Musicfest Honors Young Jersey Musician This Weekend

Connor Petras was a talented musician who was beloved by his family and friends alike. He was a self-taught bass player and music was his passion. He loved his music community, especially his bandmates.

Connor also suffered from depression, and unfortunately could not see himself as others did. He was a caring, gentle, and kind person. His mental health issues unfortunately led to substance use, which contributed to his untimely passing at 28 years old.

On August 17, 20 bands and musicians are coming together in an all-day Musicfest to celebrate Connor. The goal is to raise awareness for mental health and fundraise for Operation K9 Beethoven. This nonprofit was chosen because Connor loved animals, volunteered in a shelter, and would be so proud that this cause is being supported in his name with Musicfest.

Brian Reyngoudt is the Co-Founder and Vice President of Operation K9 Beethoven.

Brian along with Arpi Kertesz started Operation K9 Beethoven with a small vision. Before they knew it, it turned into a bigger and better mission than they could have ever imagined.

Their Mission statement is to utilize Specially Trained and Certified Emotional Support Dogs to promote health, hope, and healing. They accomplish this mission by establishing and communicating standards of practice for using specially trained animals in healthcare settings such as Veterans Hospitals, Rehabilitation Facilities, and more. They also provide emotional support dogs to veterans and first responders who suffer from PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders at no cost to the recipient, including a welcome-home package.

Reyngoudt and Kertesz met in January 2020. Reyngoudt’s family was donating kennels to Kertesz and started to discuss helping Veterans by bringing Kertesz’s personal certified Therapy Dog “Beethoven” to visit the local Veterans Home.

From that moment on, Kertesz and Reyngoudt became great friends. Kertesz began visiting the Veterans’ Home with Reyngoudt, guiding, and helping him spread Beethoven’s love. It all started with the simple thought of bringing the happiness, joy, and love of animals to Veterans unable to have a pet of their own. Kertesz and Beethoven embarked on a journey that changed their lives and continues to do so.

In September 2020, Kertesz asked a Marine Corps Veteran to help with creating a video to spread and bring awareness to Veterans’ Suicide. His friend, a veteran with PTSD, Depression, and Anxiety who was hospitalized due to a suicide attempt, was more than willing to do his part to help.

He was asked what he hoped would come from this video, and he replied, “I want to spread awareness to the families of Veterans about the signs of Suicide, and I’d like to see every Veteran that suffers from mental health issues receive an Emotional Support Dog free of charge.”

That statement caused a spark, which turned into a raging inferno in Kertesz’s heart and mind. Kertesz contacted his dog trainer to obtain more knowledge about training rescue dogs to be Emotional Support Dogs for our Heroes.

Each dog selected for entry into Operation K9 Beethoven’s Program is fully vetted, temperament-tested, and socialized with dogs, cats, children, and adults to ensure they will be a good fit for our program. They are then transported to their trainer for obedience and leash training.

Once training is complete, they’re transported to their Fur-Ever Hero. The dogs from the Rescues are given a second chance at life and can then help Veterans and First Responders get the love, and support they deserve.

What started as one man and his dog working toward helping bring love and joy to Veterans has now become the organization known as Operation K9 Beethoven committed to helping Veterans, and First Responders, “One Paw At A Time.”

Interview with Operation K9 Beethoven Co-Founder Brian Reyngoudt Check out their website here.

What do you think are some fast-food items that need to make a comeback? Some of our favorite menu items are missing from our go-to restaurants, and it's time they make their return.

Menus are constantly changing, and that's understandable. You need to adjust with the times and keep up with what the customers want. However, sometimes you just need to listen. The people are asking for these fast-food items to make a comeback. Can you think of any you'd like to see make a return to the menu? We've thought of 5 (once) popular fast-food items that need to make a comeback!

Right now, the popular craze in fast-food is Bargain Bundle Meals. It seems like every restaurant is coming out with a new menu bundle aimed at saving you money. McDonald's has a $5 meal deal, as does Burger King. Taco Bell has a new $7 combo bundle, and even Sonic recently debuted a $1.99 Value Menu. That's great that they're thinking about our wallets during this time, where even fast food seems to cost a ridiculous amount of money. However, is it enough? There's still a lot more these restaurants can do for us. All they need to do is pay attention. I'm sure you've seen people calling for certain items to come back on social media. Chances are you even have a couple of examples in mind yourself.

Admittedly, some fast-food items leave the menu for a good reason. If people aren't buying the product, then you should probably remove it from the menu. That makes sense financially. Also, I think these restaurants should stay in their lane. I don't need a burger from Taco Bell and I don't need a taco from McDonald's. Focus on what you do best and execute. What doesn't make financial sense is when you know people are clambering for one of your delicious items to return to the menu, but you don't make it happen. Seriously, fast-food chains would make so much more money than they already do if they re-introduced these five items to the public.

We've been asking... nay, we've been demanding and yet our voices have gone unheard. So, I'm trying again. Here are five once-popular fast-food items that need to make a comeback! If you can think of any that didn't make the list, make sure to let us know!

https://youtu.be/wy9lMmxNh-o?si=e9WXL-ksKNEXOm4i You probably expected to see this on the list and I can't not include it. Seriously, people don't talk about fast-food items that need to make a comeback without talking about McDonald's Snack Wraps. They were a COVID casualty and the restaurant chain has blamed supply chain issues for it not making its return to menus across the country. People keep asking and asking but it hasn't happened yet. They'll create a new value bundle but won't give us our Snack Wraps. It's going to happen one day, I just hope it's soon.

https://youtu.be/1oNf6NOQCFU?si=J1_VPlwNYiv56sUT The Twister at KFC might have been one of my favorite fast-food menu items of all-time and sadly you can't get them anymore. They were different than your ordinary Chicken Wraps and even better than the previously mentioned Snack Wraps, if I do say so myself. The chicken was crispy and delicious, the lettuce was also crispy and delicious, but it was that spice that got your attention. It wasn't overwhelming but you knew it was there. It was the perfect flavor. I miss it every day.

https://youtu.be/_oT3VHK0X2w?si=Zix2uBa5G56-WNn7 Saving Silverman is one of my favorite movies and every time I watch it I'm reminded of the monster roast beef sandwich that was Arby's Big Montana. It always looks so tasty when Amanda Peet's character Judith eats one. Sure, Amanda adds to why it looks so good, but you can't help but to want a bite. This thing was huge! It was a half-pound of Roast Beef! That's probably why they ended up having to pull it off menus. They still have the meats, but back then they REALLY had the meats.

https://youtu.be/eQkFvfiWNpI?si=eVEoQlnRYPwm0XMU It wasn't very long ago that we were enjoying Double Chalupas at Taco Bell. They were seemingly double the size of an ordinary Chalupa and resembled a boat. Yes, a taco boat! How tasty is that? It also had Nacho Cheese on it, which makes me miss their Nacho Cheese Chalupa. I loved the big version of the popular taco. It wasn't long ago that they had it on menus, and it always could make a comeback. I wouldn't be surprised. Taco Bell seems to understand the assignment and give people what they want.

Of course Szechuan Sauce makes the list! The people need it to come back! It's one of the best sauces not only that McDonald's has ever released but in all of fast-food! The sauce made its debut in 1998 as a promotion for Disney's Mulan and then took a nearly 20-year hiatus before coming back thanks to a Rick and Morty promotion. People again went crazy for it during its limited release and would horde the sauce. Hopefully it will return for good one day because it's that good. Mmm how I miss that garlicky spicy goodness. It's truly one-of-a-kind.