all that and more.

The Christmas Spectacular ends with the lights up, the orchestra pit up, and the magnificent Wurlitzer Organ and its 4,410 pipes playing Joy To The World.

I wish everyone could see the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. It’s an experience that is bigger than life and simply unforgettable.  I wish they could see it after they see Dickens A Christmas Carol because in so many ways the two performances speak to the essence of Christmas.

We left Radio City Music Hall smiling and talking like four teenagers after the senior prom. We made our way to Rockefeller center where we took pictures with the gigantic Christmas tree behind us.

America at its Best

During the ride home, I thought to myself, everything we experienced on this day of days spoke to the Face of America on its best day.  The theater is a tribute to architectural genius and historical preservation. The actors and musicians performed flawlessly. The Rockettes exhibited the highest standard of discipline, talent and execution.  The creativity and vision of Linda Haberman brought everything together. The people we met were courteous, kind and helpful.   

It was a day we will remember until the end of our journey.  It was something Kitch wanted to do. Something we needed to do.  Something Tom was generous to arrange, and something Jacqueline made so pleasant by her caring way and her generous acts of kindness to Kitch.

Santa Claus is right:

These days everywhere you look there are strings of holiday lights, but at this time of year the most beautiful light comes from the inside, and it is closer than we know.

Thank you, Jacqueline & Tom.

Thank you, Radio City Music Hall personnel.

Thank you, Rockettes.

Thank you, Linda Harberman

Thank you, New York for preserving the showplace of the nation.

Every action with satisfaction
That you’re pursuing so
Might be, may be, could be
Closer than you know

Tony & Kitch Mussari
Producers
The Face of America Project
Please provide feedback to:
tony.mussari@gmail.com

Teaching Moments

Written By Tony Mussari
Photographs By Kitch Mussari
Copyright 2011
Mussari-Loftus Associates
The Face of America Project
faceofamericawps.com,
tony.mussari@gmail.com

Teaching Moments

“Nine-tenths of education is encouragement.” Anatole France

Doc 05: the Challenge

Prior to my visit to the North Plainfield High School for two presentations to the student body, I spent many restless nights conceptualizing the nature, objectives and tone for this unique teaching opportunity.

I wanted to connect with the students. I wanted to engage the students in a series of exercises that would reinvigorate the seeds of optimism and opportunity planted by their teachers. I wanted to inform the students about the material in our documentary about Shanksville and transformation. I wanted to define the word hero in a way they would not forget. I wanted to leave these students with positive memories about themselves and what they learned.

It was a tall order for a person who is old enough to be their grandfather. It was a challenging for someone who had not spoken to an audience of 500 students in a high school setting in more than 30 years.

For three weeks, I had been thinking, reading, planning and mulling over in my mind what I would say, and how I would say it.

To be very honest, I was somewhat apprehensive about the situation I had gotten myself into, but I was determined to make the best of it.

Several things worked to my advantage. I like these students. I admire the educational leaders in their school district. I respect their teachers. I know a good deal about the history and culture of the school district.  My wife and I have been here several times, and I taught small groups of students in their classrooms during our visits. I was a guest speaker at two athletic awards banquets, and I recorded a number of public service trips taken by the cheerleaders and their coach Skip Pulcrano.

When the light of discovery and direction finally went on in my mind, it was simple, understandable and very practical. I would do something my mother always encouraged me to do. I would be myself. I would teach in much the same way I taught in my own classroom, from my heart as well as my head. I would apply the information I learned from a teacher at Kent State University: “Effective teaching is as much about good performance as it is about good information.”

Doc 05: the Content

Now that I had a strategy, I could spend time thinking about content, examples and a theme.

The main event for the assembly was a screening of our documentary Shanksville, PA: A Place of Transformation. The film features 12 Cheerleaders from North Plainfield who visited the people’s memorial in Shanksville in 2010 during our Face of America Journey, three Flight 93 Ambassadors who helped us during our ten year What is America? project in Shanksville, the woman who took the only picture of Flight 93’s ending, Val McClatchey and the woman who created the 9/11 National Remembrance Flag, Joanne Galvin.

The film addresses several questions about America at its best, American heroes and American values. It begins with the North Plainfield High School Concert Band playing Flight of Valor.  It ends with a montage of images summarizing the events of September 11, to the music of Jo Ann Biviano’s I’ll Always Remember.   

This screening provided an excellent opportunity to talk about the person who inspired our Face of America Journey, 2LT Emily Perez, the first Black/Hispanic honors graduate to lose her life in Iraq. I could tie Emily’s Legacy into the life work of another inspirational American, Professor George N. Parks, the teacher who built a national reputation for the Minuteman Marching Band at the University of Massachusetts. His work with students could be linked with another motivational teacher and coach, Herb Brooks and his 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey team.

The documentary films Kitch and I produced about Coach Brooks and Professor Parks and the short films we edited about Emily Perez, gave me all the material I needed to tell their stores in what I hoped would be a compelling and interesting way to the students in North Plainfield.

The narratives of each of these American heroes gave me an opportunity to address the question, What is a hero? I could make the significant distinction between a hero and a celebrity. That would open the door to the matter I wanted to emphasize for the students, the impressive examples of industry and service Kitch and I found in North Plainfield, the genuine goodness of this place and the radiant Face of America it projects.

Doc 05: The Moment

The first assembly began sometime after 9 a.m. on a beautiful Monday morning. After introductions by the principal, Jerard Stevenson and the Supervisor of Fine Arts, Tom Mazur, I climbed the steps to the stage. Standing behind the podium, I waited for a few seconds, and then I enthusiastically greeted the students.   

They responded and we were off to a very good start.

After a few moments, I made a costume change.

The year I retired from teaching, Kitch and I worked with twenty students on a documentary project about the 25th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice. It was designed to teach the students life lessons and work values by studying Coach Herb Brooks and the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team. During my final night as a teacher, the students gave me what they called a “Miracle Shirt.” It is one of my most treasured possessions. I wore it under my academic gown at graduation and one other time during a guest lecturer at St. Mary’s College in Moraga California.

I explained the importance of the shirt, and its symbolism.  Then, I walked to the easel next to the podium. I removed the shirt uncovering a framed picture of a smiling Emily Perez. Just before I put the shirt on, I told the students I was going to wear this shirt for the third time to honor them. The comment resonated with the audience.

For the next few minutes we did some exercises that got the students out of their seats and enabled them to have some fun, learn some lessons about life, success, coping with disappointment, pursuing excellence and accepting themselves.

Whatever I asked the students to do they did with zest and involvement. It was such a joyful experience.  We were working together, learning together, celebrating together and having a good time together.

To be honest, it felt good to be in a classroom with so many students who were enthusiastically participating.

My segue to the film was a short story about Emily Perez: her background; her accomplishments in the classroom, on the athletic field and her impressive record of selfless service to others. I compared her courage and heroism to the actions of the heroes of flight 93. I asked the students to watch the film with their hearts as well as their eyes. I asked them to listen with their ears and their hearts to the things their classmates would say about their hopes, their dreams and their country.

The room grew silent, the lights went out and the film began. I made my way to the back of the auditorium. My heart was pumping in overdrive, and my spirits were about as high as the azure blue sky above. It was one of the best teaching opportunities of my lifetime.
In my heart of hearts, I believed that I connected with the students. I did what I came here to do.   I reinforced my strong belief that this is a place where one finds the Face of America’s tomorrow today.

When the film ended, I had a few moments with the students, and then they left the auditorium to attend their regularly scheduled classes. As they filed out of the room, several students offered encouraging comments about their experience. When I was about to leave, I was greeted by a substitute teacher who, with tears in her eyes, hugged me and expressed her thanks.

Later in the day she wrote these words:

I wanted to thank you once again for all your incredible dedication and work in such a necessary area, that of reaffirming the goodness of our wonderful country and its young people, and that of honoring our fallen.

I cannot begin to describe to you how profound and cathartic an effect your work had upon me. I felt certain that I had composed myself long prior to approaching you, yet upon our handshake I felt this overwhelming wave of emotion come back over me.  Call it gratitude, call it inspiration, respect, etc. but I was very shocked at the depth and range of feelings I experienced. 

I feel your documentary does exactly what any great documentary is supposed to do:  it informs and extols while getting people to think and REACT to what they are learning.  I can’t call it anything less than a spiritual experience. 

It definitely has everything to do with the fact that I am so very proud of my brother, a current civilian private contractor, post-military officer who was presented a bronze medal and now works actively in the wage for peace in counter-terrorism intelligence. 

Please take my words with you as an additional level of affirmation and inspiration that you and your wife so richly deserve, as you have inspired so many. 

God has Blessed You, Dr. Mussari and your lovely wife… may your work never stop moving forward to inspire everyone

On Tuesday morning at 8:30 we returned to the auditorium for another assembly. It was a memorable beginning to a very long day that would culminate in a public screening at 7:00 p.m.

Throughout the day two thoughts reverberated in my mind:

The best teachers teach from the heart, not from the book. Author Unknown

It’s not what is poured into a student that counts, but what is planted. Linda Conway

Thank You, Tom Mazur.

Thank you, Skip Pulcrano.

Thank You, Jerard Stephenson.

Thank You, Marilyn Birnbaum.

Thank you, North Plainfield students for giving an old teacher a new classroom and memories that will last a lifetime.

Tony & Kitch Mussari
Producers
The Face of America Project
Please provide feedback to:
tony.mussari@gmail.com

Once in a Lifetime

By Kitch & Tony Mussari
Copyright 2011
Mussari-Loftus Associates
The Face of America Project
faceofamericawps.com,
tony.mussari@gmail.com

“You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.” John Wooden

A Perfect Day 

Some days are better than others, Tuesday, December 6, was one of the best days of my life. It began with a screening of our documentary, Shanksville, PA: A Place of Transformation, for an auditorium filled with attentive and enthusiastic high school students in North Plainfield, New Jersey.  It continued when Kitch and I had dinner with Vicki and Daniel Perez, the parents of 2LT Emily Perez. It ended with a community screening and several pleasant surprises.

It was a day of affirmation, enthusiasm, flexibility, loyalty, service and teamwork. These are values Kitch and I celebrated and taught for many years. We believe they are the foundation of personal leadership and community service.  On this day, Kitch and I experienced the healing warmth of these words in real and personal ways.

The day began early in the morning, I was traveling solo. Kitch needed time to rest. She was approaching the first anniversary of her battle with breast cancer. Her recovery was coming along nicely, but her body was still recovering from the effects of chemotherapy and radiation. She needed time to slow down and rest. We had been on the road for three days, and she wanted to have the energy she would need for what we both knew would be a long and emotional night.

In my rush to get to the high school, I managed to forget one of the essential elements for my presentation, my “Miracle Shirt.” Given to me by my last class, I wanted to wear it during the morning assembly as I had done the day before to connect with the students and honor their participation in the event.

When I realized I had forgotten the shirt, I was disappointed and frustrated. It did not take but a few minutes to find a volunteer who was willing to make the trip the Hampton Inn in South Plainfield, to get the shirt and rescue the moment.

It may seem like a small thing, but, in my mind, it was a huge and thoughtful gift of friendship. I will always be grateful to Skip Pulcrano who literally saved the day.

The screening was flawless. The students were respectful, responsive and very enthusiastic. I got the impression they wanted to be there.  They wanted to celebrate the moment, the memory and the meaning of what they were seeing hearing and learning. I enjoyed every minute I spent with them.

It never ceases to amaze me how welcoming the North Plainfield students are. They love their school. They are impressive ambassadors for the power and promise of diversity.  On this Tuesday morning, they made their parents and their teachers proud, and they made me feel like I belonged.

As I looked out at the audience, it was clear to me that something special is happening in North Plainfield. It was also clear that I was looking into the face and the future of America’s tomorrow. These students do not have a sense of entitlement. Many of them know how difficult life can be.  They do not lament.  They do not complain. They make the most of what they have. They are earnest, genuine, full of energy, hope, kindness and optimism.  They want to make a better life for themselves. They care about people who are hurting.  

In 2010, the students in this high school participated in a fundraising event they called "Canuckapalooza."  They raised $17,000 for items to send to our troops in Iraq. This year the students raised $16,000 for the American Cancer Society.

That same spirit of caring was central to a conversation I had with a student before I left the auditorium.

After the assembly ended, a student made her way to the front of the room where a small group of students had gathered to offer feedback. I caught a glimpse of this young woman out of the corner of my eye.  She seemed to be waiting for a private moment. When the opportunity presented itself, she stepped forward. She offered kind words about the screening, and she expressed concern about Kitch. Then, she shared a poignant story about cancer and how it had affected her life. She showed me a tattoo on her wrist that spoke to her pain.  At the end of her story, tears filled her eyes when she said, “I know how hard cancer can be, and I want you to know that your wife will be in my prayers.”

I don’t know her name. I did not get her e-mail address, but I will never forget her face and the sincerity of her comments.  In my opinion, she is a face of North Plainfield High School at its very best.

Dinner with Friends

"Who finds a faithful friend, finds a treasure." Jewish Saying

By every measure Vicki and Daniel Perez are a treasure to everyone who knows them. Kitch and I came late to the banquet that is their life, but we are grateful for every moment we have spent with them during the past two years.

Vicki and Daniel gave America and West Point the gift of their daughter Emily. Her death in Iraq one year after she graduated from West Point changed their life in ways they never thought possible.  It turned their life upside down, and it filled their hearts with unimaginable emptiness. By everyone’s measure, Emily Perez personified all of the virtues the ancients associated with greatness: generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.

Filled with grief, they refused to give up and give in, they refused to lay blame, and they refused to be consumed with anger. On the contrary, they did something that would keep Emily’s Legacy alive and help young women realize their dream.  They founded Emily’s Way, The Emily J. T. Perez Foundation. The centerpiece of the foundation is a mentoring program for young women in the Washington D.C. area.

Because of their work to keep Emily’s memory alive, Kitch and I have become fast friends with Daniel and Vicki.

On this day they drove to North Plainfield to share this special moment in our life. During dinner we talked about their work, their family and some of the challenges they face.

Daniel was recently diagnosed with Diabetes. He and Kitch shared several ways to use diet to help manage sugar levels. Kitch and Vicki have a common interest in the book and the movie “The Help.” Vickie was born and raised in Texas. For her and the members of her family, the stories in the book are real life experiences.

Daniel and Vickie are people of faith. Not a proselytizing, in-your-face, I am better than you are kind of faith.  Theirs is a gentile, loving, sharing faith that permeates everything they do and everything they are. They are people whose actions speak louder than words. They are filled with the spirit of loving kindness. When you are with them, you learn, you grow, and you become a better person because of their peaceful spirit and positive example.

You can feel their pain, and you are inspired by their courage, compassion and commitment.

Their visit to North Plainfield provided Kitch and me with an opportunity to say thank you for their gift of friendship.

Eight words on a card we received from our friend Carol Matinas best describe the nature of our friendship with Vicki and Daniel Perez:

“Friendship is a promise made in the heart.”

Thank you, Vicki and Daniel for helping us tell Emily’s Story.

Thank you North Plainfield for helping us tell the Shanksville story.

(In Part 5, we will continue the story of our perfect day in North Plainfield.)

Tony & Kitch Mussari
Producers
The Face of America Project
Please provide feedback to:
tony.mussari@gmail.com

A Perfect Day

Written By Tony Mussari
Photographs By By Kitch Mussari and Pierre Lehu
Copyright 2011
Mussari-Loftus Associates
The Face of America Project
faceofamericawps.com,
tony.mussari@gmail.com

“Celebration is a kind of food we all need in our lives.” Corita Kent and Jan Steward

Moments to Remember

The public screening in North Plainfield was a first class celebration in every sense of the word.  The people who attended were filled with the spirit of community. Among the guests were members of the North Plainfield Board of Education, the Mayor of North Plainfield, students, teachers, parents and administrators from the school district, friends of cheerleading coach Skip Pulcrano and members of the cheerleading squad, people who befriended Kitch and me during our days in the classroom, and our life at J.P. Morgn. Friends we made producing documentary films and new friends from our Face of America Journey.

At the appointed hour, Principal Jerard Stephenson welcomed everyone. The JROTC Color Guard posted the colors. Tom Mazur conducted a beautiful rendition of our National Anthem sung by the high school chorus. Jo Ann Biviano played and sang her inspirational 9/11 anthem, I’ll Always Remember with the accompaniment of the high school chorus.

Dr. Marilyn Birnbaum, Superintendent of Schools, provided context and set the tone for the screening with a thoughtful introduction of the documentary.  

When I reached the podium to present a brief speech entitled “Thinking About North Plainfield,” just about every conceivable emotion of accomplishment, joy and gratitude filled my heart with words that were not in the text. I intended to begin with John Steinbeck’s quotation, “A journey is a person in itself, no two are alike.” Overwhelmed by the moment, the words that came out of my mind reflected the feelings in my heart:

“I wish I could open my chest cavity and put my heart on display so you could see the gratitude and thanks I am feeling at this moment.”

When I looked into Kitch’s eyes I had a flashback to the screening in this room just about one year ago.  It was the day after we first heard the words breast cancer. On this night we were reasonable certain that after a year of battling this monster, Kitch was cancer free.

At one point in the presentation, my eyes met those of Marilyn Birnbaum, a woman I admire and respect. I went off script to tell her publically she is one of the finest educators I have ever known. She is an educational leader who knows that education is as much about planting seeds as it is about achieving outstanding test scores.

Vicki and Daniel Perez were sitting in the third row next to Kitch. I wanted them to feel at home in this school where I believed their daughter, Emily, would feel at home. To  make them feel comfortable, we produced a short film titled Emily’s Legacy. I used these words to introduce the film:

I think it is appropriate to begin this screening with a short video Kitch and I produced this week about Emily.  I believe it will connect the dots and make it perfectly clear why we love the students of this school, why we admire their teachers, why we are indebted to their principal, Jerard Stephenson, their wonderful superintendant Dr. Marilyn Birnbaum who has been so supportive of our work, and the exemplary board of education charged with running this school system. They are producing Emilys every day of the week, and they are doing it in a quality way, one lesson and one step at a time.

To be honest, I fell in love with the spirit of North Plainfield, the kindness of North Plainfield and the welcoming way of the people in this high school. That love inspired an old man to push himself very hard to document, in the best way he could, what, in my opinion, makes this place so special.

During my first visit here in 2009, it was obvious that something very compelling was happening in this high school.  I could see it in the faces of the students, their teachers, their coaches, their administrators and their parents. I could feel it in my heart, and I was drawn in by its beauty, magnetism and inspiration.

There is a fundamental goodness, eagerness, wonder and gratitude about the people I met here, the events I recorded here and the back story about life here.

You can watch Emily’s Legacy at this address:

http://faceofamericawps.com/video/emilys-legacy/

To thank the person who did the lion’s share of the work to make this night happen, I composed these words:

There is one other person I would like to thank. He is a man I affectionately refer to as my brother. He is the architect of the series of events that culminated in this screening, Tom Mazur. Without Tom’s attention to detail, competence and caring heart, we would not have this evening of celebration.

To paraphrase the words from your masterful production of A Christmas Carol and Charles Dickens’ hand: I am proud to wear the golden chain of friendship forged in North Plainfield with Tom Mazur.

The speech ended with two quotations from Dickens:

I am so thankful our trip took Kitch and me across America by way of North Plainfield, New Jersey, because it gave meaning to the words of Charles Dickens:

“A loving heart is the truest wisdom.” In North Plainfield, you learn to have “a heart that never hardens, a temper that never tires and a touch that never hurts.”

A Bump in the Road and an Unexpected Surprise

For Kitch and me public screenings are an anxious time. Not only do we worry about how the documentary will be received, we also worry about all of the technical things that can go wrong.

During this event, everything seemed to be going well. The audience reacted to various parts of the film in the way we anticipated they would. The sound system worked well, and the images looked good on the screen. Then, the unexpected happened. As the story was about to end, the laptop computer playing the DVD froze, not once or twice but several times. After waiting a few minutes for the situation to be corrected, I walked to the front of auditorium to apologize for the glitch.

The words spoken earlier in the documentary by Guedis Cardenas were tailor made for this situation:

“Life is not a perfect piece of paper.  It’s actually crumbled. There’s wrinkles that represent the ups and downs of our life.”

The audience responded positively when I repeated these words, and we transitioned  to a moment Kitch and I had been planning for several weeks.  We asked Vicki and Daniel Perez, Marilyn Birnbaum and Linda Bond-Nelson, president of the board of education to join us in the front of the room.

They obliged.

Daniel Perez offered warm remarks of celebration and gratitude before he and Vicki presented a beautiful picture of his daughter to Dr. Birnbaum and Mrs. Bond-Nelson. The photograph will hang in the school library next to a picture of Rev. Martin Luther King. It is our hope that these images will inspire the students to believe in their dreams and do their very best to achieve them.   

Before Vicki and Daniel took their seats, Kitch and I presented them with a tracing of Emily’s name and other artifacts we collected in her honor at the Middle East Conflicts Memorial Wall in Marseilles, Illinois, during our Face of America Journey.  The expression on their faces and the warm hugs of friendship and gratitude they extended made this the very best moment of the night for Kitch and me.

An Honor Like No Other

Little did we know or expect what was about to happen. Skip Pulcrano, coach of the North Plainfield Cheerleaders came to the podium to talk about the accomplishments of his squad. He introduced the Mayor Michael Giordano, Jr. who complimented the cheerleaders before he presented a proclamation recognizing the squad.

Then he invited Kitch and me to join him on the stage. Not knowing what to expect, we climbed the six steps to the stage, and we positioned ourselves next to the mayor.  He began reading from a framed proclamation words that honored our work and humbled our souls. The final paragraph of the proclamation literally took our breath away:

“I do hereby proclaim the sixth day of every December as Dr. Anthony and Kathleen Mussari day so that our students and community will always remember the honor and distinction they have graciously delivered to the Borough of North Plainfield.”

This is a moment we will treasure for the rest of our life. Our response to this honor can be found at this address:

http://faceofamericawps.com/face-of-america-producers-honored/

In keeping with our tradition, Kitch and I presented a gratitude gift to students who appeared in the film, and people in the school district who helped us make this dream become a reality. After speaking with a number of people who volunteered their thoughts about the evening, we walked to the school cafeteria for refreshments, photographs and conversations about the evening and the beautiful memories it created.

Later I returned to the auditorium to carefully pack a beautiful piece of art. It was made by a group of elementary students under the direction of Joanne Wendt. It speaks to everything the screening was about. Mrs. Wendt graciously told me I could have it as a souvenir. It will always have a prominent place in the room where I work.  It reminds me of the beautiful memories of this once-in-a-lifetime experience. It and the students who made it are a statement about what America is on its best days: service to others; kindness to others: caring about others and using one’s talent to help others.

A few days after the event, we received a note from Tony Richel, a retired superintendent of schools who attended the screening.

Tony and Kitch:

You are to be commended for the time and effort and most of all, your patriotism in producing the video "Shanksville, PA: A Place of Transformation."  Your presentation was excellent.  One could observe the passion that you have for this tragedy on our nation.  You are right.  We must never forget!

I am positive that what I saw will have a lasting impression on me, the students of North Plainfield and the town.  Pat has told me so much about your work and I was finally able to see it first-hand.

Thank you.
Tony Richel

Some days are better than others. December 6, is about as perfect a day as Kitch and I will ever have.

Thank you, North Plainfield for making it happen.

Thank you, North Plainfield students for sharing your stories.

Thank you, Janie, Chuck, Jayne, Val, and Sue for making us welcome in Shanksville for ten wonderful years.

Thank you, Joanne for permitting us to be ambassadors of the 9/11 remembrance Flag.

Thank you, Vicki and Daniel for giving America the gift of your daughter and your courageous example.

Thank you, Kitch for believing in the dream and the dreamer.

Thank you, America for giving us the freedom to do this work.

You can be sure that our search for the Face of America on its best day will continue, and our journey across America will always take us home to North Plainfield.

Tony & Kitch Mussari
Producers
The Face of America Project
Please provide feedback to:
tony.mussari@gmail.com

Rekindling the Flame: Thanksgiving 2011

By Tony Mussari
Copyright 2011
Mussari-Loftus Associates
The Face of America Project
faceofamericawps.com
tony.mussari@gmail.com

Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart. Seneca

Stories from the Heart

These are stories about people we met by circumstance or design during the past week.

The women in these stories personify what someone once said so accurately about Thanksgiving, “Don’t only give thanks for what you have. Give thanks for what you give.”

In our opinion, these stories reflect the spirit of America on its best day. They speak to the heart and soul of Americans at their best. They give truth to the words of Dr. Stephen Post, “America is the home of the free and the land of the good.”

Helping Hands

On a cold November afternoon as I was leaving a store in a strip mall, I watched a woman come out of a store and approach a Salvation Army volunteer who was ringing a Christmas bell and greeting shoppers. She was shivering.  Her hands were beet-red from the cold. 

“Give me your hands,” the woman asked the volunteer?”

Then, she opened a bag containing a new pair of woolen gloves, and she carefully placed them on the hands of the volunteer.

In astonishment, the Salvation Army volunteer asked, “Are you coming back to get the gloves, or can I keep them?”

The woman smiled and said, “They’re yours. Thanks for making our world a better place,” then she disappeared into the crowd.”

Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds. Theodore Roosevelt

Bobbie’s World

Kitch and I met Barbara Platt at the Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center during our Face of America journey. She was singing copies of her book, This Is Holy Ground. It was a perfect opportunity to introduce our granddaughter to an author.

On that June day in 2010, we became fast friends.

Barbara Platt came to Gettysburg in 1955 with her husband who accepted a teaching position at Gettysburg College. She has been a student of the battlefield for more than 50 years. She is a woman of fierce independence and inspiring determination to learn, grow and make the most of life.

She is loyal to her friends, and she is willing to help people who ask for her help. One week after our chance meeting, Barbara did a wonderful interview for our book, America at Its Best.  Standing in the shadow of the place where President Abraham Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg Address, she shared insights about the battlefield, her work, her life, and her battle with breast cancer.

When I asked Barbara to identify someone from the battle who, in her mind, represents America on its best day, she did not name a general, or a statesman.  She told the story of a 70-year old man, John Burns. He was too old to join the union army, but when the battle began he picked up his Revolutionary War rifle and asked a commanding officer to let him join the fight.

Barbara was 83-years-old when she told that story. The breast cancer that slowed her down seven years earlier was in remission, and she was not about to let it prevent her from living a full life. To encourage Kitch, she wrote these words:

My very best to both of you. I am all too familiar with Kitch’s situation. Her treatment “ain’t fun,” but having been around now for seven years after the doctors almost gave up on me, I know it’s worth it.

This week, Kitch and I visited with Barbara at the Gettysburg National Battlefield Park to do an interview with her for our documentary about cancer. Her circumstance is much different today than when we first met. Cancer has returned with a vengeance, and the signs of its return are obvious. Nevertheless, Bobby is still doing the things she loves to do, and she refuses to spend any time lamenting her fate. “I certainly have no problem with my situation.  I never have. I wake up every morning, she told me, “and I do what I can to be productive.”

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. Thornton Wilder

A Library for Laurie

Laurie McDonald was an extraordinary woman of dignity, class, and passion. It was our good fortune to meet Mrs. McDonald at a Bedtime Stories event at the elementary school my granddaughter attends. She was welcoming and very pleasant to be with.

Described as a perfect principal by people who worked with her, Laurie McDonald was dedicated to excellence and innovation in the classroom.

During our Face of America journey, Laurie responded to virtually every newsletter with words of encouragement and support.
One year ago, on Thanksgiving Day, we received this note from her:

Dear Tony and Kitch,

“Thank you for the lovely note and beautiful picture.  I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and the upcoming holiday season is a blessed and happy one for you and your family!!”

Fondly,
Laurie

One month later, December 2010, she responded to an article we wrote entitled “Putting the past behind us.”  

“Once again, thank you for sharing a beautiful story, your lessons of dealing with challenges in such a positive and loving way, have brightened and uplifted me on many a day, thank you and many blessings to you and Kitch.”  Laurie

In February, when Kitch was battling Cancer, this note arrived from Laurie:

“Please know my thoughts and prayers are with you both.  Fondly, Laurie”

In April, my daughter and I attended the funeral service for Laurie McDonald. The pancreatic cancer she had been battling for three months took her life.  She was the same age as Kitch.  She was diagnosed in December 2010 the same month as Kitch.

Monday, November 22, was a rainy day in Leesburg,Virginia.  Kitch and I attended the dedication of the Mrs. Laurie McDonald Library. It was a beautiful and emotional event for 800 students and many parents and guests.

Mrs. McDonald was celebrated with readings, poems and songs. It was a joyful but poignant experience. It was exactly what she deserved and something she would have enjoyed.

As I recorded scenes of children singing, laughing, talking and learning, I thought to myself how short and unpredictable life is, and how fortunate Kitch and I were to meet this incredible Face of America.

The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count
our blessings. Eric Hoffer

Donna’s Gift

On Tuesday, November 22, Kitch and I were returning from Virginia.  It was shortly after 5 p.m. It was raining heavily. The roads were treacherous. 

We stopped at the Sheetz store in Duncannon, PA.  My wife wanted to get a small cup of coffee.

When we approached the coffee maker, there were no small styrofoam cups.  We asked for help, and one of the employees at the food counter contacted someone in our behalf. The store was crowded, and it took a few minutes for the person to arrive with the replacement cups.

By that time, my wife had selected another size cup, and she was pouring coffee into the cup when Donna arrived.  Donna politely apologized for the inconvenience. My wife accepted her apology, and then she handed me the half full cup as she walked to another section of the store.
Donna restocked the empty section with cups. Before I made my way to the cashier, I thanked Donna for her willingness to help us.

I was standing in line waiting to pay for the cup of coffee, when Donna approached me. She smiled and asked, “Is the cup of coffee all that you have?”

I replied, “Yes.”

Then, Donna spoke these words. “You don’t have to pay for it. You were inconvenienced, and I apologize for that, and I appreciate your understanding.”

I don’t think I will ever forget that moment, the expression on her face, or the warm feeling of appreciation I experienced.

Donna just did her job, and she did it well. She was pleasant, helpful and cognizant of our needs.  She gave us more than we expected. She did not know anything about us. She only knew how to be kind.

Treating us with courtesy and consideration, she made a very favorable impression.

Although the road ahead would be long and challenging, Donna’s act of kindness and appreciation filled our hearts with the warm glow of gratitude.

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. Albert Schweitzer

Beautiful Thoughts

During this year of years, many people have lighted the flame within us. We will write about them before the year ends. For the moment, I would like to share some beautiful thoughts we received in response to a question we asked about important life lessons.

“Each human life is unique and has special value. We are social beings. As members of communities we have the opportunity to add value to the lives of others, and by so doing our own lives become more fulfilled.” Dr. Dan Kopen

“I learned that while we are people of place, we are also destined to move on from time to time… Love the people where you are, and do dig deep and meaningful roots. But realize as well that on a path of spiritual growth, there is something to be said for Rt 80!” Victor Chan is right, “Most people on a journey have to move on to grow… Wherever you are is home if you focus on the things that matter most!” Dr. Stephen Post

"Nothing trumps perseverance and hard work." Julie Marvel

“The lesson came to me through an act of kindness from a colleague. In the midst of a crisis, this colleague asked me how things were and I told her. She then ran into her office and came out to give me a red metal cuff bracelet that has this on it: ‘Be still and know that I AM.’  That remains the biggest lesson for me.” Dr. Agnes Cardoni

"Loyalty to whomever I was working with." Barbara Platt

“What lesson did I learn in life…To be thankful and not just on Thanksgiving.  I had a Sunday School teacher as a child that said, we could be thankful for something different every day.  I have never forgotten her telling the class that.  The Bible tells us that in everything give thanks because it is the will of God.  Each day is a gift from God and I must make it count.” Janie Kiehl

“I’ve learned not to be so critical of things. To be more understanding and more compassionate, to have faith.” Louie Bigiarelli

"The most important lesson I’ve ever learned is that God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. I was fortunate to have been taught this a child and it has given me a foundation to build my life, values, and life principles on."  Chuck Wagner

"To receive kindness and understanding from my neighbors and friends, I have to be kind and understanding to them." Helene Bigiarelli

"Life is, indeed, short so there is no time to feel sorry for yourself. We would just be wasting our days and leaving little time to do for others.  I guess this is one of the lessons I have learned…. " Dr. Marilyn Birnbaum

You can be sure we will be thinking about these life lessons as we give thanks for the gift of life and the many opportunities afforded us during our Face of America Journey.

From our hearts to your home, Happy Thanksgiving, and may all of your stories have happy endings.

Kitch & Tony Mussari

Please provide Feedback to:
tony.mussari@gmail.com

Heroes Without Headlines
By Tony Mussari
Copyright 2011
Mussari-Loftus Associates
The Face of America Project
faceofamericawps.com
tony.mussari@gmail.com

What has made this nation so great? Not its heroes, but its households.Sarah Orne Jewett

Heroes without Headlines, Part 1

Sunday, November 6, 2011, was a beautiful autumn day. Kitch and I decided to make our way to several flood damaged communities in Northeastern Pennsylvania to speak with people who were trying to rebuild their homes and their lives.  

During the Agnes Flood of 1972, Kitch was one of the first female broadcasters in Pennsylvania. She worked as a reporter for WARM Radio. Known to listeners in this part of the state as the Mighty 590, WARM had the largest radio news team and the biggest audience.

I was an independent contractor working as the editorial director and an investigative reporter for WNEP TV. Ironically, our paths seldom, if ever, met during that time.

On this beautiful Sunday afternoon, we took the blue-lined roads to small communities along the Susquehanna River: West Nanticoke, Mocanaqua, Shickshinny and Bloomsburg.

Quite honestly, this Face of America trip would not have happened, if Trish Hartman, anchor and reporter for WNEP TV, had not asked for an interview for a special she is producing about the aftermath of Tropical Storm Lee.

To get ready for the interview, I read chapters of my Ph.D. thesis about Hurricane Agnes as an agent of change, and the book that preceded it, Appointment with Disaster. I spent a good deal of time reading reports about both disasters. A conversation with Jerry Mancinelli who works for the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare provided context for Tropical Storm Lee.

As helpful as this information was, I needed to speak with people who experienced the devastation caused by Tropical Storm Lee. I wanted to experience the human side of the disaster. I wanted to do it with Kitch who, in 1982, compiled a 96 part series about Hurricane Agnes.

On this trip she had to stay in the car while I did the heavy lifting, but having her by my side gave me the confidence I needed to make the day pleasant and productive.

Tidewater People

Driving along Route 29, we stopped in West Nanticoke, a very small community located next to Harveys Creek. The name Nanticoke is derived from Algonquian, and it means people of the tidewaters. There, we met Lynn Traatr. He is not a man of wealth or power.   He is a registered nurse who works in home health care. He lives in a modest neighborhood. Visible signs of the September flood are everywhere.

An American flag has a prominent place in front his flood damaged home. When he speaks, he is does not mince words.

Lynn had flood damage in his home and in the neighboring mobile home he owns. He is angry and frustrated about several flood-related experiences and the response he received from federal and state agencies of government.

He told us FEMA would not give him money to repair his mobile home. He found no difference in securing a loan from a local bank or the SBA. His anger, frustration and exhaustion surfaced when he categorized federal and state assistance to flood victims with these words: “I think the federal and state help stinks.”   

When our conversation turned to the basic questions we ask everyone for our Face of America project, his answers reflected his appreciation for his country and his longing for American exceptionalism.

He is proud of his country because he can voice his opinions. To use his words, “I can state things like I have just stated without somebody coming back ready to put silver bracelets on you.”

“I would like to see us getting back to everybody being willing to help one another, to work together, to improve,” he told me. “That’s what this country was founded on.”

Five Mountains

Shickshinny is a small community located along Route 11. Its population is less than 1,000 people. The word means five mountains in Native American. According to local historians the town name celebrates the Shickshinny Creek, a place were five points of the Appalachian Mountains meet.

Wherever you look in Shickshinny, you see flood damaged businesses, and people trying to make repairs. Only one person we met was willing to talk with us, and that was on condition that we not record her comments digitally or take her picture.

The Only Incorporated TOWN in Pennsylvania

Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, is located 50 miles from our home. It was incorporated in 1870 as a town, and to this day it lays claim to being the only incorporated town in the state. The state recognizes that claim in its publications.  In reality, there is another incorporated town in western Pennsylvania. The town of McCandless incorporated 1975.

In Bloomsburg, the flood damage is shocking. On West Main Street, homes and other structures were moved off their foundations. Yet, in the midst of this carnage almost two months after the storm, we found the most positive and helpful people.

Richard Fornwald is a person you would want to be your neighbor. An Army veteran who served in the Honor Guard in Washington, DC, he is a big man who is thoughtful and very welcoming. He did not expect the flood to be as damaging as it was. Tropical Storm Lee caused more damage to his home than Hurricane Agnes 39 years earlier. In 1972, he had 5 inches of water on the first floor. Today he is dealing with a disaster that brought 26 inches of water to his home.

Mr. Fornwald is very pleased with the local, federal and state response. He has flood insurance, and he is waiting for his settlement.

For him, America is a great country, and about his situation, he is very honest; “We live down here and we must put up with this stuff.”

Richard’s neighbor Colton Fisher had 34 inches of water on the first floor of his home. His garage was torn from its foundation. “You have to get into the swing of things. You have to keep moving on,” he told me.  “You have to keep moving forward.”

Colton has high praise for help he received from volunteers in church groups and from all levels of government. He has flood insurance, and he applied for an SBA loan.

An American flag flying in Fisher’s back yard and a table covered with a pink cloth on his deck caught my attention. On this Sunday afternoon, he and his wife, Sharon, returned to their home to work on their laundry room and have a picnic on their deck.

I was not surprised to learn that Fisher was a Marine.

He told me he is proud to be an American. He appreciates the freedom he enjoys, and he believes America on its best day is exemplified by “people who are hard working, people who get knocked down and get back up and keep on moving.”

He is very much aware that as the days and weeks pass, he and his wife are on their own.

Sharon Fisher is an administrative assistant at the Geisinger Medical Center’s Division of Quality and Safety.  When I asked her to walk with her husband and her neighbor to the street in front of her house to meet and talk with Kitch, she responded positively and without hesitation.

There, in between the shadow of her damaged house and the rushing, soothing sounds of Fishing Creek that caused all of the damage, she spoke words that I will never forget:

“You have to stay as positive as you can. I could be down and out like some people are but what good is that going to do? A positive attitude keeps you going…going forward. I’ve learned that I’m not going to put all my heart and soul into a house any more. I want to spend my money on travel and recreation and having a good time.”

On this day, Kitch and I were fortunate to meet people who personify one of the most compelling characteristics of America on its best day, resilience. They were down but not out.  They were hurting, but not about to give up.  They were working hard to make their tomorrow better than today.

As we drove north toward Mocanaqua, the words of Helen Keller came to mind:

“The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of tiny pushes of each honest worker.”

To be continued.

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Heroes Without Headlines, Part 2
By Tony Mussari
Copyright 2011
Mussari-Loftus Associates
The Face of America Project
faceofamericawps.com
tony.mussari@gmail.com

“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.”Anais Nin

Finding the Essence of America in a Flood Zone

As the Susquehanna River flows, Mocanaqua, Pennsylvania, is 26 miles north of Bloomsburg, PA. It is a small community of less than 7,000 people. The name of the town is said to be the name given to Frances Slocum after she was kidnapped by the Delaware Indians in 1778. It means Little Bear Woman.

Kitch and I were introduced to Mocanaqua by one of our former students, Phillip Yacuboski.  In 2000, we were producing Windsor Park Stories. Phillip was working at a local TV station. He asked us to produce a documentary about his church, St. Mary’s of Mocanaqua for the Local Legacy Project sponsored by the Library of Congress. We said yes. The project brought us to his hometown, and the rest as they say is history.

Fast forward 11 years. Phillip is the overnight assignment editor at WBAL TV, Baltimore, Maryland, and we are on our way to visit the flood damaged sections of Mocanaqua.  

After we drove through a flood damaged neighborhood that sits less than 100 yards from the river’s edge, we noticed what appeared to be a carpenter carrying materials into a home on River Street. Little did we know, then, that we were about to meet a person who would speak with authority about the flood and what it means to enjoy the blessings of American citizenship.

Jerzy Milkucki was born in Poland.  He immigrated to America 17 years ago. After his five year probationary period, he became an American citizen. He is a painter by profession, but he is skilled in carpentry as well.  On this Sunday afternoon he was installing drywall in his dining room.

Jerzy is a natural conversationalist.  He was a delight to interview. He is genuine, honest, sincere and very positive. He believes the warning system worked. In fact, he had enough time to take everything upstairs where he spent the night of September 9, waiting for the river to crest. Before the river receded, he used his kayak to float around the neighborhood checking for damage and looking for people who needed help. He was favorably impressed by the help he received after the flood from the Red Cross, the Polish Falcons and volunteer firefighters. His experiences with FEMA were excellent, and the people he met there were, in his words, “very nice.”

When our conversation turned to his thoughts about America, the expression on his face and the cadence of his words spoke volumes.

“America is a beautiful country,” he told me.  This is a country for living. It is a country of opportunity for everybody.  It is a beautiful country. Last year I was in Alaska, a beautiful place. I was in the west states. I was in Florida. I was all over.  One day, if I have the money and time I would like to experience all of the states of America. It is a beautiful country, beautiful people, not everybody, but my experience is with very good, good people, helpful, very kind and very warm. It’s nice.”

When I asked him to compare life in Poland with his experience in America, he willingly shared these thoughts:

“In Poland, the political, economic situation is like this.  The money you make for living, it’s not enough. The level of living over there, you have to be working from morning until night, and it’s still going to be hard to make it."

"Here, you know, you learn something; you do the job, you work hard, you make money. It’s like my family. My wife works. My daughter is going to a very good university, Fordham University. In Poland, I would not be able to afford to put her in a good university. Over here she is a top student, speaks three languages, and she is going for the fourth one. I tell her hard work, hard work, hard work and then you are going to have it easy in your life.”

What did Jerzy Milkucki learn from his flood experience?

He is stronger as a person, more independent. In his words, “my view is way, way wider. I know who is the real person, and who is the one who is trying to slide under. I can count on my neighbors.”

Before I left his home, Jerzy summarized the past two months with this observation:

“In my experience, I survived flood and fire. I don’t know what’s going to be next. The good thing about a flood is you know it’s coming, and you have time to prepare yourself. It brings the community together.”

Don’t Live Next to a Creek

On our way home we stopped in West Nanticoke to speak with John Nash.  He was installing a light over his front door. He stopped what he was doing to talk with us, and his story reinforced the one we had just recorded in Mocanaqua.

His experience with all of the agencies of government was positive. “Everyone in the community pulled together,” he said, “and everybody just helped each other out.”  He believes America on its best day is people helping people.

His mother, Sylvia Nash, knows this is a tough time, but she refuses to sit back and feel sorry for herself. She is determined to keep moving forward.

When I asked her son what was the most important lesson he learned, she interrupted our conversation with six words spoken with authority:

“Don’t live next to a creek.”

Kitch and I have spent the better part of two years talking with people who live in small towns across America.  It never ceases to amaze us what we have learned from these conversations. On this November afternoon, the people we met and the things they shared give truth to the words of Rebecca Harding Davis:

“Down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid. He is the hero, he is everything. He must be a complete man and a common man and yet an unusual man. He must be, to use a rather weathered phrase, a man of honor, by instinct, by inevitability, without thought of it, and certainly without saying it. He must be the best man in his world, and a good enough man for any world.”

That’s the essence of the Face of America, and that’s what America is all about on its best day.

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A Few Words from Andy Rooney: A face of America Commentary

By Tony Mussari
Copyright 2011
Mussari-Loftus Associates, LTD
The Face of America Project
faceofamericawps.com
tony.mussari@gmail.com

A writer’s job is to tell truth. Andy Rooney

The news of Andy Rooney’s death took me by surprise. It came on a day when I was thinking about death of another kind. That’s a story for another day.

Andy Rooney lived a charmed life. He did what he loved to do. He wrote for a living. At first he did it for others, and then, when he was old enough to be a grandfather, he did it in a very public way for the most celebrated news magazine on television, 60 Minutes.

Rooney was blessed with a name that was easy to remember, and a way with words that was hard to forget. At 60 Minutes he had a boss, Don Hewitt, who believed that words, not gimmicks, made good stories. That being said, it was what Andy Rooney did with words that made all the difference.

When you and I look at a door, it is something that allows entry and exit. When Andy Rooney looked at a door, it became a highly respected television special.

Andy Rooney was a little bit of all of us; impatient to be sure, observant to his advantage and our delight, and grumpy when his privacy was violated. 

At times he was impulsive and insensitive. He paid a price for that, but he redeemed himself with the honesty he sought in others. A thoughtless remark about homosexuals resulted in firestorm of protest. It produced a genuine apology: “I am guilty of what I said about gays, and I deeply regret having offended them, but on the other charge, I am absolutely innocent. I never made any remark about blacks having ‘watered down’ their genes.”

I once had the pleasure of walking behind Andy Rooney on West 42d street in the shadow of the nondescript building that is the home of CBS in New York.  He was smaller than I imagined and slower moving than one would expect. His appearance was anything but impressive, and he had the biggest feet I have ever seen.

None of these imperfections mattered very much, because the words he used enabled him to connect with us.

These are some of the most memorable words to come from Rooney’s brilliant mind, and his carefully guarded heart. They speak to the strength of his character and the reason for our admiration.

“All men are not created equal but should be treated as though they were under the law.”

“Computers make it easier to do a lot of things, but most of the things they make it easier to do don’t need to be done.”

“Don’t rule out working with your hands. It does not preclude using your head.”

“If you smile when no one else is around, you really mean it.”

“People will generally accept facts as truth only if the facts agree with what they already believe.”

“The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there’s a 90% probability you’ll get it wrong.”

“The closing of a door can bring blessed privacy and comfort – the opening, terror. Conversely, the closing of a door can be a sad and final thing – the opening a wonderfully joyous moment.”

“We’re all proud of making little mistakes. It gives us the feeling we don’t make any big ones.”

“A writer’s greatest pleasure is revealing to people things they knew but did not know they knew. Or did not realize everyone else knew, too. This produces a warm sense of fellow feeling and is the best a writer can do.”

“I think of myself as a critic. We need all types in the world. We need poets and we need people who can make things. And … we need critics of the things that are made, too.”

“Death is a distant rumor to the young.”

“Most of us end up with no more than five or six people who remember us. Teachers have thousands of people who remember them for the rest of their lives.”

In my opinion, Andy Rooney was a Face of America on its best day.  He was simply the best at what he did.  His artfully crafted words made us laugh, cry, think, celebrate and give thanks for the blessings we enjoy as Americans. He was a member of the greatest generation who taught us in words and actions how to be our own greatest generation.

This is a sad day for television news because we have lost a giant who will never be replaced.  Thank you, Andy Rooney for showing us the way to maximize freedom of speech, critical thinking and storytelling with meaning and purpose.

You and your work will be remembered by more than five or six people because you were a teacher’s teacher with a magical gift of words.

(Photograph by Stevenson Brown uploaded to Flickr and available in Wikimedia Commons)

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Three Cups of Tea at Candy’s Place

By Kitch & Tony Mussari
Copyright 2011
Mussari-Loftus Associates, LTD
The Face of America Project

Joy is not in things. It is in us. Richard Wagner

During our Face of America journey, Kitch and I survived a serious automobile accident in Minnesota, heat stroke in New Hampshire, road rage in Florida, a blizzard in Arizona, closed roads in Wyoming, and 3 computer meltdowns.

These are trivial events compared to what happened on December 9, 2010. On that day Kitch went for her annual mammogram. I was at home preparing for a screening of our documentary: Visiting Shanksville in the Rain. It was scheduled for December 10, in North Plainfield, New Jersey.

The telephone rang. The voice at the other end of the line cracked with emotion. I heard words that I never expected to hear. Kitch could not finish the call. That was done by the compassionate and competent voice of Dr. Dan Kopen.

Within minutes, I was in his office holding Kitch’s hand while Dr. Kopen explained the results of the mammogram and the need for a biopsy. In less than a week, we met with Dr. Kopen again.  This time he spoke three words that seared an indelible mark on my soul: “invasive ductal carcinoma.”

For the next 11 months, virtually all of our time, effort and energy was spent battling an adversary we could not see, hear, or feel.

Fast forward to the most beautiful Sunday of autumn, Kitch and I are making our way to the Grand Ballroom at the Woodlands Inn and Resort. We were welcomed graciously at the door by a board member and a volunteer from Candy’s Place. After a brief conversation we entered the ballroom. We were overwhelmed by what we saw.

Wherever we looked, someone dressed in something pink was smiling or laughing. People were engaged in good conversation. They were taking group pictures.  They were checking out the cornucopia of prizes donated by public spirited citizens to raise money for the one-on-one programs offered at the Center for Cancer Wellness.

Heather Gaydos, a high school student and volunteer, was selling homemade biscotti and cookies. Theresa Novak, the yoga instructor at Candy’s Place and two of her friends were carrying baskets filled with chocolate products courtesy of her store, Ah! Some Chocolates.

Penny Cunningham, the founder of Candy’s Place, was busy meeting and greeting people, and Nicole Farber, the center cirector, was attending to last minute details for the tea.

The atmosphere was welcoming and very festive.  The mood in the room was joyful, and the setting was beautiful in every respect of the word.

The beverage and sweets served at the tea were tastefully displayed and quickly removed by the room full of cancer survivors, family members and friends who came to show their support for Candy’s Place.

One by one, eight of these women walked to the podium in the front of the room to tell their stories about diagnosis, treatment and survival.

Rebecca Barrett was 37 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She asked the question, “What has the gift of cancer given me?”

Her answer; “It made my family stronger. It made me stronger, and it made me closer to my family.”

Mary Ann Meeker is an affable woman.  She likes to talk. In 1996, she was 57 and enjoying life. She had no family history of breast cancer. These are the words she used to describe her reaction to the news that she had breast cancer. “It hit me like a ton of bricks.”

Carol Marino is a strong woman with a good sense of humor. She talked about the dark time between diagnosis, surgery and recovery. Even though she has been cancer free for 17 years, it is still an emotional experience for her. She celebrated the services provided by Candy’s Place and the friends she made there.  She offered this piece of advice to those who will be diagnosed with cancers of any kind. “You have to believe in hope. When it might seem darkest, you have to have hope.”

Stacey Casey attended the event with her husband. She admitted that she is a newcomer to the long gravel road called cancer. She thanked her husband for his loyalty and support and she made it very clear that she is learning every day that support from family and friends is vital to recovery.

Rhonda Zikowski spoke with honesty about the fear that comes with cancer, and she thanked Christine Fazzi the personal trainer at Candy’s Place for making her feel stronger. With sincerity that touched the hearts of everyone in the room she paid Chris the ultimate compliment, “You are always kind, generous and there for me.”

Jean Connelly is a decorated veteran in the war against cancer. She has successfully defeated two different forms of cancer. Jean is a woman of infectious humor and great resolve. She spoke with authority when she shared these words, “When they throw the “C” word at you, it hits home and knocked the wind out of my sails.”

Thinking out loud about what she learned from her experience, Jean offered this insight;
“I am a blessed person, because cancer taught me how to live, not to wait to be happy. It taught me to be happy today.”

For Beth Miner, 2007 was an Annus Horribilis. Her 40-year-old niece died from breast cancer.  Her neighbor died from breast cancer, and she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Beth had a very difficult time with chemotherapy, and she could not finish the infusion treatments, but fortunately things worked out well for her and her family.  Today she is a volunteer at Candy’s Place and a woman who has a special gift when working with other survivors.  Maybe that’s because when people walk through the door to Candy’s Place, Beth sees a mirror image of herself.

In Beth’s words, “When I meet a cancer survivor for the first time the feelings come back to me.  I don’t know why I am here, but I am standing strong.”

Mary Ann Gap was the last speaker. She is a positive and determined woman. Her story speaks to the heart and soul of Candy’s Place. When she was diagnosed at 50, she was alone.  Her family and friends lived out of state. She did not drive, and she was struggling.

Her radiation oncologist, Dr. Norman Schulman, connected her with Candy’s Place. When she made her first visit, Nicole Farber greeted her with a smile.  She arranged to have Denise Fried make a weekly call to Mary Ann. This call gave Mary Ann the gift of connection, and it helped her make a successful recovery.

Listening to these women and thinking about Kitch’s experience in her one-on-one yoga classes with Theresa Novak, makes it very clear to me that cancer is a vicious disease that can be beaten if detected early. But it takes a family to overcome the fears and the scars that come with the treatment and cure.

In my opinion, if you’re looking for love, go to Candy’s Place. If you’re looking for compassion, go to Candy’s Place, if you’re looking for understanding, go to Candy’s Place. At Candy’s Place you are family.

It was inspiring to be in the presence of a room full of heroines. No matter where you looked in the Grand Ballroom, you saw a heartwarming, thought provoking scene.  The words of Emily Dickinson took on new meaning for me, because these women had found ecstasy in life. For them, the mere sense of living was joy enough.

In a way, Kitch and I were having our third cup of tea at Candy’s Place. We were no longer strangers, or casual friends. Like everyone in the room, we were family, and it felt wonderful.

The moment Penny Cunningham won the door prize added to our delight. What a fitting and serendipitous end to a memorable afternoon.

It doesn’t get any better than an afternoon of pink tea at Candy’s Place.

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Maintaining Justice: A Face of America Experience

By Tony Mussari
Copyright 2011
Mussari-Loftus Associates, LTD
The Face of America Project

“If we do not maintain justice, justice will not maintain us.” Francis Bacon

Our Face of America Journey took me to the Luzerne County Courthouse this week thanks to a summons I received from the court administrator.

It read:

“YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED FOR JURY DUTY IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS”

Without hesitation, reservation, or an attempt to get out of my civic duty, I made my way to the Luzerne County Courthouse. I had been a juror once before, and I enjoyed the process. I was looking forward to another positive experience.

As I drove the blue-lined roads to the courthouse parking garage ten miles from my home, the words of Jefferson, Franklin and Hamilton heightened my anticipation:

“I consider trial by jury as the only anchor yet imagined by man by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution." Thomas Jefferson

"If it [jury power] is not law, it is better than law, it ought to be law, and will always be law wherever justice prevails.” Ben Franklin

“I think the first duty of society is justice.” Alexander Hamilton

I was prepared and willing to do my part to make the justice system work.

With the preliminaries, security checks and registration behind me, I took my seat in the back row of the jury board room. It was filled with more than 140 people.

We were greeted and given our instructions by Don Tedesco, jury management supervisor. He was assisted by a young woman named Karen Krutski and a serious-minded man named Jeff Bott.  

Shortly after Don Tedesco finished his presentation, Judge Joe Cosgrove entered the room to extend an upbeat and engaging welcome. 

I have known Judge Cosgrove for many years as a student, a colleague and a friend. In another time and place our paths crossed often.

Today we see one another occasionally. On this day, the relationship was much different.

Judge Cosgrove was dressed in his judicial robe, a symbol of the importance of the moment.  With the infectious smile that is his trademark, he got right to the point with short but effective remarks.

“There is nothing more important that you can be doing,” he said. “You are protecting the constitution.”

“Like the fireman in the firehouse, your waiting to be called is a valuable act of service. It is a very big deal that you are here.”

Judge Cosgrove recognized the inconveniences we would experience; the waiting, the Spartan nature of the jury room, the isolation from others, the need to detach from digital communications when in the courtroom and deliberations. He reminded us that like soldiers in war, suffering is part of service.

He also made a surprising and poignant comment about the recent scandal involving several judges in Luzerne County. “In Luzerne County we have taken some hits,” he said.  “The only way we can restore justice is case by case.”

He ended his remarks with these words; “Have a good and rich experience.”

I was determined to make that happen. The employees of the court administrator’s office, Don, Karen, and Jeff did everything in their power to assure everyone that it would happen.  They were welcoming, courteous, competent and helpful.

As with most things in life, the people in the neighborhood are the ones who make good things happen.  The people in my jury duty neighborhood were a delight to be with.

The person on my right, Mary Ann Court, is a retired Verizon customer service representative.  She is the first person I met after I was cleared by security to enter the courthouse. Mary Ann is pleasant, thoughtful and interesting. She is a natural conversationalist. For three days, we shared stories about work, family and Italian cooking.

Wilbert Dippel is a retired packaging manager. He is quiet by nature.  His twin passions in life are cars and fishing.  His stories about his trips to the Thousand Islands to fish were informative and entertaining. Even more compelling and interesting were the stories he shared about caring for his parents during their years of age, ill health and need. Wilbert is a man who exudes character and integrity. 

Chuck Perez is a man’s man.  He loves cars, and his life has been shaped by his expertise about cars.  He is an avid fisherman and a great storyteller. Every neighborhood should have a Chuck Perez.

Susan Rinehimer is a woman of dignity and class. The moment our eyes met we became fast friends. There is a special quality about her eyes that touches your heart when she talks about her life, her work and her family. At the moment she is attending to some medical issues, and she is making an effort to stop smoking.

Mendy Haas is a young woman who sees the larger issues of life.  She is not drawn to the flash of celebrity. Her life is about family, and a close group of friends. Wendy is thoughtful, caring and kind. She was the only one from our neighborhood selected for a jury pool.

Greg Moyer taught fourth grade. He is a thoughtful person who enjoys traveling to various parts of America. Because of our common interest in teaching and seeing America from the ground up, we had some wonderful conversations about our country and the challenges it faces in education.

Getting to know and spend time with Mary Ann, Wilbert, Chuck, Susan, Mendy and Greg enhanced the jury duty experience for me.  They provided but another collage of the Face of America on its best day. These are the people who make America work in quiet but effective ways. For me, they spoke to the goodness of the American spirit and the value of the priceless gift of trial by a jury of one’s peers. They enabled me to look beyond the discomfort of the steel folding chairs and the long wait to be called for a jury pool. They made the experience rich in many different ways.

In all honesty, most people do not want to be called for jury duty. Some go so far as to argue that the system is antiquated. A few become belligerent and take out their frustrations on the employees who are assigned the difficult task of making the jury system work. Others refuse to register to vote because they mistakenly believe the names of jurors are picked from voter registration rolls. That is not the case.  The names come from driver’s license registration.

In Luzerne County a new jury pool is assembled every week of the year. That’s more than 7,000 names every year, and it’s no small accomplishment to keep all of these people interested, motivated, focused on the important task at hand and moving in the right direction.

The heralded attorney Clarence Darrow said it best:

Justice has nothing to do with what goes on in the courtroom. Justice is what comes out of the courtroom.

Everyone in America should be blessed to be called for jury duty.  It is a humbling, a leveling, and a thought-provoking experience. It puts everything in perspective. It is an opportunity to see America at its best, at its worst and at its beautiful dependence upon people of good will who sacrifice a few days of their lives so that justice will prevail and flourish.

For three days this week, I joined a community of citizens from our county to maintain justice. It was an honor, a privilege, and an opportunity to see America at its best and the faces of America that make it that way.

Thank you, Jeff Bott, Don Tedesco, Karen Krutski, Thelma Kennedy and Mary Malone for the time effort and energy you invest in making the system work to everyone’s advantage.

I hope I have an opportunity to work with you again.  

(Picture of Judge Joe Cosgrove courtesy of The Times Leader, Photograph by Don Carey)

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A Special Evening at Candy’s Place

By Kitch & Tony Mussari
Copyright 2011
Mussari-Loftus Associates, LTD

“Home is not where you live, but where they understand you” Christian Morgenstern

Anyone who has experienced the anxiety, agony, pain and uncertainty that comes with a diagnosis of cancer knows full well the need for words of comfort, help and encouragement.

They also know that cancer victims, and their caregivers, need safe havens where they can experience what Kitch calls “No ‘C’ Days.”

In our little corner of the world, we are fortunate to have such a place. It is officially known as The Center for Cancer Wellness of NEPA. We prefer its more affectionate and personal name, Candy’s Place.

On this October evening, Kitch and I went to Candy’s Place to listen to Dr. Dan Kopen talk about breast cancer.

Dr. Kopen and Candy’s Place are about as close as any cancer patient will get to perfection. Dr. Kopen represents the best in breast cancer diagnosis and surgery. Candy’s Place offers cancer patients a kind, thoughtful, warm and welcoming environment for recovery. You feel it the moment you enter the building, and it stays with you long after you leave.

During our visit, Dr. Kopen emphasized 10 important points about breast cancer.  His presentation began with hope and it ended with reassurance.

1. Cancer is not the disease it used to be.

2. In the 1970s, it was a death sentence. That is not the case today.

3. Advances in digital mammography enable doctors to diagnose early stages with greater accuracy and frequency.

4. Cancer is a scary word; the earlier the diagnosis the better then prognosis.

5. Much of what you hear about breast cancer is not all good information.

6. More younger women are being diagnosed today.

7. There are 300 ongoing studies about breast cancer.

8. There is a correlation between the environment and cancer, but it cannot be pinpointed accurately.

9. To effectively battle breast cancer the mind and the body must be in sync.

10. A second opinion is one of the best ways to align the mind and the body to combat breast cancer. A patient should not leave any stone unturned in making a decision about the proper treatment. Her physician should do everything possible to get her the best treatment available.

That is precisely what Dr. Kopen did for Kitch.  He encouraged, and he facilitated a second opinion at Fox Chase in Philadelphia. That visit made all the difference for us.

We returned from our visit with Dr. Laurie Goldstein with a very specific plan and renewed confidence. The physiology and psychology were aligned thanks to the wonderful people we met at Fox Chase.

Dr. Dan Kopen is a genuine from-the-heart as well as the mind kind of doctor.  He has treated 3,000 breast cancer patients.  He has performed 2,000 breast cancer surgeries. His credentials are impeccable. His demeanor is quiet, competent, compassionate and welcoming. Just being in his presence makes a patient feel comfortable.

On this evening, he arrived early, and stayed late.  He answered every question, and after his presentation he visited with several people who wanted to seek his advice about their situation. Watching him out of the corner of my eye, I saw a person who loved his work because he knew he was in a position to help people successfully navigate the dark gravel road called cancer.

He also made time for three student nurses from Wilkes University, and members of the administrative staff at Candy’s Place.

Penny Cunningham, the founder of Candy’s Place, was on hand to greet everyone. Penny is an amazing woman.  She has dedicated virtually every minute of her life to the mission of Candy’s Place.  The premature death of her sister Candy Vincent Mamary in 1998 closed the door to a priceless relationship with her sister, but it opened the door to Candy’s Place for thousands of people who benefit from its programs like yoga, exercise, massage therapy and cancer awareness and treatment information.

With great skill and due diligence, she has assembled a top notch team of professionals and volunteers headed by Nicole Farber. They are the heart and soul of Candy’s Place. They make it what it is by attending to all the little things that matter to patients and caregivers.

At one point in the evening, I saw an image of Dr. Kopen, Penny Cunningham, and Nicole Farber talking with the student nurses and a cancer survivor. As I focused the image for a digital picture, the words of Martina McBride’s song, “I’m Gonna Love You Through It” reverberated in my memory:

When you’re weak, I’ll be strong
When you let go, I’ll hold on
When you need to cry, I swear that I’ll be there to dry your eyes
When you feel lost and scared to death,
Like you can’t take one more step
Just take my hand, together we can do it
I’m gonna love you through it.

It’s the perfect description of the people who made this evening so special, and the life- saving blessings of Candy’s Place.

During the evening while I was recording video and digital images, I thought about Kitch’s battle with breast cancer.

Under the watchful eye of Dr. David Greenwald, she successfully completed chemotherapy. It was difficult, demanding and at times debilitating, but she never gave up and she never gave in.  

When she finished her chemotherapy infusions, she took the extra step to guarantee a successful outcome by taking 33 radiation treatments administered by Dr. Norman Schulman and his wonderful staff of technicians.

To facilitate the transition from treatment to the restoration of a full life, Kitch visits Candy’s Place once a week for one-on-one yoga lessons with Theresa Novak. These sessions have been invaluable in her recovery.

Before Kitch and I got into our car for the ride home, I turned to look at the entrance to the building. What I saw in the darkness of the night was a bright moon resting just above Candy’s Place.  Below it, three women were sharing stories about the evening. They were smiling and enjoying the comfort of good information, good company, delicious treats and a sense of belonging that lifted their spirits and gave them hope.

Oliver Wendell Holmes was right, “Where we love is home.”

Thank you, Penny Cunningham.

Thank you, Nicole Farber

Thank You, Dr. Dan Kopen

Thank you, Kitch for giving me the opportunity to love you through it.

You are four faces of America on its best day.

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15 Hours in Catonsville, Maryland

By Tony Mussari, Sr.
Copyright 2011
Mussari-Loftus Associates, LTD

We realized that the important thing was not the film itself but that which the film provoked. Fernando Solanas

While driving to Catonsville, Maryland on a beautiful October morning, a story from half a lifetime ago flashed through my mind. It’s the only thing I know about Catonsville.

On May 17, 1968, nine people, including two Catholic priests and a Christian Brother, went to the Selective Service office in Catonsville to destroy draft documents. They filled two wire baskets with stolen documents.  Then, they assembled in a parking lot where they burned the documents to protest the Vietnam War.

Their act of civil disobedience was headline news all over the country. Four months later they went on trial in Baltimore, and the rest as they say is history.

Fast forward 33 years.  It’s October 5, 2011, the anniversary of the trial of the Catonsville 9. On this day, the morning papers are filled with stories of protesters carrying signs heralding “The 99” and their protest against corporate greed.  The first amendment is alive and well in America.

On this day my head and my heart were filled with anticipation. I was going to Catonsville to screen and discuss our documentary, Shanksville, PA: A Place of Transformation. It was a very special occasion, because the invitation came from a former student, now a successful manager and part time teacher, Dr. Richard Ostopowicz.

Rick, as he likes to be called and I have a history. We met at a time and place when we had some teaching moments.  They were not comfortable or easy moments, but they were transformational moments for Rick.  He graciously acknowledges their importance in his education and development. His old teacher relishes in his success.

Someone once told me a teacher must do everything he can to see to it that the student has an opportunity to equal and surpasses the achievements of the teacher. Sometimes it is affirmation, and other times it’s candor. To use the words of Steve Jobs, “at one time in our life all of us will be hit in the head with a brick.” Teachers use softer language, but the consequence is the same.  People with a learning, not a sulking, disposition understand it is one of the best things that can ever happen.  It produces transformations.

When I arrived in Catonsville, I had two experiences that endeared me to the city. I stopped at Edmondson Sunoco.  As I finished filling my Prius, a red truck carrying discarded metal parts pulled into the station. My eyes scanned the scene and settled on a sign attached to the rear window.  It read, “One Day at a time.”

I was curious and intrigued; the why question motivated me to get my digital camera. I approach the driver, and I asked him for permission to take a picture of the sign. 

He obliged.

When I finished, I had a brief conversation with Bill Garry about his sign, and I discovered the heart and soul of a man with a beautiful smile and a wonderful disposition.

“Living life one day at a time is central to the AA program,” he told me.  “I try to live these words every day.”

The expression on Bill’s face spoke volumes about the man and his life. It is a moment I will never forget.

Shortly after I left the Sunoco station, I managed to get lost. I ended up in the parking lot of Pierce Cleaners and Tuxedo. Once inside I met Kyle Davis the owner of Edwards Home and Lawn. He volunteered to help me find my destination. Using his smart phone he found the address. It just happened to be in the shadow of the parking lot two blocks away.

My two person survey of Catonsville left a positive impression of the town and its residents, not scientific to be sure, but heartwarming nonetheless.

As I was getting out of my car in front of Rick’s home, I had another serendipitous moment. A white pickup truck pulled in behind me, and a warm voice spoke words of welcome that sealed the deal. This would be a very good visit.

After dinner with Rick, his wife and their two adorable boys, we were off to the community college for the main event.

The ride to the Catonsville Campus of the Community College of Baltimore was short, and the conversation during the ride was pleasant. When we entered the building, I felt the rush of pre-class anxiety and expectation. I could feel myself going into teacher mode.

Rick is a big man with a very engaging manner. He attended to the technology making sure that everything was in place to optimize the screening for everyone who attended. While he talked with students, I printed a structural outline for the class on a chalkboard next to the entrance to the room. As students took their seats I visited with them to introduce myself, and I suggested that they take a seat in the center of the room where they would get the best view of the documentary.

Rick picked up on this, and he projected a typewritten sign that reinforced my suggestion.

When all of the students were assembled, Rick collected their assignments. He shared some refinements for matters discussed in the previous class, and then he gave me the floor.

After I reviewed the outline for the class, I asked everyone to disconnect from their digital devices, and I repeated words I received earlier in the day in an e-mail from a former student who is a successful corporate executive in Florida. “Push the pause button.” I implored the students to focus their attention on what would happen in their classroom for the next three hours. The students who were in the room turned off their smart phones.

To provide context for the film, I read excerpts from the introduction I presented in Shanksville on September 24. Two key points were emphasized:

Ten years ago, we made a promised to tell the Shanksville story with dignity and class. For 3,650 days, we have remained true to that promise. In doing that, we have been changed in ways we never thought possible.

Today, Kitch and I look at our county through a different lens, and we measure ourselves and the people we meet against the Shanksville standard.

We produced Shanksville, PA: A Place of Transformation, the 22d episode in our What Is America? series, to remember the heroes of Flight 93, to put the spotlight of affirmation on a group of students who speak eloquently and convincingly about their county, this place of hope and healing, and the America dream.

Yesterday we celebrated the heroes of the day the earth stood still for America. Today we come together as a community of people searching for answers to questions that are larger than life. Tonight we will remember the legacy of yesterday to guarantee the promise of tomorrow.

At 8:05 p.m., four hours after I arrived in Catonsville, the lights were dimmed and the screening began.

I selected a seat in the back of the room where I could see the audience as well as the film. I was impressed by the quite attentiveness of the students during the film.  There was but one distraction. A student who arrived late settled in a seat next to mine. Before he sat down, we shook hands and I welcomed him. He was very pleasant and respectful. Unfortunately, he did not hear the request to push the pause button and detach from digital devices. At critical points in the film his eyes were on his smart phone. At one important point before the end of the film, I asked him to put his eyes on the screen. He politely turned off the phone, and he watched the ending.

Shortly after 9 p.m., the credits rolled. Then, the lights came on. Rick gave the students a short break.  When they returned, the discussion began.

Several students liked the positive tone of the documentary.  They liked the comments of the people featured in the film, especially the Cheerleaders from North Plainfield High School in New Jersey. One person called them genuine. Another person said she liked the story and the way it was presented.

From the back of the room, I received a warm greeting. “I’m from Duryea in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I like the film.” This special moment produced a spontaneous response from Rick. “Why does it take a visiting professor from 200 miles away to let me know I am teaching a student who was born and raised where I grew up?”

Another person admitted that she rarely thinks about the significance of 9/11 and Shanksville. The documentary helped her to better understand the need to think more about the events of that day and its consequences for her generation.

One student had very complimentary things to say about the documentary and this genre of film making.  “You told us your intention was to entertain and inform us,” she said. “You did that tonight.”

Another student liked the musical selections in the film.

Not all of the feedback was positive.  One student made a hard landing on a metaphor used by one of the speakers in the film.  Another student who lost a nephew on 9/11 expected more first person stories told by survivors.

The most earthy interpretation came from one of the last people to comment.  He used strong language to express the anger he was feeling. He needed time to think and sort things out. “I won’t be able to tell you what I think until 8:30 tomorrow morning,” he said.

When I told him this was the highest compliment any documentary filmmaker could receive. He pushed himself back in his seat.  His eyes opened wide, and a look of pleasant surprise covered his face.

If truth be told, documentary is all about evoking emotions and deeply felt reactions. If what is on the screen makes someone think, that’s about as good as it gets.

At 10:20 p.m., I asked the students and their teacher, Dr. Rick Ostopowicz, to assemble in the front of the room for a surprise. Then, I presented the National 9/11 Remembrance Flag to them for their school. Watching the smiles of satisfaction on their faces as they posed for a group picture is a frozen frame I will always remember from this visit.

Before we said our good byes, I asked the students to participate in an exercise I learned from my friend Professor George Parks at the University of Massachusetts. It was designed to help them identify their personal best.

The exercise worked, and the evening ended on a very positive note.

I spent the night in Rick’s guest room. Early the next morning we talked for a bit, made some plans for future visits, and then at 7:15 a.m. I headed home with a hundred different memories of the visit, the students, their teacher and the screening carefully stored in the safe deposit box of my soul. 

As I drove north watching the traffic jams as thousands of people headed for Baltimore,  I thought to myself how fortunate I was to be Rick’s teacher and friend, and how good it felt to be a visiting teacher in his classroom.

Before I knew it, I was sitting in traffic on a congested part of Rt.15 in Harrisburg. On this morning of reflection, I didn’t mind the delays. Eventually, I was back on the open road taking in the sun drenched scenery of the rural landscape of the Keystone state, and thinking about the 15 hours I spent in Catonsville.

Then it happened.

I spotted an Amish farmer making his way on a wagon pulled by two horses. I stopped the car on the side of the road, and I took some pictures. For me, the pictures recorded a perfect end to a perfect trip. It helped to put everything in perspective.

In Shanksville, I met people who wanted to preserve the legacy of an important moment in our history.

In North Plainfield, New Jersey, I worked with students who went to Shanksville. While they were there, they discovered what it means to be an American.

In Catonsville, Maryland, the students and I were able to exercise our first amendment rights to assemble, learn and express our opinions without fear of reprisal.

On the farm bordering a blue lined road in Pennsylvania, two Amish men, two Amish children, their spotted dog, two horses and 72 containers of freshly picked carrots, spoke to America at its best.  This compelling image tells us that ours is a country where everyone has a right to be who they are, do what you do, worship the God of their choice and feel the warm spirit of belonging.

Collectively, the images from my 15 hours in Catonsville prove beyond any question the validity of Dr. Stephen Post’s words: “America is the land of the free and the home of the good.”

They give truth to the advice of Steve Jobs, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”

I don’t know if I did great work in Catonsville. That’s for someone else to decide, but I do know I love being an old teacher in a new classroom.

Thank you Flight 93 for your valor.

Thank you, Dr. Rick Ostopowicz for the opportunity.

Thank you, students from the Community College of Baltimore for your time and attention.

Thank you, North Plainfield Cheerleaders for your thoughtful stories,

Thank you, America. We are blessed to be your citizens.

(Picture of the Catonsville 9 protest, modernhistorian.blogspot.com; picture of the Peoples’ Memorial in Shanksville, Kitch Mussari; picture of the Permament memorial in Shanksville, Frank Pizzani; all other pictures Tony Mussari, Sr.)

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