She takes all “things” very seriously because she believes it’s the only way to do all “things” the right way.
Like her job. It’s in the medical lab field. Gotta get that right. And her music. Pitch perfect. A wife and a mother? Hey man, those people are her tribe. Her untouchable tribe. Get it, mister?
Jennifer Galownia a cop’s wife, a Bridgeport resident ready to defend the village against its social media critics, and she admits she needs to do a better job of slowing down enough to record her family’s ever-progressing evolution. But, for being so dead damn serious so often, Galownia does love to smile and to laugh as often as possible, and she enjoys making herself giggle even if no one chuckles with her.
An example? Her job title in the “About” section of her Facebook timeline is, simply, “Being Hilarious,” and her intro states, “Wife and momma trying to raise lions, not sheep.”
See? Real deal, right?
And then the Facebook Intro continues, “Sang in Washington, D.C. at THE WHITE HOUSE.”
Oh yeah, she did that back in December 2018 with the other duo of The Ron Retzer Trio, and if not for her songbird voice and her due diligence while communicating with the Trump Administration, she, Retzer, and Bob Wolfe would not have performed that day in the West Wing’s Cross Hall.
That’s because Galownia takes all “things” very seriously because she believes it’s the only way to do all “things” the right way.
What instigated your current music career with the Ron Retzer Trio?
I was performing for local fundraisers and churches with some other people around the area, when Ron (Retzer) and Bob (Wolfe) got recruited in 2012 to join the group for a wider variety. After a while, the three of us agreed that our harmonies with each other were something special, so we formed what is now known as the Ron Retzer Trio.
It’s been a rewarding and beautiful relationship not just between each of us, but our families, too. We all get to travel together, which keeps it interesting. We’ve all been fortunate to watch each other’s kids grow – mine, Bob’s … Ron’s grandchildren and now his great-grands!
You are angry and passionate about the current drug epidemic. Why?
Drugs. Well. This is a hard one.
Back in 2011, I got hired on by Calloway Labs to help start up inpatient and outpatient drug testing for a local substance abuse program due to new federal guidelines. It opened up a somewhat sheltered viewpoint in regard to the opioid crisis, homelessness, and mental health issues as more and more people came in.
I am not certain when it became more than just a lab for me, but my office has seen thousands of people over the years. I remember most of them. That August, I remember when staff came to tell me that one of our clients had overdosed. That was the beginning of reality.
After news that he died, it seemed to happen every couple of months. I’d meet people at their very worst. Back then I’d go up into the crisis unit where they were, and eventually, they’d work their way to the outpatient department. If they did well, and so many do, they would continue with treatment and therapy. But, it seemed every couple months, someone would disappear, get called back out by “a friend” or a family member and the addiction would eventually win out. I wouldn’t see them again.
It’s also a rewarding job, meeting these hurting people and watching them overcome obstacles. They’re excited just to get clean, have their own place, and get children back who were removed during active drug addiction. It’s a long process, but I’ve seen many people come up and out of that lifestyle to become productive, professional members of society while implementing the valuable tools and lessons learned.
So, I guess I do get angry, and sad, but I am most passionate about the possibilities for all of them to have a rewarding, sober life when they learn their worth.
What “season of songs” is your favorite collection of music?
The 80’s. They don’t make ‘em like that anymore! And the genre didn’t matter. From country, to pop, rap, and R&B, I skated to them all!
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 representing the worst possible, how nervous were you when your husband went to work as the administrator of the Belmont County Jail?
I can’t remember how long Stan served as the Assistant Jail administrator, but I remember when his boss resigned in the midst of the COVID pandemic. I wasn’t nervous that he couldn’t do the job, he’d been doing it for years anyway, but I was nervous because of the daily stress on him. We both knew it would probably increase with the complete responsibilities, due to the fact that it was his neck on the chopping block, even for things he wasn’t made aware of.
Adding that to the COVID scare, having to know the ever-changing protocols for quarantining and how to delegate things to a dwindling staff didn’t make matters any better. I never doubted that he would be a great administrator, especially because he had experience in every single part of that jail down to the fire system, and because he’s a people-person and most know not to “take his kindness for weakness” as I’ve heard him say many times.
He’ll let you go for a bit, then tell you why you’re wrong.
Since bringing the jail through COVID and a stellar passing jail inspection, his retirement at the end of August has been great. He paid his dues and left the new guy a clean slate. He’s enjoying a new job, now not supervising anyone but himself, and he likes it.
Why do you give people a pickle?
And now the pickle …
I used to work at Stone and Thomas at the mall many moons ago in their housewares department. I would go over to Notions and help decorate the Christmas trees when we weren’t busy. I remember unpacking little pickle ornaments and being so excited to hide most of them, but still make them “kind of” visible.
I got to tell people the story behind the Christmas Pickle. My maiden name is Faulkner, which is of German descent. I found it only fitting to share it with others who didn’t know.
One day, there was a radio broadcast and I called in and was able to talk about the story of the Christmas Pickle on the air. So, I went out to Hallmark one afternoon to get a brand new pickle ornament that I believe may grace the Novotney family Christmas tree to this day.
My daughter still hides ours every year, and strangely enough, it’s always her younger brother who seems to find it first.
