January 03, 2020| Education, Environment
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Since 2015, the Lake Hopatcong Foundation education team of staff and volunteers have been holding spring field trips for local students to learn about the lake and how to keep it healthy. In line with these lessons, volunteers Dorothy Sabarese and Pat Mueller began working on a children’s book, geared toward 4th and 5th graders (the same age as the students on our field trips).
“Lake Hopatcong Speaks Out” is a culmination of several years of work, a book told from the perspective of Lake Hopatcong itself, who tells the reader about how to keep “stuff” from getting into it and what actions will help keep it clean. The book is all the more relevant as we debut it in 2019, after the lake faced an unprecedented algal bloom over the summer, though its lessons are timeless and relevant in watersheds beyond just that of Lake Hopatcong.
The Lake Hopatcong Foundation is selling the book through Amazon: $15.99 for paperback and $22.99 for hardcover. Purchase your copy on Amazon today!
If prices on Amazon are higher than what we have listed above, we also have copies on hand to purchase at our office (125 Landing Road, Landing), while supplies last.
Dorothy Sabarese (author) is a retired elementary reading recovery teacher and literacy specialist with a deep understanding of the reading process. She also served as a reading coach for the Office of Early Literacy in the New Jersey Department of Education. Dorothy is a member of the Education Committee of the Lake Hopatcong Foundation and is passionate about teaching others how to be good stewards of her beloved Lake Hopatcong. The dream of writing this book sprang from what she teaches students during the LHF class field trips in order to spread the message to a wider audience. She also loves to swim, boat, kayak, travel, and (of course) read books.
Patricia Mueller (co-illustrator) is a visual artist who presently resides in Lake Hopatcong and volunteers in various special interest groups devoted to the lake’s history and health. Patricia graduated from William Paterson University and taught in the public school system for 32 years as an art specialist. She has been showing her art professionally since 1980 and belongs to many art organizations like the Ringwood Manor Association of the Arts and Peters Valley. Patricia also volunteers at Waterloo Village Historic Site State Park in Stanhope where she demos wool spinning for school tour groups.
Matt Keown (co-illustrator) considers himself a renaissance man. He is a professional voice actor, animator, author, graphic designer, illustrator, prototype painter, sculptor and creator of collectibles, and serves as Art Director for the Michelle Pais Group of Signature Realty NJ. Matt grew up in Mt. Arlington, spending his childhood at the lake, enjoying lake life all 4 seasons of the year (fishing, swimming, boating and ice hockey). He wisely, and parsimoniously, does not own a boat, but takes full advantage of his parents’ pontoon boat to this day. Matt also used to create the comic strip “Joe Mahoney”, which was a feature in the early days of the Lake Hopatcong News & Reviews. His children’s book “The Happy Heart” has a YouTube channel that Matt would encourage everyone to subscribe to. You can also find him on Instagram @mattykow & @3mkstudios.
Lise Greene (editor) who has lived on Lake Hopatcong since 1980, enjoys canoeing, sailing, watching wildlife, and the serenity of closeness to the water. Following a long career in higher education administration at Montclair State University and Lehigh University, she has focused on teaching English to refugees and immigrants, writing, and editing. Other interests include dancing (ballroom and square dance), hiking, biking, languages (Danish and French), reading, black cats, singing in harmony, and traveling (about 30 countries). She holds PhD, MA, and BA degrees as well as several certifications, including Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.
Will Robertson (publishing liaison) had the vision for Casey and Kyle in 2007 while sitting at his kitchen table, watching his children play. In February 2008, he launched Casey and Kyle as a family-friendly comic strip centered around the crazy antics of his creations. In 2009, he published the first Casey and Kyle book collection, followed by a whole series that have been delighting his fans ever since. In 2018, he launched Casey and Kyle, Inc. as a company devoted to creating family-friendly content in a variety of mediums and to propel the world of Casey and Kyle into the future. He enjoys playing music and working on his serve in Tennis. His favorite beverage is an Iced Tea with no lemon. He loves Tacos and Panini Sandwiches and is fond of road trips. He is an avid mini golfer and an aggressive bumper car driver. He lives with his wife and kids in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
