Your Hometown Podcast

Your Hometown Podcast Little Falls: A Family's Journey Through Grief

Grief has a way of changing the shape of everything — how we remember, how we move forward, and how we hold on to the people we’ve lost. It’s especially complex when the loss is sudden, or when someone’s life feels unfinished—when their talent, their light, their presence, seemed like it should have lasted so much longer. Charlene Neopolitan Thomas experienced the heartbreaking loss of her brother, Bob who was a gifted artist whose creative spirit touched everyone around him. Bob’s life was full of color, depth, and passion, but it was also marked by health challenges that ultimately took him far too soon. Charlene discusses what it’s like to walk alongside a sibling through illness, to carry the weight of watching someone you love struggle, and to face the pain of saying goodbye.
Also in this episode, Pamela Martorana, a licensed professional counselor and founder of Kinderkamack Counseling, talks about Seasonal  Affective Disorder (SAD).
This episode is sponsored by:
Schumacher Chevrolet of Little Falls
Pure Balance Center
Super Fresh of Woodland Park

Your Hometown Podcast Woodland Park: Grief, Legacy, and the Road Forward

Loss has a way of reshaping everything—our sense of time, place, and even who we are. Grief is deeply personal, yet it connects us all. John Colie’s mother was a beloved guidance counselor and director of pupil personnel services at Passaic Valley High School. She dedicated her life to supporting students and helping them navigate their toughest moments. Tragically, she lost her life in a house fire, leaving a deep void in both her family and the community she served. John shares what it’s like to survive such a devastating loss, the process of grieving, and how his family is working to carry her legacy forward.
 
This episode is sponsored by:
Pizza City
Advanced Foot Care of New Jersey
Legal Leaf of New Jersey

Your Hometown Podcast Little Falls: Helping Kids Shine

The return to school marks more than just a change in schedule; it’s an important opportunity to create a positive, stable foundation for the year ahead. How we support our children during this transition can shape not only their academic success but their emotional well-being. Donna Scarpa Farraye discusses how parents and caregivers can ease the back-to-school adjustment for kids. From managing anxiety and setting healthy routines to fostering resilience and open communication, Donna offers thoughtful guidance to help make the school year a strong and healthy one for the whole family. Donna is a licensed professional counselor who is guidance counselor for the Woodland Park public schools.
Also in this episode, Pamela Martorana, a licensed professional counselor and founder of Kinderkamack Counseling, talks about the importance of self care, and Erica Higdon, clinical manager of Behavioral Health Services for Bergen New Bridge Medical Center discusses suicide prevention.
This episode is sponsored by:
Schumacher Chevrolet of Little Falls

Your Hometown Podcast Woodland Park: Backpacks, Books, and Big Feelings

The return to school marks more than just a change in schedule; it’s an important opportunity to create a positive, stable foundation for the year ahead. How we support our children during this transition can shape not only their academic success but their emotional well-being. Donna Scarpa Farraye discusses how parents and caregivers can ease the back-to-school adjustment for kids. From managing anxiety and setting healthy routines to fostering resilience and open communication, Donna offers thoughtful guidance to help make the school year a strong and healthy one for the whole family. Donna is a licensed professional counselor who is guidance counselor for the Woodland Park public schools.
Also in this episode, Pamela Martorana, a licensed professional counselor and founder of Kinderkamack Counseling, talks about the importance of self care, and Erica Higdon, clinical manager of Behavioral Health Services for Bergen New Bridge Medical Center discusses suicide prevention.
This episode is sponsored by:
Pizza City
Advanced Foot Care of New Jersey

Your Hometown Podcast Little Falls: Living Your Dream

People have always been fascinated by the world of rock ‘n’ roll — the energy, the rebellion, the larger-than-life personalities. To be even a small part of that world, to work behind the scenes and contribute to its magic, can be truly amazing. Valerie Tompkins Freda has had a front-row seat to a world most only see from afar. She shares a few of her memories and why she feels blessed to do work she truly loves. For more than two decades, Valerie has worked as a sales representative for Greater Media, the parent company of New Jersey’s WDHA.
Also in this episode, Pamela Martorana, a licensed professional counselor and founder of Kinderkamack Counseling, discusses getting ready for the new school year, and Dr. Greg Sorkin, chair of Emergency Medicine at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, talks about seeking emergency care for mental health challenges.
 
This episode is sponsored by:
Schumacher Chevrolet of Little Falls

Your Hometown Podcast Woodland Park: Keeping the Faith When Times Get Tough

Flooding can wash away more than just belongings, it can shake a person’s spirit, uproot a sense of safety, and forever alter the course of a life. Ginny Caroselli opens up about the challenges she faced in the aftermath of a flood her family experienced. She shares how she navigated profound loss, leaned on her faith, and found the strength to move forward. Her story is a powerful testament to endurance, community, and the unwavering belief that even in the darkest waters, hope can rise.
Also in this episode, Pamela Martorana, a licensed professional counselor and founder of Kinderkamack Counseling, discusses getting ready for the new school year.
 
This episode is sponsored by:Advanced Foot Care of NJ

Your Hometown Podcast Little Falls: Finding the Courage to Start Over

Sometimes life changes in an instant, and the place you once called home becomes a memory marked by devastation and grief. Karen slinger brings us a deeply personal and powerful story of loss, survival, and rebuilding. Karen lived in Little Falls for 30 years when her home was tragically destroyed during Hurricane Ida. In a matter of hours, everything she had built was swept away and she suddenly found herself navigating the heartbreaking aftermath of losing her home. Karen talks about the emotional toll of disaster, the courage it takes to start over, and the unexpected gifts that can emerge from devastation. 
Also in this episode, Pamela Martorana, a licensed professional counselor and founder of Kinderkamack Counseling, discusses the importance of holidays and rituals to our mental health, and Dr. Sunitha Moonthungal, director of Primary Care Services at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, talks about the importance of preventative care.
 
This episode is sponsored by 
Schumacher Chevrolet of Little Falls

Your Hometown Podcast Woodland Park: The Heart of Healthcare

Nursing is the heart of healthcare where compassion meets clinical expertise to provide holistic, life-saving care. Nurses are often the first to comfort, the last to leave, and the steady presence that holds the system together. Jennifer Kula Spirio brings a lifetime of wisdom and heart to the world of healthcare. Jennifer is a seasoned nurse with decades of experience at the bedside, in leadership roles, and now as an educator shaping the next generation of nurses. She’s witnessed firsthand the evolution of the medical field—from handwritten charts to digital records, from a task-oriented model to a more holistic, patient-centered approach. She joins us to share the changes she’s seen, the lessons she’s learned, and where she believes the future of nursing needs to go in order to truly serve both patients and providers. Jennifer has worked as a registered nurse, nursing educator, and adult nurse practitioner.
Also in this episode, Pamela Martorana, a licensed professional counselor and founder of Kinderkamack Counseling, discusses the importance of holidays and rituals to our mental health, and Dr. Sunitha Moonthungal, director of Primary Care Services at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, talks about the importance of preventative care.
 
This episode is sponsored by:Advanced Foot Care of NJ

Your Hometown Podcast Little Falls: Lessons from the Dying

Those who are dying or in grief often hold a kind of wisdom that only opens through deep reflection and emotional honesty. In facing the end of life or profound loss, they remind us of what truly matters. Anthony Sgobba has worked closely with people at the end of life or those in grief. Through stories they have shared, Anthony has witnessed their final reflections about what truly matters, what they regret, what they cherish most. He shares those insights to help us all live more fully, right now.
Anthony is a member of the Little Falls Township Council. He has served on the Little Falls Library Board, the Little Falls Board of Education, and the Passaic Valley Board of Education. He is the co-owner of Sgobba Monument Works located in Totowa, NJ.
Also in this episode, Pamela Martorana, a licensed professional counselor and founder of Kinderkamack Counseling, discusses the complex father/child relationship and what we can do when it is missing, strained, or lost, and Dr. Christopher Awwad, a family medicine physician at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, talks about men’s health.
 
This episode is sponsored by 
Schumacher Chevrolet of Little Falls

Your Hometown Podcast Woodland Park: STEM Education in the Real World

Science is the foundation of progress—it drives innovation, fuels discovery, and helps us make sense of the world around us. In today’s rapidly evolving world, encouraging the study of science and other STEM fields is more important than ever. Rich Paleski is a behind-the-scenes powerhouse in the world of broadcast television. With a more than 40-year career in broadcast engineering, Rich helped keep the shows we love on air with precision, innovation, and technical excellence. He is passionate about the importance of STEM education and is an advocate for inspiring the next generation to explore science, technology, engineering, and math. Rich most recently held the position of director of Broadcast Operation and Engineering for WCBS television. He invented the CBS mobile weather lab, and was an adjunct professor for Drexel University.
Also in this episode, Pamela Martorana, a licensed professional counselor and founder of Kinderkamack Counseling, discusses the complex father/child relationship and what we can do when it is missing, strained, or lost, and Dr. Christopher Awwad, a family medicine physician at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, talks about men’s health.
 
This episode is sponsored by:Advanced Foot Care of NJ