This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Working With Britney Spears and Bringing People Together

Chatham resident Helen Polise has a pretty cool job.

Helen Polise and her family moved to Chatham from Secaucus in the fall of 1999, the day before school started.

"I felt like an awful parent because the kids were up until midnight as we were putting their beds together," Polise said. "I kept asking myself why we did this."

But before long, Polise was Rollerblading to the train station in her work clothes with a backpack that carried her computer and shoes. At that point, she said, she wished she had "done [the move] sooner."

Find out what's happening in Chathamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Now, Polise is settled in Chatham. And she has a pretty cool job working for her production company, "The Funky Pumpkin," with which she shoots advertisements for various products. She's worked with celebrities such as Britney Spears.

But it didn't look like she would be doing what she is doing when 9/11 happened.

Find out what's happening in Chathamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I was on my way to work on the train when my husband called me and told me the second plane hit," she said. "When I got to Penn Station, my phone did not work anymore and they were getting people out."

The day after that, the production company she had been working for lost its largest account and had to let go of most of its staff. 

But Polise did not despair. She and her co-worker, Edward Rupp, decided to start their own production company and call it "Funky Pumpkin." Some of its most recent commercials can be seen here

The company grew as the years went on. It now produces commercials for products such as Sensodyne, and some are them are filmed right in Chatham, at Dr. Robert Rosen's office on Parrott Mill Road.

"I like to use our community and open up the casting roles to the residents when I can," Polise said.

In 2008, Polise produced a hand held game commercial at the Fairmount Country Club and the Chatham Skate Park.  

Her willingness to use her hometown as a backdrop for her work speaks to her loyalty toward Chatham.

"I strongly believe in the value of the neighborhood," she said. "If we are in a crisis, who are we going to depend on? We have each other."

In her spare time, Polise serves on the Board of Directors for her Turner Syndrome Foundation. Polise is producing a short educational film called The Turner Diaries, pro bono, for their friend's Web site. 

Turner's Syndrome only happens to females and is caused by complete or partial absence of the second sex chromosome.

"The purpose of the film is to educate people about Turner's Syndrome, especially those in the medical field," says Polise. "I really want to make a difference in a bigger way." 

Polise also hosts a dance party three to four times a year for women throughout the neighborhood. For her first party, she said, she put out a notice five days in advance.

Forty women showed up.

"I actually got thank you cards from people thanking me for making me feel young again," she said.

She also hosts a wine tasting party every year and dresses up as the Easter Bunny for the Rolling Hill neighborhood club.

Polise also volunteers every year to help run the fashion show at Chatham High School. She attends all of the rehearsals, writes the scripts and works with the announcers.

"I feel like I can relate to [teenagers]," Polise said.

Her relationship with her children indicates this is true.

"My mom is like a 25-year-old trapped in a mother's body," said Tommy Polise, who is 21. "I can just talk to her really easily."

Most people from the community would agree on what Helen's daughter JuliAnn says about her.

"Mom," she said, "you put the 'P' in party."

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Chatham