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Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=FAXQgRvNcyk

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[music] [music] Hello South Jersey. It's your friend Kelly Machelli. I am so excited on this super hot smoky Thursday to have a super hot smoky lady named Debbie Malone. You

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guys probably know her. She's amazing. >> Hello everybody. >> Welcome to the show. Well, I'm so excited to have you here. You're fascinating. I have so many fun stories. And you grew up in this town, Melville, huh? >> I am a lifelong resident born here in

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1956. I was a Wetstein. If anybody knows anybody in Melville, you're either related or you know us. >> Oh, okay. Did they have a certain business that they did? >> Um, well, for the longest time, my uncle Dale, who passed away a couple years ago, he owned Steelman Photos. >> Oh, cool. My grandmother, Elizabeth

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Wedstein, was the manager of the Diana shop when High Street was really place. My aunt dot Genevies, managed Foster Jeweler. So, we were all on High Street. >> Isn't that wonderful? And then you got married and changed your name. >> Changed my name. I married my high

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school sweetheart, Larry Malone. I met him when I was a sophomore in high school and he was a senior. But funny story is that we went to Culver School together, but he was two years older than me. you know, he's not going to [laughter] he's not going to associate with the younger kid. >> So, yeah. Right.

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>> Yeah. >> So, Culver School is now something else. >> It's now the administration offices for the Millville school district. >> Isn't that wonderful? And so, you are the VP on the board of directors of the Milville. Board of Education was an

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elected position. >> Excellent. >> Yeah. >> How long have you been doing that? >> I am starting my ninth term. >> Wow. >> I mean, I'm sorry, my ninth year. >> Okay. >> Ninth year. I will have to run for reelection next year. >> Okay. >> If I choose to run for Yeah. >> But I probably will.

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>> Is it every other year? >> Every three years. Every three years. I imagine you enjoy that. >> I do enjoy it. It's uh when I decided to do it, I had been a school secretary for 25 years. >> So when I decided to do it, I'm like I

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felt comfortable because being a school secretary and working with >> I had worked in every department, right, in my in my school district. So I felt comfortable. Yeah. >> I mean, and I'm saying that I do not know everything. It It was still a It's still and always will be a massive learning experience.

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>> Yeah. Well, that's what education's about, right? And you tell the kids you can learn something new every day. Yep. And >> and we push being a certified board so that we're constantly taking classes and attending meetings. And it's not just showing up for one meeting a month, >> right?

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>> You know, it's we're on committees, we send out notes, we >> uh take classes. It's it's a it's a big major commitment. >> Wow. Well, thank you for doing that. >> I love it. I just I love it. >> It's not a paid position, is it? >> No, it's not it's not like city commission. We're people think we're

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paid. >> Interesting. >> And I always say if somebody says that, I say to our our our uh money guy, our our IH, [laughter] where's my paycheck? >> Right. Right. >> But gosh, there's something so positive about volunteering like that. And there's so many volunteer positions in

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this area. You know, the fire department and Lawrence Township where I'm at, they're one of the last EMTs that are volunteer. They're an incredible team down there. And uh the Lawrence Township, I just went to the meeting the other night and they said they're getting a new sign, which is a big deal for Cedarville because they'll be able

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to say all the fun things that are going on. So, >> Milville has a great legacy of volunteerism. Yes. >> Yeah. It's huge. How do we get the youth into volunteering? You know, I wonder if we could do like a volunteer drive and get people just coming coming in because

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as you know, it's hard to get the volunteers in these days. >> It's hard especially with the young but they have lives and and when we were at that age were we >> maybe to a point but not as committed as we are now once we retire, >> right? Um, I would say

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that I think as they go on and they get more experiences, they're more entitled or not they're not entitled, they're more ready to participate as a volunteer, >> right? Because they're wellversed to the ins and outs of the organization. >> But I I have to tell you, our seniors,

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you know, when you talk to our seniors and especially at the end of the year, when you look at their resumes and what they've volunteered and what they've done, it's I don't know how they find time. >> Yeah. >> You know, I really don't. So, it's positive. It's positive. >> So, any senior out there that's bored,

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um you there's a ton of volunteer opportunities, right, around city. >> Yeah. So, so if you're bored, you know, there's plenty of things to do. And then obviously there's a ton of stuff on High Street. >> Okay. So, you got married pretty young, it sounds like. >> Yeah. I was I was 19. [laughter]

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>> Nice. Nice. And then you have you had two beautiful children. >> I had two beautiful children. My first daughter was born profoundly disabled and um should not have survived the first day and somehow she managed to get to 38. She was a little bit of a fighter. Uh when she was 10, I had my

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son who is now 40 years old and he lives in the Lehigh Valley. >> Cool. >> Uh he's doing very well and he has two beautiful daughters that are my pride and joy. >> Yeah. Being Violet and June. >> Being a grandmother is the best. Yeah. >> Well, I'm glad you got 38 years with

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your daughter. That's incredible. And you do hear those stories where initially people are saying they're not going to make it and then they're you're right it's a will to fight. >> They were they I mean she probably not to be a downer probably never knew me technically as her mother because she

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didn't have the brain power of that. >> Um but uh she was very sickly and we were lucky that she survived you know when and they told me different things that would happen to her and said she shouldn't have survived and she did. >> Wild. So, she was she was very much a

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fighter and she um was an inspiration. >> That's so cool. Yeah, it changes you, I presume, um to know that anything is possible. And Deb, I got to say I'm I'm 99.9% sure that she at least knew that you

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loved her dearly. And that's the most important thing in life, right? >> Yeah. And it I think to a point it drove me to work for 25 years at Atlantic County Special Services as a school secretary. I mean, that's a school district with nothing but disabled kids. >> Wild. >> And uh we would go down there. I would

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work there and just go into the classrooms and I was the school secretary, but I got involved with everything and everybody. I was like their mom and their friend, their confidant >> and um I just loved it. >> And you had a different perspective. >> Yes. And I and I could at times be an advocate for the parents if they needed

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it a little bit or to talk to them and they'd come in mad. I get it. Been there, done that, you know. And um and I would say and I would just and they'd be yelling and I'd be going, "It's all right. I understand." And they would look at me and I would say, "I I understand. I got you.

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>> We're on the same page. >> We're on the same page here. I've got dealt with it, too." And they're like, "Oh, okay." And then >> people do have more comfort when they realize that you've been in the same boat. Yeah. And and I would have to say probably 3/4 of the staff there had either siblings or children

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>> or knew somebody that was close to them that was disabled. >> So it was a very compassionate, empathetic group of people that I worked with. >> Wonderful. Isn't that wonderful the way God get what he gives us and guides us and and to form the people that we are.

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>> Yeah. Uh my grandmother was a special ed teacher, Esther Bland, and she was in the Vinland school district. And uh you know, she went and got her masters at 35, and she loved it. She loved it. And she eventually went um to people's homes with the kids and helped them. It was so

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cool. >> Yes, it is. And I I a big thing that we did was um she was in the early childhood um program at the Shirley Eve Center. And I always say when Shirley was still alive. >> Oh. >> She was there and she was very cuz she had gone to school with she actually

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knew my mom. >> Oh. >> So we enrolled out there and it's um it was a small group of six seven families and we would go out there a couple times a week for the therapy and this for the moms to have a little little group that we could just go and cry and talk and

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laugh. Yeah. It was >> support one another. Yeah. >> It's so important, isn't it? >> It is very important. And and it's nice to have that support. >> It is. And I feel like women are definitely better at at getting together and supporting one another. Um, you know, men too in their own way, but it

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is important for everybody. So, um, anybody that's isolated, lonely, you know, you got to kind of reach out and get involved, you know, because uh, we're we're meant to be together and to hold one another up, right? So, that's so positive, so cool. And then, so you

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got your two grandb babies and then you owned Colonial Flowers. When was this? This is fun. Now, this was on High Street, right? >> Yes. Right down the street there. >> Um, >> Colonial Flowers was owned by Marian Smith. >> Mhm. >> Marian sold it to her son Barry when he

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graduated from college. Barry was a good friend of mine. He graduated a year ahead of me. So, after Barry passed away, it went back to Marian. And at this point, she was probably less than thrilled to have a flower shop to run again. So, I just happened to go in there one night to see her. I hadn't seen her for a while. And I said, "Hey,

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how you doing?" and we're talking and she looked at me and she goes, "You should buy the flower shop." And I'm like, "Okay, let me go home. Let me talk with Larry and see what we can do." And he was a Waw Wa manager, so I knew he knew what he was doing. >> Yeah.

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>> So I uh we bought it. Took him about a year, but we bought it. And um >> we owned it for 11 years. I got us through CO. Unfortunately, I had to I to get us through CO, I had to lay everybody off. >> Yeah. So, it was me running the store

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and designing and doing all that for a good year. >> That seems like a really fun business because you're being you're able to be creative. I mean, that aspect of any business is hard and especially through co but to be creative like that and it's

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a positive thing, right? Cuz it's either at a >> wedding or a funeral and either way, flowers just brighten everything up. >> Yeah. And I always I was saying last night the chamber function, you know, that I always took pride in my funeral

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work. >> Yeah. >> Because the family would come in and a lot of times I knew them, a lot of times I didn't, but I I would say to them, tell me about the person. >> Yeah. >> What is their favorite hobby? How can we incorporate that into the design? And I always tried to do that. >> Yeah. Customize it.

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>> Wonderful. >> I said my uh Barry Sith sister would be my delivery person. And then one time we did a big funeral piece sitting in her car. The guy was a fisherman with a fishing pole [laughter] out the sunroof. >> Hilarious. >> Getting it to the getting it to vinyl at the funeral.

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>> So fun. The things we do for love and for our [laughter] customers, right? When you're a fivestar person, you just go the distance >> and I'm like I'm just laughing at her going all the way down high street with this >> great fishing stick on the roof. >> Yeah. >> How fun. So, you had that for 11 years

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and then what happened to >> I just decided to sell it. I sold it to um >> to somebody that had worked for me and then they passed it on to somebody that owns it now, Kira, who has is doing beautiful work with it and has brought it all the way back.

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>> Isn't that wonderful? >> Yeah. And it's it's a tradition. It's been there 50ome years. >> That's nice. There's a lot of old school businesses around and it's tradition. Yeah. Very cool. I've met a lot of um >> people that have passed the business down and like that. So, I'll have to

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check it out. So, it's right on High Street. >> Right on High Street. Right the next block down close from the post. >> Excellent. >> Yeah. I know we've got a um third every third Friday, which is this Friday. They're going to have a big um to-do where all the businesses are open and like that. So, maybe I I plan to come

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and check it out. Yeah. >> Um there's a baseball tournament over here too that that we're doing. So, I try to do it all. Like even tonight is the Kamari's um little farmers market down there. >> Have you checked that out? >> I have checked it out. I drove by it

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today and I'm like, "Oh, there's poor people." >> I know you feel bad for them. Friends, if you get a chance tonight, 4 to 7. Um they're all out there, these business owners just uh trying to be strong for the community. It' be cool if you could pop in, even if it's just a quick walk

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through it, just show support is nice. >> Nice. Yeah. So that's going on for the whole summer through October. So yeah. Yeah, I think it was a hundred today. So a little brutal. >> Um so you know, I've seen you at many events and and um last night we went to

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the sailing club at Union Lake and as I was walking up, I thought to myself, hey, I caught my first fish uh here with my dad. And I remember at my wedding he said um you know that Kelly, she is determined. And I guess I caught the

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fish and and I couldn't get it to reel. Okay. >> So I just walked backwards until it came up on the on the beach and so I thought of that wonderful memory. And that Union Lake is just so gorgeous. >> Yeah. >> It's my favorite little place in the world. >> Yeah. It's like a little hidden gem

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there. And so I didn't realize um just because people don't live in that area, you can actually become a member. There's an annual fee and they have tennis and and boating. Oh, there's a picture I took. >> That's a mirror. That's a That's an

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evening photograph uh of No, that was a couple years ago right after a storm. >> Wow. >> And it's very hard to get a mirror image like that. And my uncle's photographer, so I know he'd look at that and go, "Yeah, you did all right." >> But yeah, it's just it's a perfect shot.

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>> That's awesome. Do you have a picture of us down there, Ry? We were down there last night. It was hot. >> It was hot. Look at us >> sweating. Schvitzing. Yeah, you know, the Millville Chamber is really cool. They're doing really cool

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stuff and they're just good people. You guys probably know a lot of the the friends that are involved in that, but it's very affordable to become a member of the chamber in Millville. I highly encourage it cuz it's really it's really fun and you really get to know people

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and it's fun to do business with people that you know and I've really enjoyed um getting to know people. And then the Vinand Chamber is cool too. If you're in Vinand, you have a business in Vinand, you should definitely be a member there. It's totally affordable. You have a support group. Uh they do ribbon cutings

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and like that for your new business. Um any kind of specials that are going on, any discounts. We talked about that at the chamber last night. >> Um it's a cool organization to feel supported. >> Yeah. >> In fact, we're just starting that membertomember program. >> Yes.

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>> So, you know, we encourage anybody that that is a member uh to maybe offer a deal of some sort. Like I know that I spoke to Colonial Flowers, they're going to offer I think probably about 10% off. >> Yeah. >> Uh if you're a member member of the chamber.

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>> Yeah. Yeah. There's a lot of benefits to being a tutor cuz you feel like you're in the know of what's going on. >> Like uh the historical society, they basically >> um restored some kind of car and they're going to >> It's the old ice wagon. >> Oh,

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>> you know, with that the horse would pull around town from the Whitaker uh ice plant when that was there. Yeah. Somebody found it and the the Starkle Society's been been fixing it up. >> Yeah. >> And it was supposed to be what was it going to be? the Fourth of July parade and unfortunately it got postponed

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because of the weather >> and uh >> so >> it's nostalgic and they're restoring it and that's cool. It's a lot it's like the pride of Milville, the pride of Holly City, right? >> And and give the give the historical society a plug. They did a wonderful thing on the 4th of July. I wish more

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people had gone out to it. Uh it was the ringing of the old bell. >> Wow. uh 13 times. I believe they did it for 4th of July at noon and it was a whole nationwide event. >> Wow. >> And they actually read the Declaration of Independence. It was very cool.

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>> Wow. >> And then a couple weeks before that, they had done a tour of the old section of Mount Pleasant Cemetery, which was really cool. >> I'm a history buff, so that was really really >> That's neat. Did they film the uh event? >> I think somebody did. One of the members

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did. Yeah. Yeah, that'd be cool to maybe get that up. Um, put that on. >> We need to talk to the people there. Yeah. >> You know, but uh and one of the younger guys dressed up as the first mayor of Milville. A >> I think his name was Mayor Wells, you know.

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>> Very cool. That's fun to to uh keep that pride going. And that's what's cool about living in a small community like this, right? And everybody can support one another. >> All right. So, I want to hear Well, let's see. Well, you got a lot of fun stuff. You had a really exciting life, lady. I'll tell you that.

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>> Which is cool, though, cuz you've done so many things. So, let's see. >> What's a JCT? >> The JCTs were a nonprofit organization back in the day. You were a member from like if you wanted to join from whenever from 18 up to 35. And I think when you

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hit 35, you're out the door. You're too old. Yeah. >> It was like the JC's. >> Okay. >> And so, and Noville had a JC program. And usually the wives were in the JCS. >> Okay. And I wasn't going to do it and I my husband said, "You got to do it." And the girls talked me into it and I went

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and I enjoyed it. We did so many programs. I mean, we would run the Miss Holly City pageant. I came up with the idea cuz I have a lazy eye. I came with the ide up with the idea of the lazy eye and hearing clinic. And I talked to the state. They sent people down and we tested the preschoolers for lazy eye.

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Caught a few. >> Wow. >> Because with lazy eye, if you don't catch it early enough, you can be blind. >> Wow. I mean I as a child this was me good eye covered so I would have I was forced to use my bad eye because otherwise you're adjusting. >> Interesting. >> And so and that's why I read the way I

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do because >> that strengthens your eye. >> But you initiated took what was going on with you and and try to help other people. >> Yes. >> Yeah. You're you seem selfless like you're all you're down to help everybody. And unfortunately with when HIPPA came along and all that, it kind

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of went to the wayside. But I worked closely with the I think it was called the Commission of the Blind and Hearing Impaired. >> Neat. >> And then I think something happened at the state level and we just couldn't do it anymore. But >> it it was a good it was a good thing. But I was proud of that. >> You brought attention to it if nothing

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else. Yeah. And made people aware of it. Excellent. >> Okay. So basically, you were a group of of awesome ladies that helped uh in the community with different things. >> And then the what happened with the JC? So I I became president and we did we

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had a great year. I we increased membership. We did a lot of great things. >> Yeah. >> A couple years after that, federal government gets involved. We can't have separate organizations. You have to be one. >> Whacka whacka. >> And I'm like, >> they ruin every fun good.

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We don't want to We're stronger than they are, but we had a And we just said goodbye. [laughter] >> We're done. >> We're done here. Yeah. >> Um Yeah, you got to have your own thing. I know they have still going like the um my buddies in it and I forget the name

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of it, but I call it the Grand Pooa, right? There's still organizations like that. Yeah. Okay. And then so you were the co-director of Miss Cumberland County Pageant. I remember um Miss Cumberland County. I feel like my cousin

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Vera who owns the flight line, she won um Miss Vinland or Miss Cumberland County back in the day or something. Yeah, she's a beauty. She's a gorgeous thing. >> Uh yeah, my friend Barry Smith who owned Colonial, that was his baby. And >> he dragged Larry and I up on stage and

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he goes, "I need you to sing and dance. >> Sing and dance >> and be and be in the show." And I'm like going, "Oh god, no." But we did for a couple years and then we just started helping him out and running helping him run things and then uh >> So your husband's pretty fun too. >> Well, he's he's very musical. Yeah.

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Yeah. And so >> So did he sing or dance? >> Well, he tried to dance. No, [laughter] it wasn't fancy dancing, but but we got to work with 11 Miss Americas and all the Miss New Jerseys. And Wow. >> Yeah. Miss America came here for 11 years.

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>> No way. And we actually, my husband ran the the Miss America, Miss New Jersey parade in Cumberland County. >> Isn't that wonderful? >> And I mean, there's a picture of him somewhere where he's holding Vanessa Williams like this. What? >> Because she was in the parade and it was so cold that night and she couldn't

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move. And she literally jumped off the float and he caught her. >> Wow. >> Yeah. Yeah. And he's like And he's looking around. All the guys, all the old football players are there going, "Hey." [laughter] >> Yeah. That's so fun. These are moments in time that can go in a book, right? If

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you if you write a book, right? That's what's fun. I feel like um let's juice the book up. Like how many how exciting can my book be? Yeah. That's so fun. >> That's awesome. So, you did that. You hung out with all the beauties and then you did some choreography. That was part of it, right?

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>> Well, that was for Junior Miss. I did. Junior miss Junior Miss is a totally different thing. It's more uh it was supposed to be more academic >> but and instead of doing they also did talent but instead of doing bathing suit which they thought is verbotent we're

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doing um exercise routines so I would choreograph cuz I did that too on the side choreograph an exercise routine >> in the 80s. in the 80s. >> Yeah. So, so like some Jane Fonda stuff. >> Little Jane Fonda. Little like we did my big one one year was um Oh my god. Chorus Line.

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>> Oh, >> And And I did an exercise routine >> for the girls with that music. And actually the state then wanted me to come up and do theirs and I'm like, "No, I can't. [laughter] It's too much. No, no, no." >> When people see you doing fun things, they're like, "Can you help me over

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here?" Yeah. I could see where you'd be pulled in a lot of >> different I'm like, "No, I'm staying in Cumberland County." Yeah. I missed that aerobics though. I got to tell you, I'm praying that somebody brings that back. Yeah. >> Um when I was in SD, I tried jazzer size, but it was too fast. It was just too many moves. Right. But

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>> I was watching it on YouTube the other day going, I used to be able to do that, but I'd probably kill myself getting up on that riser. >> Yeah. I felt like I was tripping over myself. Yeah. So, bring the aerobics back. The old school one, two, three, four. That's plenty. >> Yeah, that'd be fun. That could be a fun

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endeavor. Yeah. do it in the park when it cools [laughter] down or something even. Okay. So, what other fun stuff? Served on the board of deacons at the First Presbyterian Church. >> Yeah, that was years ago and now unfortunately the church is no longer there. >> And you did Sunday school teaching as well. >> Did a little Sunday school teaching when my son was that age. So, yeah. Yeah,

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>> it's fun. It's fun to teach the kids. >> Yeah, I had the kindergarten age. So, that was always >> They're sweet then. Yeah. It's just when we do coaching and we've coached uh our whole life and it's fun when they're smaller. Yeah. It's a little tougher when they get to be had I think one year I did the high school kids and I begged

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can please put me back with the baby. >> They're tough. They're tough. >> Yeah. But they're just trying to find their way as we were talking about. Yeah. So >> very cool. And then what was going on in the '9s? You did some other fun stuff. >> Yes. My son decided to do soccer. >> Okay.

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>> And I became the secretary on the board and then through a bunch of stuff I ended up being president for a year. But we saw the league grow. And in the meantime, we were also in discussions, I'll put it, with the city where we were looking for new fields.

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>> Because we used to play over on Cedar Street, um what used to be the landfill. >> Yeah. >> And it was quite frankly getting dangerous because the land was sinking and things were coming up and it was ugly. >> Yeah. >> So we were begging and we were out

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actively looking and you know we >> It took a while. It took a long time. Then they ended up at Lakeside for Behind Lakeside on the city property there >> and now they have their own facility out at the airport. >> So you persevered. >> We persevered. They did. Yeah. I I ended

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up stepping back from that and cuz my son went to another soccer league and played. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Soccer's big and it feels like the kids either attached to soccer or baseball. Yeah. >> In fact, we have I have some buddies in soccer. Do we have that soccer thing

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that's going on? There's rollers >> the World Cup. Oh, that is cool. I was in Miami and it was wild. But tonight is a fundraiser for soccer that uh my friends are putting on at Skate 2000 that's happening tonight. I might go down there. And uh I asked my son and

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his buddy. I said, "Hey, you guys want to go skating?" And and they were like, "No, we don't want to break our wrist for baseball." So, they're trying to save themselves cuz they're on the Allstar team. But tonight guys, seven to nine, uh 10 bucks if you have your own skates or 13 bucks if you don't. You can

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go get your roller on down there. You know, they'll be jamming and they've got uh you know the 50/50 and the other fun stuff. So, uh just want to give them the shout out for that. Skate 2000, that's a cute place. Have you been down there for? I have not. >> Well, your grandbabies are going to be wanting to have a roller skate party

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there very soon. How old are the grand babies? >> U Violet is nine. She's going to be 10 in October and June will be six already in November. >> Goes fast, doesn't >> she's the pistol. >> Oh yeah, there's always one. [laughter]

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>> And uh I think I'm the one in my family. Yes. >> My son probably wants to kill me because last year for Christmas, I gave my oldest granddaughter, Violet, who wants to be an architect or an engineer. She's very smart. >> Yeah. >> I gave her the Harry Potter >> Lego set.

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>> Oh, wow. Was that like 100 million pieces? >> It's 2,265 pieces. And I when I read that I said, "Oh, he's going to kill me." >> And then I didn't see that. It was for plus 14. >> She did it herself. >> Oh, I bet >> she did it herself. So, she just got it

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done and she sent me a photo of it. Yeah. >> How long did it take her? >> Um, I'm not sure when they started it, but I think she worked on it off and on through the winter, but with school and everything and that was her summer. >> She took her time and and was >> she figured it out, >> you No, I don't I think yeah, we don't need to underestimate kids. That's for

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sure. >> Um because when I was younger, you know, >> I would run around a little more than I would let my son nowadays. And you know, you figure stuff out. These kids are really smart >> and my my son is very smart. I mean, this is his job is social media and and

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and being a a me a specialist in his company. Um, and you know, so he really limits their time on the internet. >> Interesting. >> Which I I find because that's his career, but he limits their time and I

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and and but their imaginations are so >> over the top, >> right? >> You know, >> but when they don't when they have time to use their imagination and we don't just say, "All right, what you know, watch it forever and ever." Um, it's the only tool having a teenager that I have to take away. Yeah. And I'm I'm pretty

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close to pulling the P plug for the rest of the summer, which is only about a month, right? But I it they're different kids when they're on that, right? >> Um and they get obsessed and it's it creates addictive personality, too. Yeah. So, I'm for giving it a rest as

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well. And so, she wants to be an engineer or an architect. That's cool. She already knows. >> Soccer player. >> Of course. Of course. You got to stay active. All right. So, what else you were doing? Um, so you're fundraising for that and then what's the CDBG

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committee that was city of Milville? >> That was it's a federal grant community development and building whatever the initials stand for, >> but the city I think they still get it is given a certain amount of money every year, but part of that money like a

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small percentage of it can go to nonprofits. Okay. >> But the non So I was on that side of it. Mhm. >> So, the nonprofits are supposed to come in on on a certain day >> and they have to sign in. It has to be mandatory. They sign in and then they

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have to stand up and talk about the amount of money they want and what they would use it for. >> Yeah. >> Then they have to submit the application and then we have to sit down and we go through the application, determine, all right, so we're going to give you x amount of dollars. You ask for the full

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amount, we're going to give you the full amount, but this person is going to get maybe a little less. So we try to make it as equal as we can. Right. >> Um >> is there followup at the end to see that they get the money that way? >> They have to Yes. They >> That's positive. >> They you know I haven't done it for a few years but uh I did it for three

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years running. They have to submit records. Uh the city keeps account of everything. >> I like that. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Because the follow through is anything. So very good. Well that's cool. And I'm sure you helped a lot of people that way

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as well. And then um you're a member of the Union Lake Sailing Club, which we talked about, the sailing, the tennis, the kayaks. They have for kids with >> We have We just got done the sail camp. Yeah. >> Um and teach the kids to sail. Yeah.

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>> Yeah. That usually went on, I think that was last week or two weeks ago. And then right now, you know, the hottest week of the year, they're doing tennis camp in the morning. >> Yeah. >> So, yeah. >> Which is fun. Good exercise at tennis. >> What about pickle ball? in that at all. >> There was pickle ball.

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>> Yeah. >> Um there was like 10 of us that were very faithful to playing pickle ball. I don't think the tennis players were happy when we marked up the court. >> But they they they learned to live with us and uh but we played pickle ball pretty faithfully. I couldn't last year because of some injuries

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>> and uh a couple minor surgeries really limited me. So and then I wasn't nobody's doing it this year. Nobody >> I don't know whether the fat has passed up here but it's I know it's a growing sport. Is it less running than tennis? >> It's supposed to be less running unless you're an idiot like me and then you're

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running all over the place. But it's >> Yeah, but even raetball is like a little teeny tiny. I felt like when I played raetball, I was running. I was sweating after my husband won't won't play with me in raet ball cuz I'll push him into the wall. >> I love that. [laughter] That's awesome. >> He said, "I'm not playing with you

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anymore." >> That's great. You got to be aggressive in this. >> Pickle ball is totally different. It's not your whole arm. It's just the flick of the wrist and pushing it through. There's a finesse. >> There's a finesse to it. Yeah. >> I love that. Well, with that, we're going to take a little break and then hear more from Deb. This is so

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intriguing and it's so fun to talk to someone who does so much and dedicates her life to helping other people and uh in my opinion, the more you give, the more you get. So, with that, we'll be right back. More than a century ago, General Tire

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Very good. Wow, what a fun time today. I love doing this show and uniting South Jersey. I feel like um Deb Malone here has been uniting Millville like her whole entire life making things happening happen. And isn't it true Deb

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that when you get involved with something once you start asking questions how can we make this better? Who can we talk to? Who can we reach out to? It's just being a little inquisitive and going for it. I think people sometimes sit back and like wait for other people to make things happen, but

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we all have this capability to say, "Hey, let me check that out. Let me investigate this and see what we can do." And nine times out of 10, you know, I'm pretty assertive and I want to get what I want in life. And uh I'm not afraid to ask. And nine times out of 10, when you ask for something, people will

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at least try to help you. Yes. >> Right. So uh I encourage it. And uh people everybody can make a change >> you know if you if you feel like hey I could do it you know first is having confidence in yourself which is helpful and collaborating with other wonderful

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people who want to make things better because there's a lot of negativity in the world but there's an awful lot of positivity >> there's I think there's more I will always think there's more positivity in the world. >> Absolutely. >> You know I really if you get out get away from TV >> Yeah. >> get away from YouTube >> Yeah. and get out there.

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>> Quit scrolling and connecting. >> Just get out there and connect. >> You're right. Yeah. >> And and I find uh I do look for the good in people and I find it. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Absolutely. >> So the Oh, the life of an optimist. That's a wonderful word. >> The glass is half full. Oh, it's

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overflowing with love and positivity. I dig that about you. [laughter] Hallelujah. All right, let's talk about some more fun stuff. Hi. Um, >> you served on the board of the Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts and the past president of the RRCA.

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>> Same place. Yeah. >> Okay. And current vice chair of the board. >> Yes. >> So, what is this organization? >> This is the It's actually our big It is the cornerstone of the arts district. >> Okay. >> In Melville. It's down in the very first

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block, >> okay, >> of High Street. Uh, it is an art gallery. We provide lessons to kids right now. We have a seminar camp going with kids. >> Oh, really? >> And yeah, I think it's filled up actually. Um, we have a wonderful leader in Diane Rogers.

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>> Way to go, Diane. >> Uh, she's great. She's phenomenal. Uh, Patty Atinson is our current chairman and Shayla Rosselle is our treasurer. Linda Finch is our secretary and I'm I'm kind of the vice chair.

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>> Excellent. And it's uh it's it's a great place to be. And I'm I'm still shocked for we're now celebrating our 25th year. >> Wild. >> Uh so we're probably going to start we're trying to come up with different ideas. So we might start a 25 for 25. >> Okay. >> Campaign and with letter writing and in

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in the fall. Uh >> letter writing >> letter writing for for fel for money because it everything we do is on grant money. >> Yeah. you know, or the art that we might sell. But mostly the art that we sell, the money goes to the artist and we only collect a portion of it.

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>> But we do art shows every third Friday. >> Okay. >> In fact, there's a new one starting tomorrow. >> Y >> uh where I believe, if if I'm right, it's more of a patriotic Americana theme. >> 250 years. I mean, it's a big deal. And it's it's just a great we do we have

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people that go in at night and they they like some theater groups go in and practice. We have had little concerts there. Just a great cornerstone to have in Milville >> and it's really good for the kids to see. >> Oh, and the kids are great. We had we

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get we do our shows for the kids and we set up the center gallery and they come in and they're so to see their faces they are so excited >> when they come in and they've got their parents with them. It's it's a good it's a good thing. >> The kids need opportunities to be creative and they do need to be guided a

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little bit. Once you give them the stuff and show them what to do, then it's a free-for-all. But um >> it's too easy to give them the iPad and and so it um you know, I encourage anyone to get involved and and get their kids involved. >> Yes. Super cool. I know. I I saw there's

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like a um glass blowing class for kids too somewhere close. I want to say by the custard. It's over It's over probably a Wheaten Village, I imagine. That I could be wrong. >> There's one over by the where they do the bingo at the Elks. >> Oh, at the Elks. Okay. >> Yeah. And it's like a across the street

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over there by the Custard Club. >> Okay. So, that's a fun thing. There's plenty of fun things to do if you really scope around. Yeah. So, my goal is to like list all the fun things that are going on, but it's I'm kind of just talking about the people I talk to, right?

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>> So, um Well, that's fun. and the arts are always cool and that's a part of ourselves that we need to tap into being artistic and creative that really uh soothes depression and stuff like that. So I think a lot of people might not tap into that but it's it's positive. Yes.

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>> Yes. I love it. And then so I want to know >> you're serving your third term on the Milville Board of Education and you said it's a three-year term and you'll be going up uh again coming up next year 2027. >> Yeah. I have to make that decision. Yeah.

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>> Yeah. Whether I'll probably I will for the four. All right. I'll say I will. >> Yeah. Yeah. [laughter] Good. It sounds like you're on a roll and you're well suited for it and you've been doing it a long time. So, you know which avenues to go and which people to call to get stuff done. >> Yes. >> Which is imperative.

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>> And I have we have a great administrative team. We have a phenomenal board. We have great staff. >> Yes. >> And uh I can't say enough about the staff. They do amazing work. Um our kids can

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suffer from great challenges. Yes. You know, in in our community. >> Yes. >> And uh we have set up crisis teams. We've set up mental health. Uh the big part of getting me involved was initially years ago was coming up. They

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asked the community to help come up with a strategic plan. So I got involved with that. And then after I got done with that, I'm like going, "Oh, I can do this. Yes, I'm going to run. I'm going to run. So, I did uh in the meantime, we've done another strategic plan, and

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one of our goals with uh that under the leadership of Kim Cardi, who was our board president, uh was to set up safety and security. Number one, safety and security in the schools. Uh it's huge. We want our kids to feel like they

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belong. Yep. >> And in order for them to feel like they belong, they need to feel safe. >> Yes. Now, no school is perfect and we're going to have problems and there's going to be bullying. We're working on that. We have set up character ed programs. We are constantly trying to bring in people

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that will help our staff cope >> and work >> with some of our more challenging cases. Um, but these are our kids and they deserve the best. >> That's it. That's it. And there's all different personalities, all different trials and tribulations, and not

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everybody's the same. >> We have a program, and right now the name escapes me, but with the the county prosecutor's office so that if the police go in to a home during the night or the day before and we are told

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immediately so that we can meet that child at the door and say, "Hey, how are you?" >> That's awesome. >> You need to talk. >> That's awesome. >> And that has that has worked. >> Um >> Yeah. Because usually if there a child's acting out, there's a reason why, >> right? They're sad, right? Because

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something's not stable or whatever. Yeah. >> Yeah. And compassion is >> and not and not >> every child has a good coping mechanism, you know, and that >> comes from strong parental, strong family ties, a strong school. >> Yeah. >> So, yeah.

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>> Feeling like they belong. >> They have to feel, first of all, they have to feel like they belong. And and one thing um we're bringing in this year is uh Mr. Michael Mcnite. Going to give him a plug. Uh he used to work for Atlantic County Special Services. He now

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worked he was a Stockton professor. He might still do that. Uh he was also with the state department of education. Uh he's coming in uh with uh what we call the crisis prevention institute. Um he helped bringing the program into special

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services in Atlantic County. Uh I firmly firmly believe in that because I saw it work, >> right? >> Uh he's going to teach the staff non-violent crisis intervention, which >> um I was trained in as a secretary. I was trained in because my office sat in

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front of his office and the principal's office and kids are coming this way. I'm like, >> you're on the front line. >> No. And and and so I we were a good team. We were and he's been a mentor. He's a good person. So, I'm thrilled to say he's coming to Milville. >> Exciting.

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>> And I'm I'm I'm just thrilled about it. >> All right. Mike Mcnite, we're pumped to have you in our town. >> Yes. >> Amazing. And And so, one of the schools um I was asking you when I was younger, I went to Rick Avenue and um I always remember, oh, you know, I'm going to go

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to Memorial High School, >> which was uh a middle school, right? >> Yes, that was the middle school. >> Yes. >> And now it's an alternative school. >> Alternative school. So, if you have kids that have had difficulties in regular

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school and uh it's um I want to say it's an al well it's an alternative it is a a consequence sometimes. >> Um but out of consequences >> come improvement. Yes. >> And lessons. >> So we we send them over to Memorial.

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There's a wonderful program there. Uh they work with our curriculum. They work very hard to get uh to mentor the kids to give them therapies to guide them and then the the pushes that get them back but they just don't send them back. They will I mean obviously send them back but

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they will go check on that student every other week or whatever the schedule is. They will go check on that kid to see how they're doing. Are they maintaining? Are they doing >> are they up to par with the schoolwork so they when they come back when they integrate back into regular school they're at the same level. Yeah.

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>> Well, that's awesome. >> Yeah. And it's it's it's a good and I always I you know, we sent a a few over there this year and and it was, you know, we talking to the parents and I was like, it's a consequence, but it's also an opportunity. >> Yeah.

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>> You know, out of bad things, opportunities arise and it's how you choose to >> look at it. Yeah. Look at it. >> It's almost like a little rehab, right? Where they have a little more attention. >> Yeah. And you get attention, you get therapies, you get uh a place where you can go and just kind of venting coping

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skills. Yes. >> I I mean a lot of adults need that too, right? >> I could certainly use it once in a while. >> Yeah. I mean, everybody could use a little therapy and I think it's important and >> it feels like uh a little more of that even in the regular school would be cool. >> Yeah. Right. >> Yeah. And a big part of our school is

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our strategic plan >> which uh we have a well it's not new. It's probably a couple years old now. We have to change it every so many years. Sure. >> But our big part is that we're going to honor our legacy because Milville school system has a wonderful legacy, especially at the high school.

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>> Uh and but with that, we're going to continue to grow and improve, but honor the past. So, uh obviously we have that with the football. The big part of it was the building of the field, the remodeling of the field. >> Uh it's a beautiful facility. If you

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haven't seen it, you can't help. >> Yeah. Mike T helped with that. >> No, that was the baseball. That was baseball. I'm talking about the football field. >> Oh, football. Yeah. That was the August it was being built. It was almost completed. Uh the Thunderbolt Club sits

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I think it's on A Street, but we we had breakfast with the old retired coaches. >> Cool. >> And uh they asked me to to meet with them because my dad helped build the Thunderbolt Club. And uh so Kim I think Kim was there. I was there and we took

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them for a tour of the complex and I walked out to the center of the M with coach Sice and he just was I think he was stunned when he saw it. Amazing. >> You know, it's a beautiful field. >> It is. It's a beautiful facility. a

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legitimate now track because I always said, >> "What man designed the track?" >> Because the track this when you're starting your long races, the track would start on the visitor side of the field and it'd be six lanes. >> Oh. >> Go all the way around. You get to the

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Millville side of the field, all of a sudden it's five lanes. You can't have legitimate track meets because it's an illegal track. >> Oh, good night. So we to fix that we had to literally take the stands, move them back to put in the extra lane. So we did the whole new lane.

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>> Wow. >> So now we have big track meet there. The band and Oh >> the band is pretty amazing. >> We have an amazing band. But um our >> It used to be back in the day when I was in school, nobody nobody was allowed to touch that field except the football teams.

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>> Nobody. You couldn't even use it for gym. You were not allowed on it. And I can remember because when I was graduated high school, I got hired by Milville Board of Ed for a couple years as a secretary and and so I I remember when the soccer team said, "Well, we want to play there." And it was it was

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an allout argument. I'm like, "Come on, they're not going to destroy the field. Come on, guys." >> So, they did get allowed to play on it. >> Is it real grass or astro? >> No, it's Astro. Okay. >> So, uh so now it's not just the football teams. It's it's the two soccer teams. It's the two lacrosse teams. It's the

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field hockey team. We have now a girls flag football team. >> Yay. >> We have what else? It was and the band. >> Yeah. >> And the band now has in October a band competition there. >> Yeah. That band is on point. >> We have a great band.

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>> You know, my um cousin Haley is a cheerleader there. Okay. >> And so I've gone to a few of the football games and it is it's a beautiful the stands are beautiful. the concession's nice. The whole field, it it is really a beauty. Beauty beauty. Yeah. >> And our band, in fact, just got back

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from Disney. They played. They had the opportunity. They've done it a couple times, but this year they had the opportunity to march down Main Street. >> Wow. >> And our magical went there and they had the opportunity to sing. >> That's like a pinnacle, isn't it? >> It was called life because graduation was the night before Well, was the night

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they were leaving. >> Oh, wow. >> So, they got to graduate. They got to go home >> at 1:00. then back at the school to get on the bus to go to the airport >> and then you know but it was fun and a good experience. Yeah, we have a phenomenal fine arts fine and performing

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arts program. >> I love it. I went there for I don't know if it was a chamber meeting and like that but um we went for a lunch right >> and is there culinary therein? Oh my gosh, the food was the food was good and then we went for a show and it was it was fabulous and they were playing like

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old 40s music which is my favorite. Yeah. >> Yeah. It was it was amazing. I was like, "Dang, this is >> this year we honored um the outstanding student of the year and u and we honored the outstanding teacher from the high school. The chamber was there." >> Oh, nice. >> And the kids actually from the culinary

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department planned everything on their own. They researched the recipes. They decided what they were going to serve. They prepared it and they served it. And they did a wonderful, >> wonderful job. It's one of It's a great program. The kids love that program. Unfortunately, there are times we have

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to turn kids away from it because it's such a great program, >> but we can't take everybody. You know, >> they're having fun with it, too. You can tell they're having fun with it. They're very prideful and like, you know, I'm a cook at my at my house and and of course, when I have people over and I cook something fabulous, I want them to

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be like, "This is so yummy." So, they're almost when you take it and you start eating it, they're like, "Do you like it?" I'm like, "I LOVE IT." You know, >> what people what people, if you haven't been in the high school, the new high school, >> Yeah. >> it doubled in size. Yeah. >> Uh we now have a dance studio and we have a dance program.

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>> Oh wow. >> So we have a dance studio. We have a wrestling room that's just for the wrestlers. We have a actual >> gym like you were going to Planet Fitness. It's a gym and all the equipment. It's got the big M on it and and it's orange and blue. >> Nice.

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>> Uh we have now besides the one auditorium, we have two giant auditoriums. We had the good one with the big official scoreboard for basketball. And then we had still the old gym that we used because the school was built and all four all four years are now there. Used to be the high school which is three years. Now it's four. >> Right.

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>> Um it there's a greenhouse up on the roof. >> What? Yes. Yes. >> Well, that makes sense. In a farming town, isn't it? >> At at Cumberland at the um Wheaten Village this year, they were out there selling plants they had grown. >> That's awesome. >> Well, it is a farming town, right? I mean, it's part of the culture here.

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Yeah. Let's see who's chiming in real quick. Deb, we don't have a ton of people, but we've got Miss Rebecca Yakawitz. She said, "Hi. I just saw the invite." Hi, Rebecca. >> Hi, Rebecca. Thanks for chiming in,

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lady. Appreciate it. Good to see you. And then I've got my friend Pam Bond is watching. Hey, lady. And my buddy Fred Sienna. This guy I had on the show. He's really fantastic. He's with the Grand Pas I was

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telling you about. Yeah. But he's become an actor now and we're going to go to the premiere of um City of Honor. >> Oh, >> which is uh a new show that's out if you get a chance to watch it. Yes, City of Honor. So, that's cool. Hey, buddy. Thanks for your support and watching the

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show. >> I appreciate you guys sharing all this fun stuff. What's going on here? Ooh, yeah. >> 2026 awarders. [laughter] >> So, they voted on this. They nominated people and they they picked you and you

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won. >> And I won. >> Congratulations. >> I was stunned when I got the phone call. I It's a funny story because we were in a meeting in the morning and I'm sitting there and Jerry Cavella, our director, is talking to Rob Connor, our president.

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He goes, "I sent out the link to the event committee." And I'm like going, "I'm on the event committee. I didn't get a [laughter] link." And I'm like going, I haven't had a link in weeks. What's going on? And they're looking at each other. And of course, my Gemini brain, I'm born in June, is like going, "All right, what did I do? >> Who do I make mad?"

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>> And and oh, we'll send you a link. Don't worry about it. Okay. Well, I went home. I forgot. >> Yeah. >> And next thing I know, my phone is ringing at 5:00 and it's Rob calling. I'm apologizing for not saying sending you the link, but this is why. >> A. >> And I'm like I was like, I'm in the house by myself and I'm like going,

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"Who? Who? Me?" >> Deb, was that you? The dogs are looking at me like, "What?" >> That's so cool. So, you won um Spirit Spirit of Milville award. >> Spirit of Milville. This is huge. >> Congratulations. That's a big deal.

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>> It is. Yeah, it is. And I'm >> Look, it g >> Yeah, but you know, when I do things, I don't think about >> Well, >> you don't think about when you're volunteer, you don't think about words. You're just there to >> make things make things positive >> because Yeah. I mean the world right now

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is very difficult and uh >> you can't fix everything. >> Yeah. >> But I can >> try >> try to fix my part of it. >> Yes. If everybody did that, I think it'd be amazing. Yeah. So, let's encourage everybody to do it. But, you know, it's

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okay to to uh let everyone thank you and be grateful for you because you are a shining star. Thank you. >> And um you do make an impact and you're a wonderful woman. Oh, thank you. And uh you have this um beautiful high vibration about you that makes people

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feel good. And what I really enjoy about you, and I hope I make other people feel this way, too, uh that I admire is that when you're speaking to someone, you make them feel like they're the only person in the whole entire world, and they're the only thing that matters in that moment. >> All right. Thank you.

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>> And that is a special gift. >> All right. I appreciate that. >> And I think that's why you won, lady, cuz you're sensational. So, hats off to you. >> [laughter] >> and I'm so glad we're friends and I'm so glad you could come on this awesome show and uh that Quinn Broadcasting is having

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me host. I feel really honored too, you know, something fun and I hope that I'm helping the community as well just let them know about all these fun things so more people can get involved. You know what? Um, we always, uh, we always say, um, when we end something at the board

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of ed, when we're sending out emails or whatever, we always end with once a bolt, always a bolt. >> Positively. >> Yeah. Yep. >> And a lightning bolt is impactful. >> Yes. >> Right. >> Yep. Yeah. Once a bolt, always a bolt. And that's how we all feel. >> Very cool. Yeah. Well, we're ending the

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show. Is there anything else? You know, I I know I I said why you look so fancy today, and you said that you you went and unfortunately had a funeral today for a dear friend. >> You went to honor Charles Mains. >> Yes. Yeah. Charlie Mains. He was, if anybody didn't know, he unfortunately

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passed away last week of cancer. Um he was a well-known musician in the area. He originally back in the day 70s and 80s had a band within reality. It was competition with my husband's band, the Starlighters. That's how I know him. Uh

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Larry, I think went to school with him. Uh great all around guy and unfortunately he lost his battle. A well, cheers to Isn't that wonderful? Everybody came together. >> Everybody came together today. Yeah. >> And a celebration of life is such a beautiful thing. And I bet everybody

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spoke very highly. >> Yes. Yes. He was a good guy. One of the good ones. >> I think it's cool when people play music and they're able to share their love and passion through their music. >> Charlie knew I heard today over 600 songs by heart. >> What?

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>> Music and words. >> Wild. You know, we would go watch him at the or house. It would just be him on his organ playing going to town and like going, "How in the world?" >> It just flew flowed out of him. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. Well, here's to Charlie and those of you that know Charlie.

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>> Cheers, Charlie. [laughter] >> God bless you and look down and over all of us and keep shining bright with uh with your music. Once a bowl, always a bowl, Charlie. So, what I like to do to end the show is say, uh, we're going to keep a high vibration going of

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positivity, optimism, love, and I like to lock arms with all my guests, and say we're going to we're going to take over the town, one person at a time, and we're going to lock arms because we're uniting South Jersey. And I want to say

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God bless America and God bless you. This has been a QVC television production in association [music] with our partners and sponsors. QBC broadcasts on Comcast cable channel 22 and live streams its programming on Facebook and YouTube. All rights

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reserved by [music] Quinn Media and QBC. programming that serves the South Jersey market.