Hopatcong, Sparta ‘Heroes’ Picked By Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill

SPARTA, NJ — A new program that recognizes people from NJ-11 who have made a difference this past year, includes numerous Sparta residents and one from Hopatcong.

U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill said she created the program as “an opportunity to remind our everyday heroes - teachers, healthcare providers, first responders, family members, volunteers or others who have impacted another person's life in a positive way— that our community is incredibly grateful for all of their work.”

Sherrill described the number of submissions her office received as an “outpouring,” with the following Sparta and Hopatcong residents and what was submitted by those who nominated them, below:

Jane McCartney, Retired Registered Psych Nurse, Sparta
Nominated by her friend, Maureen Kershaw
“I’ve known Jane McCartney for 35 years. She’s a retired Psych nurse. Jane is a volunteer in several organizations. Namely the Sparta Ecumenical Food Bank where she brings a week’s worth of groceries to families in need. At St Joseph’s Church Thrift Shop in Newton where she volunteers for 3 hours every Saturday morning with staffing the Shop . At Our Lady of the Lake Church in Sparta Jane gives one hour on Tuesday to Eucharistic Adoration. Jane also makes beds at the Sacred Heart Spirituality Center on Monday mornings. The beds are used by the people who have participated in a retreat over the weekend.”

Lisa Christiansen, School District Nurse, Sparta
Nominated by her colleague, Andrea C Romano
“Our school district works with a significantly special needs population of students. Ms. Christiansen has gone above and beyond in all of her duties as a district nurse. She is on top of all things Covid, has spent innumerable hours contact tracing, has been used as each employee/family member's personal nurse to decipher symptoms. She has done all of this- mostly on her own time, mostly unpaid and absolutely with the dedication you would expect from a school nurse. She rocks!”

Nancy Y. Craig, High School English Teacher, Sparta
Nominated by her husband, Robert N. Lamken
“My wife is a highly dedicated English Teacher at Morris Hills HS. Nancy teaches AP English Literature, one of the most difficult AP HS courses. Yet she consistently outpaces the National AP average, her average for the past 5 yrs exceeded 4. Nancy signs up for just about every course available to improve her AP teaching skills. In addition to her teaching skills, Nancy is the Consulting Teacher for the English Department. This position is the link between the English Department and the Administration. Nancy is admired by all who come in contact with her, teachers, Administrators and students alike. She has been employed by the district for over 35 yrs, her first and only employer since graduating from Rutgers. You might find another teacher as good as Nancy, but none better. I am pleased to nominate Nancy for your Hero recognition.”

Scot Burkholder, Educational Leader, Sparta
Nominated by co-worker, Necole Jadick
“Mr. Burkholder tirelessly stands up for students from marginalized communities within our school district. He always centers student needs, and he advocates for equity and inclusivity in collaborative and comprehensive ways. Yet, his support extends beyond our students and families. He is also there for the teachers, counselors, and administrators who work with him. He recognizes nuance, and he is always willing to engage in difficult discussions in an effort to bring us to new understandings and help us find ways to better serve our school communities. Moreover, he has had his own challenges with hearing loss in recent years, and instead of shying away from these personal dynamics, he has used them as inspiration to expand his advocacy. He does all of this authentically and without any desire for accolades. His work is frequently behind-the-scenes, which is all the more reason that he should be recognized.”

Sparta Helps Healthcare Heroes: LeAnn Pitzer, Melissa Pietropinto, Erica Hertzberg; Nicole Chiong; Joanna Beach; Kristen List; Tina Rowan, Local group of concerned citizens that banded together to form a movement to support healthcare heroes during COVID, Sparta
Nominated by Sparta Mayor Christine Quinn
“When the state locked down - The Sparta Helps Healthcare Heroes initiative took off. This group of outstanding, community minded volunteers immediately organized a town-wide initiative to enlist the residents of Sparta to take action and begin to sew masks, organize meal and snack drop offs for hospital workers, created and sold initiative tee shirts to raise money and so much more ! Although their primary scope was to support our local EMS in Sparta and healthcare workers in local hospitals - this quickly expanded, as did their coalition base. Initiated with the purpose of supporting those on the front lines of the healthcare crisis - what they created did so much more. This initiative spread like wild-fire, providing residents throughout our town and well beyond with a purpose - during a time when they were stricken with fear, locked in their homes. They now had a purpose - and a task to keep them focused on doing something meaningful for others. I could not be more proud that this humble yet powerful initiative started in our very own home-town of Sparta. Initiatives such as this, driven by community-minded, purpose driven, committed people such as these, are just another amazing reason that we are all so collectively fortunate to call Sparta our home."

Dr. Bishnu Maya Pariyar, Coordinator of Sexual and Domestic Violence Program and President and Founder Friends of Association of Dalit Women's Advancement of Nepal, Hopatcong
Nominated by her colleague, Sandy Hecker
"Dr. Bishnu Maya Pariyar is an award winning scholar, prolific social entrepreneur, and one of the most admired Nepali-American personalities. Currently, She is working as a coordinator of Sexual and Domestic violence program. In 2013, Dr. Pariyar was conferred with honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) from her alma mater, Pine Manor College, MA for her pioneer social contribution. In 2015 the City of Louisville, Kentucky honored September 27 as ""Dr. Bishnu Maya Pariyar Day” by Mayor Greg E. Fischer for her outstanding social contribution. Dr. Bishnu Maya Pariyar’s life-struggle story has been featured at higher education text book, ‘The Writer’s Mindset’ by Dr. Lisa Wright Hoeffner which was published by one of the world’s top publications, McGraw Hill in 2021. Dr. Pariyar’s story is featured between 591-594 pages. Dr. Pariyar’s brain-child social integration organization, ADWAN aims to foster a measure of economic independence, to boost self-esteem, dignity and to instill solidarity among diverse community and build a sense of national pride. Through her dedication and passion for the marginalized and Dalit community-the so called low-caste or untouchable people, Dr. Pariyar has overcome tremendous obstacles of gender, caste discrimination and poverty in Nepal as well as challenges that emerged because of socio-economic inequality and exclusion. In the year 2020 and 2021, as Coronavirus devastated the community in the United States and around the world, Dr. Pariyar has been in forefront of COVID-19 pandemic relief assistance program to needy Nepali and South Asian American community and international students. She has tirelessly led efforts to directly help hundreds of families and F1 students from Nepal and South Asia to receive day-to-day essentials such as masks, medicines, groceries and provided counseling to victims of domestic and sexual violence. Without her steadfast leadership, expertise and prompt and just collaboration, community would be left behind and greatly impacted. Dr. Pariyar’s role as Hudson Speaks’ South Asian Initiative Coordinator, NRNA ICC Executive Member and Nepali American community’s leading figure, she has been able to bring together local government and social organizations together to create coronavirus awareness and provide access to resources available for the most needy and vulnerable people in the United States and Nepal. Dr. Pariyar’s organization, ADWAN had also spear-headed the COVID-19 pandemic relief assistance efforts in rural Nepal. She was also awarded COVID-19 Hero award 2020 by New York City, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams; COVID-19 Champion award 2020 by United Sherpa Association, USA and Humanitarian of the World; Women of Action award 2019 by City of Jersey City; International Women's Day Award 2018 by The Society of Foreign Consuls in New York, USA; Community Service Award 2018 by South Asian American Outreach Community (SACO), New Jersey, USA; Nepal Samman (Jewel of Nation) award 2011 by Sagarmatha Foundation, Kathmandu, Nepal and Solute to the Heroes Award 2010 by Association of Nepali in America (ANA) and several commendation letters from various Nepali and International organizations from around the world. Dr. Pariyar has been awarded with more than 40 national and international recognition, award, citation, proclamation for her outstanding work for Nepali people and diaspora community including including The Bridge Builder Award from Harvard University, Perdita Hudson Human Rights Award by United Nations Association of USA, Dr. Ambedkar Award by Association of International Dalit Organizations, Margaret McNamara Memorial Award by World Bank Family Network, Pauline Tompkins Award, Women’s Leadership Award and President Cup Award from Pine Manor College, and Social change Fellow from Clark University. Dr. Pariyar has served twice as Advisory Member of Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop's Diversity & Inclusion Board between 2015-2017 & 2017-2019. Dr Pariyar has more than one and a half decades experience as case manager, domestic violence and family advocate working with HUDSON Speaks Against Sexual Violence, Jersey City, NJ; ASIAN TASK FORCE AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, Boston, MA and NEPONSET Health Center, Boston, MA, and HarborCov, Communities Overcoming Violence, MA, USA. Through her work, community approach and tireless dedication she has been able to help hundreds of domestic and sexual violence victims from South Asian American community. Dr. Pariyar has given cultural sensitivity training to local officials, police and law enforcement officers in Boston, MA and Jersey City, New Jersey, USA. Dr. Pariyar currently serves as Member and Executive ICC Member of Non-Resident Nepalis Association (NRNA) International Coordination Council 2019-2021. Dr. Pariyar has also served Executive ICC Member of NRNA ICC (2019-2021) and was the first Chair of Women Empowerment Task Force of NRNA ICC (2014-2015). She is also founder of NRN Women Fund, a collective investment company of Non-Resident Nepali women from around the world and Vice Chair of All Ladies League New Jersey Chapter for Business Networking, USA. 2019-present; Co-Chair, NRNA ICC Children Welfare Task Force, Non-Resident Nepalis Association (NRNA) Internal Coordination Council; Board Member, Inspiring South Asian American Women, USA; Main Representative to UN for Beyond Beijing Committee (BBC) Nepal. She is actively involved with the United Nations NGO Committee on the Status of Women (CSW), New York and served as Co-Chair of Consultation Day 2018.
Dr. Pariyar has participated in over 50 national and international conferences as a keynote speaker, guest speaker and panelist. Dr. Pariyar had been invited to lecture at Harvard University, Clark University, Pine Manor College, Brandeis University, Boston University and other prestigious institutions. She has been invited as a panelist and speaker at national and international conferences including at UNIFEM, AMNESTY International, and The World Bank Family Network Forum. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social and Political Systems from Nepal and the USA and a Master’s degree in International Development and Social Change from Clark University, MA, USA. In 2013, Dr. Pariyar was conferred with honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) from her alma mater, Pine Manor College, MA, USA.”

Click to see the full list of heroes from NJ-11 at: www.sherrill.house.gov/2021-nj-11-heroes.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a local news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.