Paul Bastante

Public Speaking Topics and Presentation Inventory

 

 

“The Cart Before The Horse”

​

The History of Diners in New Jersey.

 

“Cream Rises to the Top"

The History of the Oreo Cookie

 

“It Happened on the Hill”

The History of Federal Hill, Bloomingdale, NJ

 

“The Pompton Mutiny”

The Story of A Revolutionary Mutiny

 

“An American Small Town”

The History of Bloomingdale, NJ

 

“Before A Nation”

The History of Pequannock, NJ

 

“Preakness”

The Heart Beats On

 

“Albert Payson Terhune"

The History of APT & Sunnybank in Pompton.

 

“The Great Falls”

Lunch results in an Industrial Revolution.

 

“George Washington Stayed Here, He Really Did!”

The history of the encampment of General George Washington at the Dey Mansion.

 

“The Biggest Secret in Wayne, NJ”

The story of Laurelwood Arboretum.​

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Topic Summaries for Paul Bastante​

 

“The Cart Before The Horse” - The History of Diners in New Jersey

 

Diners are a large part of the history of New Jersey. In fact, there was a company right in Pequannock, New Jersey that “prefabricated” diners and then assembled them in different parts of the United States, but the history of diners goes back quite a bit longer in history.

 

Paul Bastante (Director, :Before A Nation” and “Hills & Valleys”) dives right in, taking the viewer from the very beginning when hard boiled eggs were conveniently available on the streets, the precursor to diners, taylor Ham and twenty-four-hour waiter service.

 

“The Cart Before The Horse” is adapted from the historical documentary film, called “Before A Nation: The Story of Pequannock” which was written, directed, narrated by Bastante and released in 2019.

 

 

The best audiences for this topic are:

 

• Past, current and future residents of Pequannock, N.J.

• Assisted Living Facilities in and around Pequannock, N.J.

• School Assemblies including virtual presentations for individual classrooms in schools in and around Pequannock, N.J.

• Historical Societies

• Anyone in New Jersey with an interest in diners and their origins

• Senior Gatherings

 

 

“Cream Rises to the Top” - The History of the Oreo Cookie

 

Towns and cities in America are all known for one thing or another. Some have seen great and historic battles fought on their soil and some are known for more familiar and popular things…Like The Oreo Cookie! 

 

This iconic treat is perhaps the most popular and best selling cookie in the world. The way people have consumed it has become a somewhat of a cultural debate. Whether you twist this delectable cookie or bite into it, or pry it apart and eat the creme and throw away the cookie part, everyone loves Oreos.

 

Historian Paul Bastante takes your observers on a journey through the history of this iconic treat, tying a neat bow with the relationship between the cookie and Wayne, N.J. resident and Nabisco food scientist, Sam Porcello, who invented the creme that resides between the two chocolate discs that make up the Oreo.

 

This presentation is adapted from the historical documentary film, called “Hills & Valleys: A Journey Through Wayne, N.J.” The film was written, directed and narrated by Paul Bastante

 

This presentation is interactive with Oreo cookie eating demonstrations by viewers in a hilarious exercise guaranteed to entertain. Book today!

 

 

The best audiences for this topic are:

 

Anyone at all really! Halls, School Assemblies, historical gatherings, virtual presentations, church basements, hometown bars…practically any audience anywhere at any time.

 

 

“It Happened on the Hill” - The History of Federal Hill, Bloomingdale, NJ

 

It is a haunting hill located in current day Bloomingdale, New Jersey in the foothills of Northern, New Jersey. This is a special and major presentation covering the three major events and time periods that make up the history of Federal Hill.

 

The presentation is based and adapted from the historical documentary film, called, “Bloomingdale: An American Small Town”. The film is written, directed and narrated by historian Paul Bastante, who weaves together the story of Federal Hill, a place so weird that it was featured in the magazine, “Weird, NJ”.

 

Interestingly enough, Federal Hill is rumored to at one time been the home of Nazi’s and was cleared by the FBI in 1941 after Hitler’s Reign began in earnest upon the world. The Hill was also home in 1781 to a Revolutionary War Mutiny “attempted” by 500 members of The Pompton Line of General George Washington’s Continental Army. Two American officers were tried for treason, found guilty and executed in the vicinity of Federal Hill. 

 

The Hill was also part of the “beacon System” during the first war.

 

No one tells a story like Bastante as he takes this topic by storm, telling it the way it happened in history, except, local historians do not necessarily agree on the location of events. No matter, your viewers will be riveted by history like never before when they hear this presentation.

 

 

The best audiences for this topic are:

 

• Past, current and future residents of Bloomingdale, N.J.

• Your history class either in person or virtually.

• Educational venues.

• School assemblies

• Historical Societies

• Assisted Living Facilities

• Revolutionary War enthusiasts

• Anyone willing to listen?  

 

 

 

“The Pompton Mutiny” - The Story of A Revolutionary Mutiny

 

 

Once upon a time, a regiment of Continental Army troops were starving, without basic clothing and supplies. They had also not been paid in over a year. Their situation was Dire, to say the least and they were not happy. The troops got word of another regiment in a similar situation, the Pennsylvania Line of Washington’s Continental Army, who, it was rumored, had their demands met as a result of their mutiny. The Pompton Line decided to do the same! It was a decision that they did rue for the rest of their lives.

 

Historian, author and film director Paul Bastante takes the viewer on a historical odyssey as the men of The Pompton Line travel to Trenton to air their grievances. And what happens to them after they return.

 

This is one of the most unbelievable mutiny attempts to ever play out on American soil and it happens in what was then Pequannock and today Riverdale, N.J.

 

The presentation is adapted from the historical documentary film, called “Before A Nation: The Story of Pequannock, N.J.” The film was written, directed and narrated by Bastante and released in 2019 pre-pandemic in Pequannock.

 

 

The best audiences for this topic are:

 

 

• Past, current and future residents of Bloomingdale, N.J.

• Your history class either in person or virtually.

• Educational venues.

• School assemblies

• Historical Societies

• Assisted Living Facilities

• Revolutionary War enthusiasts

 

 

 

“An American Small Town” - The History of Bloomingdale, NJ

 

This presentation, given by historian Paul Bastante, is the history of Bloomingdale, N.J. and is adapted from the historical documentary film, called “Bloomingdale: An American Small Town.

 

The film was commissioned in 2017 by The late great mayor, Jonathan Dunleavy, who approached Bastante about producing a piece of content for his beloved Borough, Bloomingdale. 

 

The film covers:

 

• Federal Hill

• Historic Homes

• The Salvation Army and Star Lake Camp

• Early Business

• Sunny’s Garden

• Bloomingdale’s 100th Birthday Celebration

 

 

 

The best audiences for this topic are:

 

• Past, current and future residents of Bloomingdale, N.J.

• Your history class either in person or virtually.

• Educational venues.

• School assemblies

• Historical Societies

• Assisted Living Facilities

• Revolutionary War enthusiasts

 

 

“A Man Comes Calling” - The History of Wayne, NJ

 

This presentation, given by historian Paul Bastante, is the history of Wayne, NJ and is adapted from the historical documentary film, called “Hills & Valleys, A Journey Through Wayne, NJ

 

The film was produced and released in 2019 prior to the pandemic and covers the period of the very first settlers all the way up to present day Wayne. 

 

The film covers the following  topics:

 

• Preakness The Race Horse

• Albert Payson Terhune and Sunnybank

• Willow Brook Mall

• The YMCA

• The Dey Mansion

• Washington’s encampment in Wayne

• The Oreo Cookie and it’s connection to Wayne

• Board of Ed, government, emergency services

 

 

The best audiences for this topic are:

 

• Past, current and future residents of Wayne, N.J.

• Your history class either in person or virtually.

• Educational venues.

• School assemblies

• Historical Societies

• Assisted Living Facilities

• Revolutionary War enthusiasts

 

 

“Before A Nation” - The History of Pequannock, NJ

 

Pequannock, N.J. has a vast history dating back to before the Revolutionary War when The First Reformed Church was the center of the community and Pequannock made up over one third of Morris County, New Jersey.

 

Paul Bastante, writed, producer & Narrator of The historical Documentary Film, “Before A Nation, The Story of Pequannock”, weaves the history together to provide a clear picture of how the township was formed, who the major players were and what role the Pequannock had in the forming of The United States of America.

 

 

The film covers the following  topics:

 

• The history of diners in New Jersey

• The Revolution

• The First Reformed Church of Pompton Plains

• The Dutch Settlers

• New Amsterdam

• James Evans

• The Martin Berry House

• Jones Hardware

 

 

The best audiences for this topic are:

 

• Past, current and future residents of Pequannock & Pompton Plains , N.J.

• Your history class either in person or virtually.

• Educational venues.

• Any Assisted living or nursing communities

• History Associations

 

 

“Preakness” - The Heart Beats On

 

Do YOU know who the most famous resident was in the history of Wayne, N.J. You might think it is Tom Cruise, who attended grade school in The Packanack Lake section of Wayne, N.J.? Nor was it Sam Porcello, the inventor of The modern Oreo Cookie, he also was a lifelong resident of Wayne. 

 

It is none of these! As a matter of fact it isn’t even a human being!

 

The most famous resident in the history of Wayne, N.J. was a horse by the name of “Preakness”, who lived in what was called The “Preakness” section of Wayne. And yes The famous horse race, The “Preakness Stakes”, was named after him. 

 

Born from the famous, “Lexington” and from the mare, “Bay Leaf”, Preakness was a beautiful and athletic horse who captivated the imaginations of the entire World in the late 1800’s as the most accomplished athlete of the 19th Century. He was a champion race horse, but he was also extremely hard to handle. Some said of him that he had a bad attitude that “Spoke out”, but his owner loves him and Preakness loved him.

 

As much of a success story as Preakness was, his life ended in the most tragic and unfortunate circumstances. 

 

The story of Preakness will make you love and it will make you cry and led to a revolution in the way animals are treated to this day. It was one of the first times that the World mourned an athlete together.

 

Paul Bastante, writed, producer & Narrator of The historical Documentary Film, “Hills & Vallys”, weaves the history together to provide a clear picture of how the Preakness (Pronounced: like Break Ness), who the major players were and how he died.

 

The talk presented by Bastante about Preakness is adapted from the 2019 Historical Documentary Film, “Hills & Valleys, A Journey Through Wayne, N.J.” The film was written, directed, narrated & produced by writer and director, Paul Bastante. 

 

 

The film covers the following  topics:

 

• Preakness The Race Horse

• Albert Payson Terhune and Sunnybank

• Willow Brook Mall

• The YMCA

• The Dey Mansion

• Washington’s encampment in Wayne

• The Oreo Cookie and it’s connection to Wayne

• Board of Ed, government, emergency services

 

 

The best audiences for this topic are:

 

• Past, current and future residents of Wayne, N.J.

• Your history class either in person or virtually.

• Educational venues.

• Any Assisted living or nursing communities

• History Associations

• Historical Societies

• Horse Racing Organizations

• Virtually anyone who is an animal lover

• Advocate organizations for the love of animals

 

 

“Albert Payson Terhune” - The History of APT & Sunnybank in Pompton.

 

Albert Payson Terhune, who was a prolific writer whom it is said, wrote 9 hours per day for thirty years straight, is an American success story who lived on the banks of the Pompton Valley and is just another example of Wayne’s rich history.

 

Albert Payson Terhune grew up in the household of one of the most successful woman writers ever, in fact Maria Virginia Terhune was a prolific writer in her own right. She is largely considered the “Martha Stewart” of her time, pumping out popular cook books and social commentary along the way.

 

“APT”, as he was called, was also a breeder of championship Collie dogs. His home and the training kennels were known as “Sunnybank'' and it was also the home of the era’s most famous hero dog, Lad, who was APT’s most loyal and impressive Dog. The stories of Lad always ended in Lad saving the day, much to his physical detriment as Lad always took the brunt.

 

The talk presented by Bastante about APT is adapted from the 2019 Historical Documentary Film, “Hills & Valleys, A Journey Through Wayne, N.J.” The film was written, directed, narrated & produced by writer and director, Paul Bastante. 

 

 

The film covers the following  topics:

 

• Preakness The Race Horse

• Albert Payson Terhune and Sunnybank

• Willow Brook Mall

• The YMCA

• The Dey Mansion

• Washington’s encampment in Wayne

• The Oreo Cookie and it’s connection to Wayne

• Board of Ed, government, emergency services

 

 

The best audiences for this topic are:

 

• Past, current and future residents of Wayne, N.J.

• Your history class either in person or virtually

• Educational venues

• Any Assisted living or nursing communities

• History Associations

• Historical Societies

• Sunnybank Fan Organizations

• Virtually anyone who is an animal lover

• Advocate organizations for the love of animals

 

 

 

“The Great Falls” - Lunch results in an Industrial Revolution.

 

The Great Falls in Paterson, N.J. is where it really all began. In 1781, George Washington was having a lunch of biscuits and pressed meats with Alexander Hamilton and The heroic French General, Marquis De Lafayette, within sight of the famous waterfall Paterson, N.J. Alexander told Washington as he pointed towards the falls that in Europe, natural resources like this lured industry for the use of it’s natural power.

 

He continued, that this one would be large enough to power an entire industrial city and that there was potential for great manufacturing and production right there. 

 

After listening to Hamilton, Washington told him that if it ever came to be that he would lend his support in any way that he could.

 

Ten years later, Hamilton established “The Useful Society of Manufacturers”, which would go on to secure the location of many major manufacturers in the form of tax breaks and benefits. It eventually turned Paterson, N.J. into the very first industrialized city in America. A riveting American success story!

 

Join Bastante as he weaves the pieces of the story together to bring The Great Falls to life in a way only he can. Learn about artifacts found just before the falls and the very first submarine, which calls the river its home, having sunk right there.  

 

The talk presented by Paul Bastante about The Great Falls is adapted from the 2019 Historical Documentary Film, “Hills & Valleys, A Journey Through Wayne, N.J.” The film was written, directed, narrated & produced by writer and director, Paul Bastante.

 

 

The film covers the following  topics:

 

• Preakness The Race Horse

• Albert Payson Terhune and Sunnybank

• Willow Brook Mall

• The YMCA

• The Dey Mansion

• Washington’s encampment in Wayne

• The Oreo Cookie and it’s connection to Wayne

• Board of Ed, government, emergency services

 

 

The best audiences for this topic are:

 

• Past, current and future residents of Wayne, N.J.

• Your history class either in person or virtually

• Any group interested in Paterson, N.J.

• Any group interested in the history of The Revolutionary War.

• Educational venues

• Any Assisted living or nursing communities

• History Associations

• Historical Societies

• Historical Organizations

• Virtually anyone who is a history lover

• Advocate organizations for the love of animals

 

 

“George Washington Was Here, He Really Really Was!” - The history of the encampment of General George Washington at the Dey Mansion.

 

During the revolutionary War, George Washington was a very wanted man! In fact, he might have been the most wanted man in the World. The British were ready at a moments notice to take him out….If they could get to him that was!

 

This is why George chose The home of Tuenis Dey, Pronounced DIE, nestled at the foothills of Northern New Jersey, his home was difficult to get to, provided a view of the entire area and also was loaded with natural resources and foraging opportunities. It was the perfect place for the Continental Army!

 

Paul Bastante, writed, producer & Narrator of The historical Documentary Film, “Hills & Valleys, A Journey Through Wayne, N.J.”, weaves the history of George Washington and his Continental Army together to provide a clear picture of how the Washington commanded hias troops there at The Dey Mansion, who the major players were and what role that Wayne, N.J.  had in the forming of The United States of America.

 

 

The film covers the following  topics:

 

• Preakness The Race Horse

• Albert Payson Terhune and Sunnybank

• Willow Brook Mall

• The YMCA

• The Dey Mansion

• Washington’s encampment in Wayne

• The Oreo Cookie and it’s connection to Wayne

• Board of Ed, government, emergency services

 

 

 

The best audiences for this topic are:

 

• Past, current and future residents of Wayne, N.J.

• Your history class either in person or virtually

• Any group interested in Paterson, N.J.

• Any group interested in the history of The Revolutionary War.

• Educational venues

• Any Assisted living or nursing communities

• History Associations

• Historical Societies

• Historical Organizations

• Virtually anyone who is a history lover

• Advocate organizations for the love of animals

 

 

Paul's Biography

 

Paul Bastante is the founder and president of United Tips of America and is also a Veteran of the United States Navy where he served aboard the USS Simon Lake, a sub tender class vessel stationed off the coast of Northern Sardinia, Italy from 1992 to 1996. He left the Navy in 1996 with an honorable discharge after fulfilling his 4-year commitment to the service. While in the Navy, he served as a “StoreKeeper” 3rd class while also performing as the Lead-singer and drummer for his ship’s rock band while aboard the ship.

 

Bastante’s networking experience stretches all the way back to 1997 when he belonged to several different networking groups. That experience carried on for two decades as he developed the skill required to be successful in a networking environment. He also developed his skill as a public speaker allowing him to succeed in building his business more efficiently via networking. He has always loved the process of networking and it has remained a consistent part of his overall marketing plan in all of his business endeavors.

 

Bastante founded Silk City Films back in 2017. That company is a source of passion for Bastante and produces historical documentaries for cities and towns in Northern New Jersey, having released films about Bloomingdale, Wayne & Pequannock, N.J. most recently to critical acclaim locally. Bastante is the director, producer and narrator for the films, which serve as a unique marketing vehicle for companies wishing to gain exposure in those towns and cities.

 

Silk City Films enjoyed continued success with a large client base until 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic first emerged. It was at this time that the company lost a large majority of its clients due to the budgets of most small businesses being cut to stem the crisis. It was a devastating blow to his business and it was a struggle just to survive.

 

Bastante had two choices. He could have waited out the crisis doing nothing or he could have used the time wisely by figuring out a way to make the best of a bad situation by developing ways to lessen the climb back to the level of success the company enjoyed prior to the pandemic. 

 

This is when he decided that he would leverage his networking experience by joining a networking group in his local area. But as he applied for group after group he was denied as his business category was occupied in every single group. With his prospects fading, he decided the only option he had was to start his own networking group…and the result was the founding of United Tips of Triboro, located in Butler and encompassing business owners and professionals from Kinnelon, Butler and Bloomingdale, N.J.

 

The group was founded on three main pillars: 

 

• The exchange of qualified business leads among members.

• Improving the skill of public speaking for each of the members and,

• The improvement of the communities it serves through charitable contributions and actions by members.

 

The group quickly grew and gained popularity throughout the area, attracting more and more networkers until a great deal of the categories were filled. But other professionals were inquiring about joining and were not able due to the occupation of categories.

 

The organization had reached a turning point early on in its existence, and the only answer was to start additional chapters in other areas to accommodate the demand. The organization was renamed, “United Tips of America” and the rest is history as more chapters were formed in Wayne, Pequannock, Denville, Morristown with even more chapters slated to open in Montclair, Ridgewood, Clifton & Paramus in the coming months.

 

United Tips of America is poised to become a major player in the business networking marketplace and Bastante couldn’t be more pleased with the organization’s progress so far. “More than anything, I couldn’t be more proud of the way the organization has grown and how big of a benefit it has been to our members”, Bastante said, adding, “It is my hope that we can continue to be a resource and contributor to our members’ continued success in the future”.