Meet Esther Lankitus
Owner/Editor, The Women of Cumberland County
Although Esther’s mother was born in Cumberland County and her father in Salem County, they met in Philadelphia where they were employed and where Esther was born 60 years ago. She has fond memories of the city in the early fifties and a tiny part of her will always be a “city girl.” As a young child she also lived in Florida and Delaware returning to Cumberland County at age 9 and attending Vineland schools. Her class was the first class to attend what was then the new Vineland High School.
In 1971 her mother became the owner of the Wagon Wheel Restaurant in Woodstown, NJ. Esther worked in the family restaurant with her two brothers. When an apartment in Woodstown became available close to the restaurant, Esther moved to Woodstown in 1975. Woodstown is a wonderful place to live, but her husband wanted to return to his home town of Alloway, NJ. She moved to the quaint village of Alloway in 1986 and lives there today. Esther worked a total of 26 years in the family business. Her brother, Paul Langley, still owns the restaurant today.
Through the years Esther attended Salem Community College to further her education in the Humanities. In addition to her day job she was a licensed Realtor, a property manager, a real estate investor and a member of South Jersey Investors. She holds a Certificate in Childhood Ministries from the Philadelphia College of the Bible and has been active over the years in the church as an Elder; serving on Mission, Evangelism, Christian Education committees, and a Church School Teacher.
Esther enjoyed her years working as a Director of a Christian Preschool/Daycare where she was licensed to run a facility of up to 100 children. She developed and presented Church School Teacher Training Seminars in the south jersey area. She has served on the Board of Alcohol and Drug Abuse and was a participant in the Big Brother Big Sister Program. She is an avid reader and writer, loves researching topics, enjoys museums, and very fond of dancing. In fact, a few years ago before an automobile accident changed everything; she was on a new quest; taking Ballroom Dancing Lessons.
She is always looking for new adventures and is entrepreneurial by nature. After her husband passed away she turned to writing to deal with the grief. Friends suggested her letters would make a good book, so again she was off to do something new. She compiled the letters, published the book, and designed the cover. GOOD GRIEF has been well received and she is currently writing two new books. Information about her book may be found on her website at www.lolaejolinelambert.com. You may join her fan page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lolae-Joline-Lambert/108024315912617?ref=ts
Today Esther is a Substitute Teacher and through a series of life’s twists and turns, she is embarking on her newest adventure. She is the Owner/Editor of The Women of Cumberland County Online Magazine. It will launch July 1, 2010 and will provide a place where she will use all of her previous education, business skills, and even that Desktop Publishing Class she took for fun many years ago.
The magazine is more than another adventure, it is a mission. Esther has always desired to be part of a nurturing place for women from all walks of life. The Women of Cumberland County is a celebration of women! It is designed to spotlight local woman–owned business and feature articles and tips written primarily by the women of Cumberland County. In addition, it will be supplemented with daily interaction between readers, business owners, and fans on its Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/CumberlandCountyWoman.
Esther’s life has never been dull. If there is a mountain in the way she will climb over it, go around it, dig under it, or simply and politely demand that it move. She has traveled to numerous destinations in the United States and Canada. She is constantly reaching for the brass ring on the Merry Go Round of Life as it repeats its circles. Esther recently said this about her new enterprise, “Maybe the best part of the plan is that after all these years, I am going home.”
Indicates businesses at least 51% woman owned.
