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The Dandelion Project is holding its first New Jersey event on Saturday, October 11th. We’ll begin at 11:15 AM at the Townsquare Diner on Route 15 in Rockaway to recognize the awareness billboard that sheds light on the impact of drug overdoses.

From 12:00–4:00 PM, the gathering continues at The Knotty Pine Pub in Wharton, NJ, bringing the community together for reflection, awareness, and support.
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For more information on the Dandelion Project: https://dandelionproject.net/

Lisa Bolton is the visionary founder of The Dandelion Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing grief support, education, and healing resources to individuals and families affected by loss, trauma, and substance use disorder.

Born in Livingston, New Jersey, and later residing in Randolph, NJ, Lisa’s early years were shaped by the strong communities and values of northern New Jersey. (If you would like to add more about her childhood or family in NJ, I’m happy to help integrate that.)

Her personal journey through grief and loss deeply informs her work:

She lost her first-born son, “DJ,” in 1989 (a miscarriage), an experience that marked the beginning of her grief journey.

Years later, she lost her stepdaughter, Quinn, in 2015 to Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis.

In 2019, she lost her daughter Kerri to a heroin overdose laced with fentanyl and carfentanil.

These profound losses inspired her to channel her grief into purpose. She founded The Dandelion Project to honor her children and to help others who are navigating the deepest valleys of sorrow.

Professionally, Lisa is a grief support specialist and counselor, and she also holds roles in curriculum direction and grief counseling at Morrison Preschool.

She is credentialed in several therapeutic and grief-support disciplines (e.g. GC-C, GCCA-C, CTRS-EC, BCMHC) per her LinkedIn profile.
LinkedIn

Under her leadership, The Dandelion Project is a certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit, offering grief services to bereaved parents, siblings, children, grandparents raising grandchildren, veterans, those affected by mental health challenges, and communities struggling with trauma and loss.

Lisa is also co-founder of M.U.T.E. (Mothers United to Educate), a collaborative initiative aimed at raising awareness of substance use disorder and supporting families impacted by addiction.
orlandovoyager.com

Her commitment to remembrance and advocacy is visible in community practices she’s nurtured—writing names on rocks, holding “Black Balloon Day” remembrances, and gathering community rides and events to raise awareness.

Lisa now resides in Florida, where she continues to expand The Dandelion Project’s reach and impact.
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Beyond The Green is a Sleeping Bear Productions © 2025
Hosted by Peter Barbounis

If you are interested in telling your Morristown story, contact us at productions@beyondthegreenshow.com

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We recently sat down with Jon Prachthauser, a former Deputy Fire Chief of the Morristown Fire Department, to hear his story of growing up in the community. A proud member of the Morristown High School Class of 1986, Jon was honored in 2025 as an inductee into the MHS Wall of Fame.

Recorded on the campus of St Elizabeth University in Convent Station NJ.

Hosted By Peter Barbounis

Technical Staff:

Brandon Hutchinson - Sr Production Engineer

Josh Gonzalez - Production Engineer

Nic DiSciascio - Assistant Production Engineer.

If you are interested in telling your Morristown story, contact us at productions@beyondthegreenshow.com

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On this episode of Beyond The Green, we reconnect with Morristown High School Class of 1990 alumnus Barry Richards. Barry takes us back to his days growing up in Morristown, New Jersey, sharing memories that shaped his journey before life led him south to Atlanta, Georgia. We talk about the challenges and opportunities of transitioning to a new city after graduation and how those experiences influenced both his perspective and his creativity.

Today, Barry is making waves as the author of a bold new graphic novel titled "Born Pariah". In our conversation, he opens up about the inspiration behind the story, the creative process of developing a graphic novel, and what readers can expect from this powerful new work.

Born Pariah can be purchased at www.BRichBooks.com

If you are interested in telling your Morristown story, contact us at productions@beyondthegreenshow.com