Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-00689-w de Bakker, D. E. M. et al. Preprint at bioRxiv https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.10.11.617841 (2025) Download references Reprints and permissions Mutation linked to thriving with little rest ‘Fear extinction’ signal in mouse brain offers clues about how to treat PTSD Memories of a cold place trigger bodily responses to warm up Microbial molecule of ageing gut nudges blood stem cells towards cancer Age-related blood condition counteracted with a common diabetes drug The best foods for healthy ageing ― and the worst HT is an interdisciplinary research institute created and supported by the Italian government whose aim is to develop innovative strategies to pr.. UNIL is a leading international teaching and research institution with over 5,000 employees and 17,000 students split between its Dorigny campus Department of Energy and Environmental Materials and advance cancer research in a leading translational institute Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute We are seeking a tenure-track associate professor to promote interdisciplinary research in nanoprobe life sciences or related interdisciplinary field Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Monsignor Arthur Valenzano was the former rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore Lori as a priest of “tremendous pastoral love” who touched the lives of thousands of people throughout the Archdiocese of Baltimore 5 after a lengthy battle with acute myeloid leukemia The 24th rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore was 66 and had undergone two bone marrow transplants Monsignor Valenzano was the former pastor of St “He lived the priesthood in such a faithful and loving way and he had such a winning personality that he was respected by everybody,” Archbishop Lori said he had a way of lovingly sharing the faith and winning people’s confidence and friendship Archbishop Lori recalled that when he first arrived in Baltimore in 2012 he was nervous about knocking on the door of the archbishop’s residence at the basilica and not knowing what was on the other side Monsignor Valenzano greeted him and welcomed him “I could sense right away that he was a loving priest,” Archbishop Lori said The archbishop remembered that at the news conference announcing his appointment to Baltimore from Connecticut he was encouraged when Monsignor Valenzano caught his eye and gave him a simple smile “That’s the same smile thousands of parishioners and many of our brother priests have seen,” Archbishop Lori said who succeeded Monsignor Valenzano as pastor of St John in Westminster after Monsignor Valenzano became rector of the basilica in 2010 said Monsignor Valenzano had an innate ability to connect with people “in an extraordinary way.” “He brought spiritual joy to every occasion,” Monsignor Farmer said “You just felt better when you were near him.” Monsignor Valenzano oversaw a rapidly growing congregation that necessitated the 2003 erection of a new church – the largest since the construction of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland He also helped develop and implement plans to convert the previous church into a reception hall known as The Portico An enthusiastic advocate of eucharistic adoration, Monsignor Valenzano established a perpetual adoration chapel at St. John, later promoting 40 hours devotion at a new adoration chapel erected in the basilica’s undercroft. The basilica chapel was dedicated by Archbishop Lori in Monsignor Valenzano’s honor last year “The greater awareness we have of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist the more real Christ is in the day-to-day challenges of everyday life,” Monsignor Valenzano said in a 2002 interview with the Catholic Review remembered seeing his mentor in prayer before the Eucharist every day from 5:30 to 6:30 a.m Father Nolan noted that numerous seminarians and newly ordained priests were stationed to St John – all of whom aspired to be like Monsignor Valenzano “He was one to emulate because he really imitated Christ,” said Father Nolan chaplain and director of campus ministry at Mount St Father Nolan remembered a time he “messed up” early in his assignment at St “I was so nervous to tell Father Art,” Father Nolan recalled I did that too when I was a new priest.’ It was so consoling and so very encouraging.” said the priest related well to people because he was approachable he counseled many people facing difficult life struggles he made sure they felt like he was their best friend,” Perron said “He was never too busy to be present to anyone who needed him Monsignor Valenzano knew from a young age he was called to the priesthood Charles College Seminary in Catonsville and St Ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop William D Monsignor Valenzano’s early assignments included stints as associate pastor at St He also served as an administrator of the Monsignor O’Dwyer Retreat House in Sparks William of York in Baltimore from 1986 to 1993; pastor of St and rector of the basilica from 2010 to 2015 While at the basilica, Monsignor Valenzano shepherded the parish through the restoration of the church after it was damaged in a 2012 earthquake. He expanded outreach to young adults and promoted the 2014 restoration of the basilica’s original Stations of the Cross Monsignor Valenzano, a former member of the board of directors for what is now Catholic Review Media, first fell ill while on a six-month sabbatical in Italy in 2006 He spent 40 days and 40 nights in Gemelli Hospital in Rome before receiving a bone-marrow transplant from his younger brother at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore Archbishop Lori asked the people of the archdiocese to step forward as potential bone marrow donors when Monsignor Valenzano needed a second transplant Numerous people attended a bone-marrow drive at St The best match was again found in Monsignor Valenzano’s brother In a 2013 interview with the Catholic Review Monsignor Valenzano said he viewed his health struggles as a kind of blessing “It makes me realize that I depend on God for everything,” he said “It makes me appreciate that our Catholic faith is not only a personal relationship with God but a relationship with the family of the church.” Mary in Govans  when Monsignor Valenzano was stationed there as a young associate pastor He ministered to others receiving cancer treatment in the hospital and was an inspiration to the doctors and nurses at Johns Hopkins Monsignor Valenzano also ministered to those who tended to him while in hospice care at the basilica at the end of his life you never would have known he was sick,” said Monsignor Tewes one of Monsignor Valenzano’s closest friends and the man who will give the homily at his friend’s funeral Mass “His personality never changed,” said Monsignor Tewes who often golfed and vacationed with Monsignor Valenzano Monsignor Tewes noted that Monsignor Valenzano never spoke negatively about anyone and “was always complimenting priests for the positive things they were doing.” “He was a fantastic priest,” Monsignor Tewes said “He was the greatest friend of a lifetime.” Archbishop Lori called it a blessing that he was able to spend time with Monsignor Valenzano in the last weeks of his life The two often prayed together and Archbishop Lori celebrated Mass by his friend’s bedside “We shouldn’t sugarcoat how difficult was his road,” Archbishop Lori said “It was a beautiful thing to offer Mass with him and pray with him and talk about the things that really mattered 9 at 7:30 p.m.; a funeral Mass will be offered at 11 a.m The Baltimore Basilica will host all events George Matysek offers a personal reflection here about his family’s special connection with Monsignor Valenzano, a concelebrant at Matysek’s wedding and a spiritual mentor after Matysek’s son was stillborn in 2013 and following  the birth of his daughter in 2014  Print Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media Catholic Media Assocation Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association The Associated Church Press We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money "Rae" Valenzano created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories If you're a wine drinker, this is for you! WineFestNJ is coming back again at Valenzano Winery this year and it seems like everyone who attended last year is ready for it again Valenzano Winery announced that the festival is going to take place on the Valenzano Winery festival grounds in Shamong New Jersey and people are so excited on Facebook for this event but I definitely am one who can appreciate taste-testing all sorts of different wines According to Valenzano Winery, this is the 20th year of WineFestNJ It's an amazing weekend full of friends The dates were finally announced and it's going to be September 16th through the 17th of this year Although we have a few months to go before the event kicks off for one amazing weekend, it gives you plenty of time to round up the troops! According to Valenzano Windery's Facebook page you'll be able to sample over 200 different wines from 11 of New Jersey's favorite wineries There are going to be 3 different stages with live music playing throughout the event with performances from local bands like GoodMan Fiske This event is really stacked with everything you need for a good time food trucks from the New Jersey and Philadelphia area and more to come WineFestNJ is happening on September 16 and 17th 2023 at Valenazno Winery in Shamong, New Jersey. Tickets are on sale now, here!  Gallery Credit: Joe, 94.5 PST If you're a wine drinker, this is for you! WineFestNJ is coming back again at Valenzano Winery.\nRead More If you're a wine drinker, this is for you! WineFestNJ is coming back again at Valenzano Winery this year and it seems like everyone who attended last year is ready for it again Valenzano Winery announced that the festival is going to take place on the Valenzano Winery festival grounds in Shamong According to Valenzano Winery, this is the 20th year of WineFestNJ Although we have a few months to go before the event kicks off for one amazing weekend, it gives you plenty of time to round up the troops! According to Valenzano Windery's Facebook page WineFestNJ is happening on September 16 and 17th 2023 at Valenazno Winery in Shamong, New Jersey. Tickets are on sale now, here!  CAMDEN – A Browns Mills man has sued six New Jersey State Police troopers alleging he was assaulted while being arrested at a wine-tasting festival Christopher Sammut contends troopers threw him to the ground and beat him during a September 2016 incident at Valenzano Winery in Shamong whose excessive-force lawsuit includes photos of his bruised face and body also claims he was punched after complaining that he’d been handcuffed too tightly The lawsuit also seeks damages from Valenzano Winery contending it did not exercise reasonable care to protect Sammut from the alleged police abuse It also says the winery continued to serve Sammut when he was “alleged to be a visibly intoxicated person More: Camden sues developer Dranoff over downtown Victor Building More: Legislator: Holiday-season layoff announcements at Pinnacle Foods are 'soulless' A lawyer for the winery says its alleged actions had no connection to the troopers’ behavior “Too much wine does not create police brutality assuming that such activity even occurred,” Peri Berger 6 motion to dismiss the claim against the vintner Berger’s motion also noted the lawsuit provides no details about Sammut’s alleged drinking or the events that led to his arrest The incident began at the winery on Old Indian Mills Road when two troopers — identified only as E Crothers — “approached (Sammut) and have reported that he was clearly intoxicated,” the lawsuit says It contends the troopers told Sammut to leave "and he responded that he was leaving anyway.” “causing him to land on top of his left arm.” It contends the troopers knelt on Sammut and demanded he show his left arm It says Sammut could not do that because of the officers' weight upon him “The troopers then stated out loud that (Sammut) was resisting as a pretext and assaulted him," the suit alleges It says Sammut complained about his handcuffs as he was being taken in a trooper's car to the state police station in Southampton then stopped the car on the side of a road and punched Sammut Also named as defendants are state police Sgt was recently moved to federal court in Camden at Valenzano’s request Jim Walsh: @jimwalsh_cp; 856-486-2646; jwalsh@gannettnj.com had successfully undergone a bone-marrow transplant in his fight with acute myeloid leukemia which included punishing rounds of chemotherapy and radiation treatments the priest had maintained a remarkably positive outlook – always diverting attention from himself as he encouraged others My wife suggested that we look to Monsignor Valenzano for inspiration If Treasa and I could emulate just a small portion of our friend’s boundless courage I’ll never forget how Monsignor Valenzano graciously ushered us into his small office at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore his eyes seemed filled with the compassion of someone who instinctively knew how to carry the anguish of others Monsignor Valenzano was still feeling well but his cancer was back and within a few months he would have to go through more grueling treatments and yet another bone-marrow transplant reminding us that God knew us before he created us in our mother’s womb He told us that out of all the people in the world who could have been the parents of our child Monsignor Valenzano then closed his eyes and prayed with us but I do remember feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit as the cleric’s soft Treasa and I left our meeting feeling more ready to face whatever would come our way Monsignor Valenzano called me on my cell phone The Western Maryland native just wanted to check and see how Treasa and I were holding up He would do whatever he could to support us Monsignor Valenzano was with us throughout our difficult pregnancy He blessed our baby – George Paul Matysek III – in Treasa’s womb using a new rite prepared by the U.S He encouraged us when doctors held out hope they could save Georgie’s life by performing heart surgery after his birth the priest arrived at Johns Hopkins to pray with us on the day our son’s heart stopped beating six weeks before his due date Monsignor Valenzano returned to the hospital to be with us yet again As I held my son’s motionless body in my arms and family members gathered on the Feast of All Souls Monsignor Valenzano prayed with us and offered a blessing there was also a sense of joy in being united in faith The man who had been a concelebrant at our wedding later buried our little one and offered a memorial Mass at the basilica He repeatedly assured us that Georgie was our advocate in heaven Monsignor Arthur Valenzano baptizes George and Treasa’s daughter in 2014 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore Monsignor Valenzano was with us yet again – sharing in our excitement and blessing our daughter in the womb Even though his health was rapidly declining and he was no longer doing baptisms Monsignor Valenzano made an exception for us and baptized our little girl at the basilica in November 2014 His voice was weak and sometimes trailed off that day When Monsignor Valenzano touched our daughter’s lips as part of the baptism rite the infant instinctively tried to nibble his finger “God love you,” the priest said with a laugh as he smiled at the baby Monsignor Valenzano’s presence at the baptism was a tremendously generous and selfless gift – one that our family will forever cherish The last time I spoke with Monsignor Valenzano was at the special May celebration marking the 40th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood I shook his hand and congratulated him on his milestone I was more than happy to accommodate Monsignor Valenzano’s request Now, as the good and faithful servant has been welcomed into his Father’s house Sept I know that Georgie is embracing him – as are the countless others whose lives had been touched on Earth by the actions of this humble priest for showing the world what it means to be a true follower of Christ all of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond praises Jesus for the gift of your priesthood May we learn from your example and make this world better for others My sister-in-law shares her memories of Monsignor Valenzano here. ‘Art in Heaven:’ Archdiocese bids farewell to Monsignor Valenzano Monsignor Valenzano, basilica rector who touched the lives of thousands, succumbs to cancer Georgie’s Story: Choosing life when the prognosis is death Monstrance fished from reservoir centerpiece of new adoration chapel Overcoming cancer teaches Westminster pastor lessons on faith Amen: Jesus misses you Email George Matysek at gmatysek@CatholicReview.org Copyright © 2015 Catholic Review Media  Print (Campbell) Valenzano created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories In a final sendoff marked with heartfelt displays of raw emotion hundreds of people from across the Archdiocese of Baltimore packed the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sept whose previous assignments included appointments as pastor of St 5 at age 66 after a nearly decade-long battle with acute myeloid leukemia a stream of mourners filed past Monsignor Valenzano’s open casket prior to the start of a two-hour funeral Mass as white-gloved members of the Knights of Columbus and the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem took turns standing at attention Some reached out to touch the priest’s rosary-clad hands and others dabbed tears at the sight of the priest dressed in his vestments Mary’s University in Emmitsburg and a former associate pastor under Monsignor Valenzano at St knelt beside his friend as he paid his respects gently resting a hand near the priest’s body Father Brian Nolan pays his respects to Monsignor Arthur F Father Nolan was among nearly 100 priests present for the Mass Baltimore-native Bishop Victor Galeone (retired bishop of St a retired pastor and one of Monsignor Valenzano’s closest friends “Praise Jesus!” He then encouraged the entire congregation to do the same in imitation of Monsignor Valenzano who often said those words throughout his life “He looked for the good in every person,” Monsignor Tewes said noting that his friend had a beautiful smile that captured people He was comfortable with people of all ages and made them feel comfortable also.” Monsignor Tewes said his friend showed great generosity from his earliest years He recalled that when Monsignor Valenzano was a teen at St some of his classmates who worked with him for the Little Sisters of the Poor had saved up money for a trip to Florida ‘What did you do with your money from the Little Sisters?’“ Monsignor Tewes recounted When Monsignor Valenzano first fell ill during a stay in Rome Monsignor Tewes remembered that a nurse once asked Monsignor Valenzano who he was “an ordinary parish priest,” she dismissed the claim had visited him every week since he arrived at the hospital “Little did she realize what a prophetic role she was performing,” Monsignor Tewes said “for Arthur Valenzano was no ordinary parish priest; he was an extraordinary parish priest.” Monsignor Tewes said his friend relished all his assignments in his 40 years of priesthood which included serving as associate pastor of St and administrator of the Monsignor O’Dwyer Retreat House Despite the pain he suffered after undergoing two bone-marrow transplants and other cancer treatments Monsignor Valenzano’s personality never changed The basilica rector had a great sense of humor and enjoyed calling his friend “the old grouch.” Monsignor Tewes recalled that after cancer treatments caused his friend’s hair to start falling out, Monsignor Valenzano asked Monsignor Tewes to shave his head The next time he shaved the priest’s head Monsignor Valenzano ribbed him with: “This time Monsignor Tewes said his beloved friend died as the archbishop and several others stood at his bedside praying the eighth Hail Mary of the Mystery of the Resurrection in the rosary Monsignor Thomas Tewes delivers the homily at Monsignor Arthur F Overcome with emotion at the conclusion of his homily Monsignor Tewes bent down and embraced his friend’s pall-draped casket as tears streamed down his face who had often celebrated Mass beside Monsignor Valenzano as he was in hospice care at the basilica said Monsignor Valenzano offered his suffering for evangelization religious vocations and the healing of the city He touched the lives of thousands of people personally the basilica’s Facebook page might have 300 or 400 hits that number has surpassed 30,000 – a sign of how beloved he was “I don’t think we will ever say the ‘Our Father’ the same again,” Archbishop Lori said “I’d invite you to pull out three little words The archbishop read from a letter sent by Cardinal Edwin F grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem and Archbishop Lori’s predecessor in Baltimore “Arthur was the prototypical man without guile ever available to his people and to his archbishop,” Cardinal O’Brien wrote Although Monsignor Valenzano was never on the faculty of a seminary he “ever remained a priest-formator for the clergy and seminarians of Baltimore and only the Lord knows the effect that his gentle but principled guidance has had on so many of our clergy Archbishop Lori drew laughter and applause when he made reference to Monsignor Valenzano’s love for the Baltimore Orioles and Cardinal O’Brien’s love for the Yankees “Let it be known that since Art went home to God,” Archbishop Lori said who was Monsignor Valenzano’s assistant at the basilica for several years devoted herself to caring for the priest as his illness progressed She had lost a son to leukemia and knew what to expect “I felt it was a blessing for me to be able to walk someone else home to God,” she told the Catholic Review Archbishop Lori exchanges the sign of peace Sept who helped care for Monsignor Valenzano during his illness Wandishin said Monsignor Valenzano saw everyone as a child of God He carried a wad of dollars during his walks around the basilica giving them out to homeless people on the street “He looked past their issues and just saw the good,” she said said a busload of parishioners traveled to the basilica for their former pastor’s funeral He had overseen construction of a new church at the parish converted the previous church into a reception hall opened a perpetual adoration chapel and was known for always being present to those in need “I think his charism was just being in the moment with people,” she said he was completely with you and he made you feel like there was no one else in the world.” Tippett said she and her family would not have converted to Catholicism had it not been for Monsignor Valenzano John and saw Monsignor Valenzano praying at the back of the church several years ago She was inspired by his prayerful example and joined the Catholic Church also made reference to his brother’s ability to draw people to the church In a letter read at the funeral by Tony Valenzano John Valenzano noted that a nurse who cared for Monsignor Valenzano returned to the church because of the strong faith exhibited by the priest As pallbearers slowly led Monsignor Valenzano’s wooden casket down the basilica’s center aisle at the end of the funeral Mass applause rippled through the old cathedral “He meant so much to all of us,” Tippett said Listen to Monsignor Tewes’ full homily here.  See more photos from the funeral Mass here Praise Jesus for Monsignor Valenzano  Print Tony Valenzano says it’s great being the “local winery.” “I’ve lived in Shamong for over 40 years,” Valenzano said “I love this community and never want to live anywhere else “It’s great being able to run a successful farm and winery in the same community I grew up in and the same town where my children are being raised,” he added Valenzano Winery’s first vineyards were planted in the early 1990s the winery started out as the 15th winery in the state back in 1996 Since then about 10 of those wineries have gone out of business and about 45 wineries have opened up or are currently in the process of opening Valenzano Winery went from producing 500 gallons of wine to over 100,000 gallons during its 17th year of growth “This year we will be the number one New Jersey wine sold in the state and our wines are the top sold brand in dozens of fine wine stores in Burlington County and throughout the state,” Valenzano said “Our Jersey Devil Port is the number one sold port in New Jersey our Honey Wine is the number one sold Mead in New Jersey our famous Shamong Red is the number one sold sweet red wine in the state "We were raised on a farm in Shamong Township and my father always made wine as a hobby,” he added “In the early ‘90s my father started planting vines to be used in the production of his homemade wine Valenzano said the most challenging part of running the winery is keeping up with dozens of federal There’s honestly no better workout that relieves stress and reduces your daily amounts of anxiety than yoga Another tactic that is great to use to wind down after a stressful day is enjoying a glass of wine but what could be better than mixing the two Valenzano Winery is having an event that they’re calling Wine which looks like the ultimate relaxation event that you don’t want to miss out on August 31 starting at 11 am and ending at 12 pm They’re offering an hour-long yoga class hosted by experienced yoga instructor Jennifer is from Beyond Relief Yoga and will be teaching the session in the Valenzano Winery’s own Barrel room It’s listed online that all guests are welcome to stay afterward at the Bar Wine Pub to wine and dine as much as they please before going home feeling relaxed and refreshed I don’t think there’s another event happening in the area like this that will fight off those Sunday scaries quite like this event will Valenzano winery also has a bunch of other events that are listed for the upcoming weeks like their Friday Night Live Music event If you’re interested in making your way out to this event at (732)527-5066 or send an email to beyondreliefserrvies@gmail.com to register Valenzano Winerry is located at 1090 US-206 I don’t think there’s another event happening in the area like this that will fight off those Sunday scaries quite like this event will.\nRead More There’s honestly no better workout that relieves stress and reduces your daily amounts of anxiety than yoga. Another tactic that is great to use to wind down after a stressful day is enjoying a glass of wine, but what could be better than mixing the two? Valenzano Winery is having an event that they’re calling Wine, Dine, and Unwind, which looks like the ultimate relaxation event that you don’t want to miss out on. It’s all going down this Sunday, August 31 starting at 11 am and ending at 12 pm. They’re offering an hour-long yoga class hosted by experienced yoga instructor, Jennifer Marotte. Jennifer is from Beyond Relief Yoga and will be teaching the session in the Valenzano Winery’s own Barrel room. It’s listed online that all guests are welcome to stay afterward at the Bar Wine Pub to wine and dine as much as they please before going home feeling relaxed and refreshed. I don’t think there’s another event happening in the area like this that will fight off those Sunday scaries quite like this event will. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jennifer Marotte (@beyondreliefyoga) (Valenzano) Simard created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories READ ALL THE ARTICLE READ ALL THE ARTICLE The Apulia region will be the protagonist of the evening on Friday as part of the World Week of .. READ ALL THE REVIEW the Tangeri Lounge in Malindi offers in its place the music of the.. READ ALL THE ARTICLE On the occasion of the World Week of Italian Cuisine READ ALL THE REVIEW the number one meeting of our fellow countrymen in .. READ ALL THE REVIEW The big rainy season is still delayed on the coast and the territory is beginning to seriously suffer from.. READ THE ARTICLE Christmas Eve and Christmas Eve to live together with dinner and an after dinner by the sea and by the.. READ ALL THE ARTICLE Popular legends narrate that the Italian tricolor was not only...  READ AND SEE VIDEO AND PICTURES La Malindina reopens the season of its weekly events with a classic.. READ ALL THE ARTICLE questo mercoledì diventa “Winesday” READ THE ARTICLE What better way to promote an excellent Italian wine cellar READ THE ARTICLE Resuming this Friday in the historic club of Malindi where the events are always classy Also this year La Malindina joins the International Week of Italian Cuisine of our.. READ ALL THE ARTICLE After the success of the first Thursdays, the grand weekly buffet of People Bar & Restaurant in Malindi on Lamu Road before Galana Center continues its parade of dishes and snacks, for a real dinner from 8pm, just KES .... READ ALL AND SEE THE GALLERY It’s been seven years since the death of Monsignor Arthur Valenzano former rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and a longtime pastor of St director of faith formation at Sacred Heart in Glyndon (Editor’s note: This story was updated on Sept Click play below to listen to the full program Copyright © 2022 Catholic Review Media  Print Information on COVID-19 Funeral Assistance through FEMA \u003ca href=\"/resources/funeral-assistance\"\u003eRead More\u003c/a\u003e The family of Ann Spinosa created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories © 2025 John Vincent Scalia Home for Funerals Inc. Made with love by funeralOne you’re driving down Route 206 and out of the corner of your eye and we would see this gorilla and it reminded us of our son,” said Valenzano was a bodybuilder who died from brain cancer in 1999 at age 29 The gorilla had several names over the years when it resided at the Jersey shore but Valenzano decided to call it “Mighty Joe” in honor of his son who attended grammar school in Shamong and graduated from Bishop Eustace Preparatory School in Pennsauken and Seton Hall University but he said he turned down offers of $10,000,” said Valenzano who placed the statue at the entrance to Mighty Joe’s Gas Grill and Deli at the Citgo gas station he said he had plenty of money and my reason was good enough for him The gorilla needed repair work on its arms and ankles It took about five months of welding and other work to get Mighty Joe ready for display and this is a memorial to him,” Valenzano said I have been placed here by the Valenzano family as a memorial and to pay tribute to their son Joe was a big part of this family business and he was also a bodybuilder and won many awards Joe is truly missed by his family and friends but not forgotten — and he is always in their thoughts and prayers My job is to look up to heaven from time to time and say we will always love you,’ and to welcome you to our family business If you see something in Burlington County you’re curious about send your suggestion to ktjeune@hotmail.com Mary Anne O’Donnell left what is now Notre Dame of Maryland University in 1996 for a position with Catholic Charities of Baltimore that included supervising Sarah’s House then a shelter for women and children on Fort Meade trading a serene campus in north Baltimore for a barracks-like facility on a military establishment in Anne Arundel County “The transition was not as hard as I thought it might be,” O’Donnell said There is irony in that last quality as O’Donnell becomes the first lay recipient of  the Monsignor Arthur F. Valenzano Joyful Servant Award, which honors the memory of a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore who served on the Board of Trustees of Catholic Charities and recognizes “a joyful life and spirit in service.” Past recipients include School Sister of Notre Dame Kathleen Feeley the NDMU president emeritus who made O’Donnell consider her own potential during their time together in the early 1990s I would not have considered myself a leader at all,” O’Donnell said She (Sister Kathleen) recognized things in me Recalling her first impressions of O’Donnell Her five years of leadership at Notre Dame strengthened her and the institution Maryland’s largest provider of social services O’Donnell spent six years as a senior administrator; eight as director of its Community Services Division; and the last six as assistant director and chief administration officer.  She developed employment programs; was in on the proverbial ground floor of the Our Daily Bread facility on the Fallsway a signature mission of the agency; and has managed everything from human resources to IT – all with a touch that recalls a key phrase in Catholic Charities’ mission statement “She doesn’t look at anyone as being beneath her,” said Robin Johnson who has spent 16 years at My Sister’s Place a shelter near the Catholic Center downtown “I was a program assistant when I first met her ‘Why does she know my name?’ She makes a point of getting to know everyone I see people coming to the door as my mother Her own mother and religious women beyond Sister Kathleen were formative influences on O’Donnell an only child whose father died unexpectedly when she was 3 “My mother (Anne Englebert O’Donnell) was a strong who taught me from day one the importance of giving to others,” O’Donnell said Her mother was one of O’Donnell’s CYO basketball coaches at St where the discipline and purpose taught by the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary dovetailed nicely with her home environment “I always had a list (from her mother) on the refrigerator when I came home from school: throw in a load of laundry ‘have fun every day.’ I got those kind of letters every day in college That philosophy brightened the lives of students she led at St the only job she ever had that did not involve a Catholic institution.  Coming to NDMU in 1990 as dean of students O’Donnell learned managerial balance from Sister Kathleen we went into the auditorium for an event and the guy who sets up the audio-visual wasn’t there,” O’Donnell said “Sister Kathleen was a visionary and strategic thinker O’Donnell also carried the sentiments of NDMU students when she moved on: “I remember students saying but I’m really glad you’re going to help people who really need help O’Donnell has familiarized herself with the tenuous circumstances of those in need of a meal housing or counseling – and how to provide those services That institutional knowledge was among the reasons William J the executive director of Catholic Charities asked O’Donnell six years ago to take on her current role.  It does not surprise McCarthy that O’Donnell became a lay associate of the School Sisters of Notre Dame “She always understands why we do what we do … That’s always been her North Star,” McCarthy said of a mindset that contributed to one blurry exchange Mary Anne thought she was asking about My Sister’s Place.”  O’Donnell is segueing into a part-time role with Catholic Charities of Baltimore as project manager of its “Centennial Celebration,” which will run from 2021 through 2023.  O’Donnell does it with a substantial dose of spirit whether it was with college students or here I’ve never felt like I was getting up to go to a job,” O’Donnell said “It’s always been like a ministry to me and how I’m kind of living out my faith every day.” Email Paul McMullen at pmcmullen@CatholicReview.org  Copyright © 2020 Catholic Review Media  Print Learn LU Facts Find Maps View Events Browse Undergrad Majors  Browse Grad Programs Apply Visit Request Info Make a Gift as will many of Lehigh’s treasured traditions in Fall 2020 Lehigh began welcoming its Class of 2024 this week with first-year students who chose to come to campus for the Fall semester arriving at the university and moving into their dorms Move-in has a different look and feel this fall as will many of Lehigh’s treasured traditions with the university putting new procedures and protocols in place to help keep the Lehigh community healthy and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic Move-in for first-year students is taking place over three days students in cloth face masks arrived with their families at their assigned times to unpack their belongings in three-hour windows Human Resources has created a website with COVID-19 guidance and resources for staff and faculty Nick Lutz of San Francisco arrives to campus Kyle Reiss of New Jersey wheels his belongings into his dorm Maxim Nikolov says good-bye to his family after arriving at Lehigh More than 1,500 students from 42 countries and more than 40 states and territories joined the Lehigh family this week More than 1,500 students join the Lehigh family this week First-year students participate in The Rally and orientation events over the weekend For inquiries, visit the media page or contact: Amy White(610) 758-6656abw210@lehigh.edu 301 Broadway, 4th Floor - Suite 400Bethlehem, PA 18015U.S.A.P: (610) 758-4487Fax: (610) 758-5566communications@lehigh.edu GO: The Campaign for Future MakersBe part of the most ambitious fundraising and engagement effort in Lehigh's history. Visit the campaign website now > Phone: (610) 758-3000 © 2025 All Rights Reserved a parishioner of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland and a junior at Loyola Blakefield Lori March 24 after a Mass at which altar servers and sacristans were honored including three who intend to enter seminary in the fall were among the inaugural recipients of the Monsignor Valenzano Service Award March 24 The award honors high-schoolers who serve their parish as altar servers and/or sacristans, and the memory of the late Monsignor Arthur Valenzano former rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore director of vocations for the Archdiocese of Baltimore cited two reasons for instituting the honor for high school students to serve their church in a very public way,” Father Roth said I could not think of a better priest than Monsignor Valenzano who embodies the sacrifice of service … if I think of a priest who loved the church The recipients were acknowledged during a Mass at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland which was celebrated by Archbishop William E “I don’t think there was ever a priest in the long history of the archdiocese who was better loved and more respected,” the archbishop said in his homily Monsignor Valenzano, who died in 2015 was already in treatment for leukemia when the archbishop met him three years earlier he made every day of his life count,” the archbishop said “As if there were no tomorrow and in a spirit of real joy preached and reached out to others in love and service No matter how difficult the treatments were “Soon his fellow patients and the medical professionals who treated him started coming to his Mass at the basilica every Sunday Because they were won over by his example of priestly love and care for those who were sick and suffering.” Archbishop Lori noted that three of the young men being honored “Tonight might be just that moment to start thinking how can I best bear fruit for Christ and for the church?” the archbishop said The archbishop highlighted the contributions of all being honored “What you do in your parishes is not only of value to you personally but it also has a big impact on others “When they see you serving in this capacity your example causes them to reflect on their own lives and to ask themselves if they are really living in the present as Christ’s followers.” was among the clergy who witnessed their parishioners being honored at the celebration and Deacons Justin Gough and Phil Seneschal A similar Mass will be offered for female altar servers and/or sacristans in the fall A Tribute to Msgr. Art Valenzano; Conference for Seminarians  Print MAE-MAE HAN | CONTENT MANAGING EDITOR | mhan@butler.edu  Valenzano obtained his bachelor’s degree from Providence College in psychology and political science He then earned his master’s in communication from the University of Maine in public communication from Georgia State University He went on to work at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and later the University of Dayton as a professor and basic course director; he also held the role of department chair at the latter His programs at both institutions were awarded Basic Program of Excellence by the National Communication Association the only person to have done so at two different universities faculty and alumni to discern how the college can best serve the CCOM community and ultimately help the college and its students succeed THE BUTLER COLLEGIAN: What drew you to Butler JOSEPH VALENZANO: That’s a great question — one I’ve had to answer numerous times we competed [with] Butler for students; we were considered peers so I’ve always been aware of things here I was also keenly aware when they hired Dr As I dug more into the university, one of the things that really struck me is the founding story, how it was founded by Ovid Butler and what the mission of the institution was Having been at the University of Dayton for 12 years one of the things that I felt strongly about was their mission and the mission here seems to be relatively similar — which is to provide increased access high-quality private education to a lot of students regardless of background I think education is kind of the silver bullet for people It allows them to really excel in their lives and achieve the goals that they set for themselves The college structure [of CCOM] here was appealing because at [University of Dayton] That was really appealing because you can do more at a college than you can in a department Those are the high-level things that attracted me here and so it being only two hours away from where we were also was an added bonus TBC: How did your experience at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and the University of Dayton prepare you for your role now JV: You don’t really think of it when you’re doing it as “preparing” — at least I don’t; I just do what’s in front of me I think that I’ve been attracted to administrative work to be a basic course director — which is the person who runs the introduction to communication class at universities that have it — at UNLV I built out the first-year learning experience within our college It was the first of its kind at that school [are] big kind of pillars of how I approach things I had the opportunity to go to [University of] Dayton to build and create a basic course from scratch it’s like Legos … That was really cool my [department’s] chair moved to the dean’s office and I was the unanimous selection of the faculty to be the next chair it’s kind of like a new batch of Legos It’s like going from the build a box to the Star Wars Legos I thoroughly enjoyed being chair … By the time I left and I hired two more people in the fall before I left I got a chance to really rebuild and refashion the department in a way that was strategic and made sense a certificate program in sports [communication] We built a healthcare administration major with political science and health and sports science [I] just got to be creative in the role of chair focused on things like enrollment and advancement and building programs and those seem to be kind of the three big buckets here So [my role as dean is] kind of what I’ve been doing but on a different level And I’m excited about that different level what exciting aspects of CCOM are you excited to grow I am really excited about shouting from the mountaintop about the things going on here And one of the things that’s both attractive and one of the things I’m going to probably push is that it’s a humble group We don’t necessarily go out and talk about how good we are and what we’re doing I gotta go out and talk about the great things folks are doing I’m excited to do that; there’s lots of stories to tell There’s ton of alumni who were actually on television there [are] tremendous facilities here that we can capitalize on opportunity to create graduate programming that connects to what the undergrads are here for so that they can further their education These are the things that really excite me [and] I firmly believe it: there’s no reason why CCOM cannot be a premier So I’m kind of bullish on our prospects what are the key issues that you aim to address I don’t know what I don’t know I’m not coming in necessarily with a specific plan I need to get to know the faculty and the students and so I intend to as best as I’m able to meet with all the faculty this semester meet with reporters and just try to get to know the campus the college better so that I know what those issues are I don’t know what [the issues] are coming in I don’t want to sit here and say that … I fully grasp the college; I still need to do a ton of learning And that’s one of the great things about being in higher ed — you get to learn every day JV: My door, if I’m here, is open. [Students] can come in and see me. I will be wandering the halls, often looking lost … There’ll be some structured events. I know there’s a recent history of ”donuts with the dean” and “pop-in” kind of events with popcorn We’re going to continue to do stuff like that don’t be afraid to come to the office It’s not a scary place — we have brownies — and don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to me they’re why I’m in this business I get to wake up every morning and go to college One of the reasons that that’s cool is because they’re students I am [approachable] — at least I think I am I want them to feel like they can come in and see me when I’m here they’re more than welcome to come in I’m pretty good at getting back on email That’s another way to connect with me; I’m gonna be lost for a while I think that that’s a really cool part of the culture here … Really and so they need to feel like they can come in and I’ll probably weirdly pop in and look through a door at a class; I do stuff like that all the time The other thing I would point out, too — so I know Giving Day is in February and so I want to give an open invitation to students on Giving Day It’s called “pie the new guy.” Students can show up and if they do a small token kind of donation I’m going to be really broadcasting that over the next five or six weeks I want them to feel comfortable coming and doing that because frankly I don’t keep a personal inventory like that And I believe wholeheartedly in the power of community So my strengths are grounded in the strengths of the people around us I try to make the environment around me enjoyable and fun to be there I wouldn’t necessarily say they’re my strengths because I don’t think like that But I think people would tell you that I’m organized Those are the things I think people would probably tell you TBC: [In what aspects] do you hope to grow as a leader JV: There’s stuff I’ve had a chance to do a little bit of and that I want to do more of I want to grow in terms of my ability to continue to connect with alumni I want to find out not just what I value about being at Butler but what do people value about being at Butler And I want to be able to connect in that way; I want to learn I want to continue to expand: my ability to connect with folks who are here my ability to create programming that’s of interest and of value to students Those are kind of the things that I really want to grow in I don’t think we’re ever a finished product … There’s a [communication] theory [called the Johari window] Kind of four boxes: there’s what you know and what other people know about you Then there’s what you know about you that other people don’t know about you Then there’s what you don’t know And then there’s what neither side knows but I’m open … Constructive criticism is the way we grow “This is something you should improve on.”  And I’m open to knowing what areas I need to grow equity and inclusion play into your role as dean It’s going to be in every aspect of what we do that’s exactly what I’m talking about [It] is the idea that Ovid Butler created this place for African Americans [and] for women when they really didn’t have places to go for education I really value increased access to what we have to offer because it changes lives Whether it’s people of different socioeconomic status We’re better when everybody feels welcome at the table and everybody’s perspective is shared because the more perspectives and the more different perspectives you get — different experiences different lived experiences — the more on target what you’re going to do is going to be I think that DEI will play a huge role in terms of the programming we offer in terms of the way in which we try to recruit students to Butler I really believe that it needs to be the backbone of what we do TBC: Not sure if you’ll have answers to these yet, but the big thing that’s been sort of the talk of higher education recently is that the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center has found that across the board have seen smaller and smaller enrollment numbers JV: You’re talking about the enrollment cliff I think the answer to it is being creative but also listening I think that we need to listen to … what different populations of students [want] because someone coming here who’s [a] traditional student — 18 to 22 [years old] — wants one particular thing but [a nontraditional student already in] the workforce needs another thing I think we need to pay attention to those kinds of audiences and what their needs are so that we can supply them; that’s our goal you have to listen to where the public’s heads are And I think if we’re creative in that space There’s a couple of areas where they’re not; there’s some significant headwinds in But there’s also some significant interest in places like video production I think it’s a matter of making sure that we have appealing programs in areas that might be harder to get students that we are distinctive … but also that we really shore up our strengths and the areas where we know there’re students I want to make sure that we are the number one destination for those students TBC: The world of esports is a big place, and it’s becoming more and more of an attractive field for donors, at Butler especially, and CCOM just had the first graduate [in 2022 who graduated with] the esports minor you have some students who say that those resources are better allocated elsewhere How will you reconcile all those different stakeholders and their different perspectives I want to help position CCOM to be in a place where we’re doing X Others need to freshen up and be creative; you need to invest in that type of effort I think esports stuff is exciting — I think it is I don’t think it’s esports at the expense of other parts of CCOM or other parts of the university I think it’s esports “and,” and we need to be in a position where we see it that way I need to pay attention to those variety of areas so that they’re all getting the attention we need or at least as many of them are getting the attention we need as we can manage TBC: And speaking of accessibility in a way some students have concerns that a lot of CCOM classes only have one class section JV: I haven’t been involved in the schedule here yet so it’s not something I can really point to but I do need to pay attention to where students see those pinch points and try to get creative with chairs within CCOM in ways that we can alleviate those stresses TBC: Is there a plan for faculty hiring at this point I still need to get a read on where these pinch points and these stress points are and then do my best to advocate on behalf of CCOM and students to get us the resources we need so it’s kind of hard to say that I’ve got a firm plan because I still need to listen and hear what people tell me are the issues TBC: There has been talk of removing the foreign language requirement for CCOM majors succinct and impressive answer to [counter] an argument for eliminating the foreign language requirement I say all this to say I don’t have a position on it yet I need to hear what the faculty have to say and what students have to say so I can’t say that something’s going to happen or it’s not going to happen But I do know that on this particular topic I was so impressed with a student who articulated that the foreign language requirement isn’t necessarily about learning a language specifically; it’s about problem-solving …  So I think there are some students who see value in it from the panel of students that I had in the room there [are] differences of opinion on that It’s important to hear out everybody’s thought process on it I think that there are good cases on both sides and I just need to get more engaged in hearing about what those issues are the faculty get to really have a strong hand in this and I need to listen to what they have to say as well don’t know what’s going to happen with it don’t know if anything is going to change or it’s not And I don’t want to make any promises I can only say that on that particular topic I was so impressed with the student discussion and thought process behind the requirement It actually is one of the reasons I was even more excited to come here was how impressive the students were at talking about it TBC: And what do you want students to know about you Two is that my level of excitement to be here is super high It’s funny; we did a game at our [CCOM] Christmas party … It was tell us two things about you people don’t know so I’ll give you what I submitted because I think it speaks to the personal and I also have a Big East championship ring I have my family; I have an eight year old who loves basketball I’m invested in Butler from the start You must be logged in to post a comment Send us your letters to the email listed below complete with your full name and affiliation with Butler University. 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Proudly powered by WordPress WordPress Theme by DesignWall Editor's note: This is part of a series of stories about the Culinary Arts program its students and recent graduates at Rowan College at Burlington County Chef Matt Pedano believes the little seed that led to him to a career in the culinary industry was planted many years ago That evolutionary process has taken him to Rowan College at Burlington County’s culinary program, then restaurants in Philadelphia, Medford and surrounding areas, and back to his hometown of Shamong, where he currently is executive chef of Valenzano Winery’s Bari Wine Pub “I don’t think it was really solidified until high school,” said Pedano a Seneca High School graduate and 2016 RCBC grad my mom (Rene Pedano) was always in the kitchen and doing her thing so I think that definitely was where the seed was planted early on “I think it blossomed into something that I was really interested in come high school when I started getting into the home economics classes I had more of a thought process of what I wanted to do going into college I kind of went with that and the rest is history.'' Pedano says he “dabbled" in plenty of other restaurants supermarkets and worked in Philadelphia for a little bit The 27-year-old truly has found a home at Valenzano. After all located at 1090 Route 206 in Burlington County “Going back to 2016 when I was just about finished up with culinary school the Valenzanos used to run a pop-up restaurant every Thursday night,” Pedano adds “There were two other chefs I was working under We were pretty much doing a new American fine-dining pop-up restaurant every Thursday night that pretty much closed down the Thursday night dinners that’s when Tony (Valenzano) reached out to me around August or September of 2020 and was interested in starting up a new concept of that nature that once was the Thursday night dinner Pedano could not pass up the opportunity with Valenzano Winery which was founded in 1996 by Anthony Valenzano and his sons his brother and family were impressed with Pedano's work with them over the years particularly during these uncertain times for restaurants due to the ongoing pandemic “Matt worked for us when we were offering limited food service options prior to 2020,” Tony Valenzano says “It was clear that Matt had a passion for his craft. His concepts and presentation were top tier.  When we were contemplating this new concept who was working at a fine dining restaurant in Princeton. We explained to him that we wanted to have the best food offered in any East Coast winery. He had the freedom to come up with the menu and recipes. Matt didn’t seem too concerned with the challenges and risks associated with what we were doing, and he clearly was up for the hard work that was part of the plan “Valenzano Winery’s Bari Wine Pub opened was started in 2020 when New Jersey indoor dining restrictions were lifted,'' he continues "Valenzano Winery has a history of unconventional decision making upscale dining operation during the most challenging time in the history of the hospitality industry was a difficult decision. Our wine pub is definitely not typical bar food. It offers a casual lunch menu and an upscale dinner menu. Everything we prepare is created with passion and skill by two amazing chefs who love the freedom our vision offers them.”   The menu changes every six months to suit the seasons Some of the lunch menu appetizer offerings include whipped ricotta Entrée choices include Sacchetti pasta (spinach pumpkin gnocchi are among the dinner entrée offerings for the restaurant “The chicken and waffles are a huge seller,” Pedano says we have a scallops and pork belly appetizer with a red pepper cream and Lamb lollipops is a huge seller which we serve with a berry red cranberry demi-glace “Bari Wine Pub is definitely a more elevated and more serious concept that they wanted to push forward which is very successful currently,'' the chef says "We like to pretty much take new American cuisine and refine it and upscale it in the best way possible.” Tony Valenzano says offering full-service dining in addition to their wine service was about ensuring “Valenzano Winery stayed recognized as a leader in the East Coast wine industry "The local wine industry has stepped up its game,'' he observes "Providing food options to our visitors is what we believe is now necessary to live up to their expectations and provide an amazing winery experience.” Pedano says he learned a lot at RCBC’s culinary program He was impressed with the entire experience “There was one specific chef instructor that I had within my culinary school career “I don’t believe he’s with the culinary arts center anymore But that was one chef instructor who stood out to me with how thorough he was and how much he really cared about each individual student and really took the time to thoroughly train and teach something that he enjoyed and loved himself they send you through the ringer and you hit all the fundamentals pretty much every aspect of culinary,'' he says "The Vaulted Cuisine restaurant and the whole program of operating it that was probably one of the most exceptional things I’ve ever been through schooling-wise I thought it was really exciting to have to do front-of-the house and back-of-the house work The instructors that operated all of that were right on point and really taught a lot of thorough points of the restaurant industry itself.” The chef feels attending the culinary program at RCBC prepared him well for what he’d face in the real world giving him a foundation and confidence to approach opportunities and confront challenges Pedano’s industry has been through some tough times over the last few years due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic He chooses to stay as positive as possible More: Despite floods and lanternflies, NJ sees successful grape harvest and new wineries RCBC: Keefe back in home state as head of Rowan College at Burlington County's culinary program Future Chefs: These culinary students are creating recipes for their futures “I believe we will eventually get out of it (the pandemic),” Pedano says “It’s definitely very much a rollercoaster ride for the restaurant industry I’m sure a lot of other chefs are feeling the same way and we’re just trying to keep our spirits good with just going through this entire pandemic and what it’s done and the effects of what it’s done to the industry itself.” he couldn’t be happier to be pursuing his passion right in his own backyard after gaining culinary experience throughout the area “I’m still currently in Shamong Township,” Pedano said Kind of went full circle to bring me back to my hometown "For Tony and his brother to see what I had to offer to appreciate and just to reach out and to give me the opportunity that I’m currently obtaining Bari Wine Pub is located at Valenzano Winery at 1090 Route 206, Shamong. The hours of operation for the wine pub are Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m. Reservations are required. Call 609-268-6731 ext. 307 or go to valenzanowine.com/bari-wine-pub for more information Whittaker is a features reporter for the Courier Post The South Jersey native started at the CP in 1998 and has covered the Philadelphia 76ers college and high school sports and has won numerous awards for her work.  Help support local journalism with a digital subscription In a few days the nation will be celebrating Memorial Day 2020 some 75 years since hostilities ended between the many countries of the world and documents of surrender were signed  Millions perished in World War II and it is indeed a time for remembrance More: NJ beaches can reopen for Memorial Day It seems fitting and proper that we do this to give thanks for all those who defended our nation in a time of great peril and give honor respect and appreciation to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today I have always found the words written in the beautiful poem entitled "America the Beautiful," written by Katherine Lee Bates in 1892,to be one way to show such appreciation I learned the words of the first verse of this poem at a young age in grammar school  But I never learned the remaining three verses and so I thought I would print them and talk about them briefly  I am sure Katherine Lee Bates would be very proud to know that her words later committed to music in 1903 by Samuel Augustus Howe have been the subject of some truly outstanding renditions by such noted singers as Aretha Franklin But the words of her poem are really the heart and soul of this beautiful piece I am sure you recall the first verse and the stirring phrases describing “amber waves of grain” and “purple mountain majesties”  These focus on the beauty of our great land and the magnificent rich bounty God in His benevolence has granted us Katherine Lee Bates brilliantly reminds us of our pioneering forebears who “beat a thoroughfare of freedom….across the wilderness” and then pays eloquent tribute to defenders of our nation in war the brave “heroes who more than self their country loved”  The author then turns her gaze to the future and wistfully writes of a time when America’s “alabaster cities” will “gleam undimmed by human tears” It is difficult to read this entire poem without feeling deep emotion  I remember vividly the stoic voices singing the first verse at Ground Zero on 9/11 and I recall Pope John Paul II reciting its fervent prayer as he descended from his plane on his first visit to the United States:  “America as we all claw our way back from the devastation wrought by the coronavirus crisis and as we celebrate yet another Memorial Day take a moment to read Katherine Lee Bates’ magnificent work and give thanks to God that we live in the “land of the free” because it is and always has been the “home of the brave.” Wandishin knew exactly what her friend was talking about When Monsignor Valenzano first opened the adoration chapel in 2011 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Wandishin was among the many people who signed up to pray holy hours there that the undercroft chapel was open 40 hours a week the number of people who kept their holy hours dropped substantially Since there must always be someone present with the Blessed Sacrament when it is exposed for prayer the chapel was forced to cut back its hours blamed the drift on not having enough time or getting too swamped with life’s challenges “Spending time in adoration helps me build a relationship with Christ and makes me a better person,” Wandishin said “I’m only cheating myself when I don’t do it.” who coordinates adoration scheduling at the basilica recently renewed her commitment to holy hours Her goal is to get enough people to sign up so the basilica chapel can be open Monday through Thursday by Sept the first anniversary of Monsignor Valenzano’s death I can’t think of a better tribute to one of the holiest people I’ve met No one was more enthusiastic about eucharistic adoration than Monsignor Valenzano The universally-loved priest usually began his day by making an early-morning holy hour Long before the priest established the basilica’s adoration chapel he opened a perpetual adoration chapel in 2002 at St 7 days a week since its inception – except for a handful of closings related to blizzards or campus construction With the help of a generous donor, the basilica’s adoration chapel was beautifully refurbished in 2014. It features an unlikely monstrance – one mysteriously plucked from the Loch Raven Reservoir by a fisherman many years ago and donated to  the archdiocese Lori dedicated the basilica chapel in Monsignor Valenzano’s honor 10 months before the priest died The adoration chapel in Westminster was posthumously dedicated in his honor on Father’s Day this year “The greater awareness we have of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist,” Monsignor Valenzano once told me “the more real Christ is present in the day-to-day challenges of everyday life.” Those who pray in adoration don’t tend to pray for themselves It’s an opportunity for us to communicate silently with God he said – as God communicates silently with us With so many people praying in the presence of Jesus the possibilities for good are “limitless.” I will make a weekly holy hour at the basilica For information about committing to a weekly hour of adoration at the basilica email kwandishin@baltimorebasilica.org or call 410-727-3565 George Matysek offered this reflection on the life of Monsignor Valenzano following the rector’s death last year. Also read coverage of the priest’s funeral here  Print SHAMONG — Many held a glass of locally made wine on Sunday as they toasted mom on her special holiday Mother’s Day was the highlight on Saturday and Sunday at Valenzano Winery one of nearly 40 stops on the Jersey Wine Grower’s Association’s Wine Trail weekend Offerings at the Route 206 venue included tastings of 16 new wines 81-degree weather on Sunday was a draw for Chiarina Dorety of Edgewater Park a mom who visited the Route 206 winery with her 1-year-old son The family basked in the sunshine on the grassy lawn outside the ballroom wine was poured and the Philadelphia-based band Gypsy Wisdom performed the Valenzano Winery leg of the Wine Trail weekend attracted more groups than usual He said the winery is trying to attract a more all-ages crowd “It’s nice to see local families come out,” said Valenzano In the production room visitors got a preview of 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2010 Merlot which are yet to be bottled for production Barrel-aged samples were doled out to a throng of both novices and connoisseurs so it’s more pungent and usually darker in color,” said Mary DeRosa DeRosa happens to be a wine and liquor wholesale industry veteran but on Sunday she was just a mom whose family had whisked her away for a pleasant day Mother’s Day is bonding time for a certain family that dug into Pic-a-Lilli sweet potato fries on the patio Ever since sisters Flossie Riley and Irene Brown lost their mother all agreed that the winery’s fruitiest variety was their favorite White and Blueberry Sangria is going to be at all of our summertime parties,” laughed Riley Alan and Cheryl Lichtenstein were having the first of two Mother’s Day celebrations would be visiting from her home in Arlington couple celebrated with mimosas made from the fruit-flavored champagnes: Cranpagne and Bubbly Blueberry The combination of cranberry champagne and orange juice agreed with Alan Lichtenstein It certainly is a weird and puzzling sight to see in the rural Burlington County town of Shamong; a giant black gorilla skulking at the side of the road scowling menacingly at passing motorists traveling along Route 206 at the edge of the parking lot for a gas station and deli he appears to have just emerged from the forest behind him intent on wreaking havoc on an unsuspecting public The big ape is really nothing to start a widespread panic about however as he is a mere hollow fiberglass shell and not an actual Kong The monstrous monkey goes by the name of Mighty Joe as in the post King Kong giant ape movie “Mighty Joe Young,” released in 1941 The gargantuan gorilla stands as a mascot for its namesake gas station and deli More: Weird NJ: Abandoned fish factory of the Great Bay That was not always his name however; some older readers might remember him better by one of his previous monikers like "Kongo-Pongo" or "Magilla," from the days when he stood as an amusement on the seaside boardwalk in Wildwood Others might know him as "George" from the days when he lorded over a go-kart track at the now-defunct Island Family Fun Park located on Route 47 just across the George Redding Bridge from Wildwood But just how did a 25-foot tall grimacing gorilla make its was from the South Jersey Shore of Cape May County all the way across the Pine Barrens to Shamong To answer that question Weird NJ asked a man named Larry Valenzano the current owner of Mighty Joe’s Gas Valenzano at a table at his roadside eatery to get the story behind his simian colossus “We have our summer home down the shore in Wildwood Crest and every time I’d go down there I’d see this gorilla on the way in Rio Grande Larry had lost his son Joe a few years earlier when he died of a brain tumor in his 20s The Valenzanos were heartbroken by the loss but that’s when an idea came to Larry of a way that he could create a lasting tribute to the memory of his son Joe and we’ll rename our station Mighty Joe’s.’ ” By that time in the early 2000s the go-kart park had closed and was being reclaimed by nature — yet George continued to stand all alone out in the sunbaked overgrown fields Then a storm severely damaged the behemoth statue The gorilla’s feet and ankles seemed to no longer be able to support him and he was pitched forward his weight resting on his fisted paws — the only things that stopped him from doing a face-plant right into the sandy ground a broken wrist; it was in dire need of repair There was a gas station right next to this go-kart track so I went in there and asked for the owner I went into the office and I met a man named Sam and said to him ‘I’d like to buy your gorilla,’ and he said he’s for sale.’ So I said ‘how much do you want for it?’ and he said ‘How much do you want to give me for it?’ I said ‘I’ll give you $2,000.’ He said Why do you want it?’ And I had told him that I had lost my son and he was a body builder and we used to call him Mighty Joe once in a while because he’d walk around like a big gorilla.” More: Weird NJ: The ‘humanzee,’ N.J.’s missing link visibly emotional over the memory of his late son Even after nearly 20 years his fatherly grief still was difficult for him to contain and dabbed his eyes with a napkin he drew from the dispenser on our table Then I got a call from him a week or so later ‘Can you stop in next time you come down?’ So I did he owned a gas station — he was a nice Italian man And I like what you want the gorilla for more than what any of these other people want it for So I’m going to sell it to you for $2,000.’ He asked if I had any way of transporting it and I said no I’ll take care of that too.’ He had someone come with a tractor-trailer brought the arms up here one day and the rest on a second trip.” Mighty Joe was in pretty sorry shape when he first arrived at his new home in Shamong but the Valenzanos had local craftsmen re-weld its interior steel frame reinforce the fiberglass on the legs and the broken wrist and give the giant primate a fresh coat of paint in his former occupation as a boardwalk attraction in Wildwood a stairway behind the gorilla led through a door in its back and to two sliding boards that were attached to its chest Larry told us that he still has one of the slides set up at his home where his grandchildren play on it all the time Over the two large wholes in the ape’s chest where the sliding boards were once placed Larry affixed a sign bearing a tribute to his lost son that explains his story for all who stop to see And Larry tells us people stop all the time to gaze in wide-eyed wonder at Mighty Joe and to take pictures “We had a fella stop here one day who said that he was involved in the sale of it when it was shipped over here in the 1960s from Spain and that they paid $50,000 for it at the time.” More: Weird NJ: A Smithereen’s Yellow Submarine We asked Larry if there was any kind of fund set up in his son’s honor that folks who were moved by his story might be able to contributed to “We’re going to put a box out there for donations for the Brain Tumor Foundation,” he said “because people come in here giving us money I own the property across the street and once a year we have a fundraiser there in September and all the proceeds go to Brain Tumor Foundation.” Directly across Route 206 from Mighty Joe’s is a vast expanse of open land where the Valenzano family operates V&V Adventure Farm (www.vvadventurefarm.com) a multi-purpose property that offers a variety of activities such as pumpkin picking haunted hayrides and other seasonal attractions Valenzano he walked us across the deli to where a large full-color placard hung on the wall above some shelves containing fishing tackle The display bore the headline “Mighty Joe” and featured the portrait of a strapping young man in the center Framing the photo were snapshots of him from his boyhood days on Little League baseball and soccer teams well-defined muscles on stage during body building competitions when he was older As we stood beneath the loving memorial and thanked Mr we asked if there was anything else that he’d like to add before we said our goodbyes staring up at the images of his son Mighty Joe in quiet reverie as if speaking only to himself and the heavens The preceding article is an excerpt from the new issue of Weird NJ magazine which is available now on newsstands throughout the state and on the web at WeirdNJ.com It's not too early to make plans for Valentine's Day How about heading to Valenzano Winery in Shamong Sounds like a perfect way to spend the holiday with your sweetheart Tickets are $60 per person and include a four-course dinner (catered by Summit Catering) wine tasting and a very romantic atmosphere You can mingle with other couples in the Tank and Barrel Room while enjoying a glass of your favorite wine serenaded by one of New Jersey's top dance bands Valenzano expects the Valentine's Dinner Dance to be one of its most exciting events of the year Call 609-268-6731 or e-mail events@valenzanowine.com to order your tickets the Shamong-based winery hosts a monthly dance night hosted by DJ and dance instructor Curt Foy of CF Star Entertainment "Swing Into Spring," welcomes any skill level to learn new moves with Foy who is a certified dance teacher and works primarily with brides and grooms for the big day includes 45 minutes of instruction and an hour of open dance to practice the new moves a  chardonnay infused with hops to bitter its flavor and give it an IPA feel whose tropical-fruit flavor complements the chardonnay's flowery notes Other wines from Valenzano that are breaking the mold are its Blueberry Bubbly; Red White and Blue Sangria; and Bramble On Raspberry Wine call 609-268-6731or visit valenzanowine.com Alexis Sachdev: 609-871-8055; asachdev@calkins.com; Twitter: @BurlcoLex The evolution of short lifespan in African killifish is explained by the lack of strong selection against deleterious mutations Different African killifish species vary extensively in their lifespans - from just a few months to several years Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing in Cologne investigated how different lifespans have evolved in nature and discovered a fundamental mechanism by which detrimental mutations accumulate in the genome causing fish to age fast and become short-lived mutations accumulate mainly in the genes that are active in old age The African Killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri) lives only a few months Species in nature vastly differ in lifespan from a few hours in adult mayflies to centuries in whales Natural selection should favour long-lifespan because in principle a longer life leads to more offspring and higher chance to reproduce and transmit genes to the next generation But then why do short-lived species evolve Rongfeng Cui from Dario Valenzano’s group at the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing investigated the African killifish family.“African killifishes live in a wide range of habitats from rainforests to arid savanna woodlands Based on the water availability in the environment This great diversification constitutes a natural experiment of different lifespan strategies making killifish a unique system for studying life history evolution” The researchers sequenced and analysed the genome of 45 African killifish species and compared the genome of short- and long-lived species They found that short-lived species have an expanded genome full of highly redundant DNA sequences between and within genes the genome of the short-lived fish accumulates detrimental mutations Detrimental mutations occur throughout the genome including in genes coding for central processes in the fishes mitochondrial function and in other known ageing genes “These fishes do not seem to be short-lived because being short-lived is good for them or because it is an adaptation to their environment in longer rainy seasons they could in principle live longer and keep reproducing” natural selection simply does not work as efficiently for genes important in late life It doesn’t matter if a mutation makes you a little bit sick when you are old because you have reproduced already and transmitted that mutation to your offspring We found that this basic principle explains the expanded genome and the accumulation of detrimental mutations in short-lived killifish.” In the human genome the researchers could observe that genes which accumulate detrimental mutations are highly associated with ageing “We found that the mutation burden of a gene goes hand-in-hand with when it is expressed gene expressed in late life are more likely to carry detrimental gene variants” The researchers found many genes that met this criterion but were not known to be related to the aging process yet These genes could be interesting for ageing research in future What got you interested in the rehabilitation sciences and more specifically – in speech-language pathology As a practicing speech-language pathologist looking for answers to clinically-relevant questions and often finding the evidence was lacking As I strived to inform and improve my own clinical practice I became more and more interested in trying to answer those questions A doctorate in the rehabilitation sciences provided me with that opportunity allowing for collaboration between different researchers and health disciplines to tackle a current gap in knowledge I chose to focus my doctoral research in the field of speech-language pathology based on my passion and interest in the field and the ability to inform my research through my clinical experiences My research interests are constantly evolving I am specifically interested in swallowing physiology in individuals with various neurological disorders with a focus on understanding how function is impaired as a result of a neurological disorder and how this may relate to perceived quality of life food lies centrally at everything we do – grabbing a coffee with a friend to catch up hosting a holiday dinner and having cake to celebrate your birthday It’s not something we think a lot about when we do it but when the ability to eat safely becomes compromised it could rock the foundation of most of our social interactions We know that changes in neurological function can often lead to changes in swallowing safety but how this changes depends on the type of disorder and the interaction of various different physiological systems and the effect on quality of life is specific to each individual My interests focus on characterizing profiles of swallowing function and impairment in various populations with the aim to provide guidance to clinical decision-making on intervention targets and therapeutic strategies to improve function and quality of life Tying in to the physiological aspect of swallowing I’ve also started to focus on exploring the relationship between oral health and swallowing function and how this can affect various health outcomes What have been some of the greatest highlights during your time in the program Some of my greatest highlights were the opportunities to network with world-renowned clinician scientists in my field In meeting and learning from these leaders in my field I was encouraged to continue investigating new research questions and explore different areas It was inspiring to meet people at various stages of expertise and experience within the field - to see that they had started in positions similar to mine and progressed so far Were there any mentors or role models who've helped you along the way I’ve been so fortunate to have been surrounded by strong brilliant scientists and clinicians over the past four years They have all greatly contributed and shaped me as a researcher and the clinicians I worked with who continue to inspire me to learn and find answers to our many clinical questions In addition to the wisdom and support I received from my academic network I would not be where I am without the support and encouragement of my family – my mother Each one of them has served as a role model and mentor for different aspects of my life and academic career Five years seems both so far away and so soon I would like to see myself bridging the research and clinical worlds both by continuing to do practice-based research while working with patients and by helping advance practice through the integration of research evidence into clinical settings I’d also like to partake in systematically evaluating clinical practice for knowledge dissemination to improve care globally I see myself still going in 5 different directions at once but happy to be (hopefully!) making a difference and helping improve our current healthcare services What advice do you have for incoming students Working through any graduate program or research project can present with challenges and obstacles that can leave you feeling unmotivated or feeling like you’ve taken a couple of steps back Taking the time to celebrate every step forward in the journey helps keep you motivated and looking forward – celebrate every presentation acceptance Faces of U of T Medicine introduces you to some of the interesting people studying in the Faculty of Medicine From advising political leaders to providing care to Toronto’s most vulnerable populations our students are making an impact on communities at home and around the world Do you have an interesting story to share? Contact us at medicine.communications@utoronto.ca.