Union Leader - June 2023

UNIONLEADER

Seal to stay the same

Veterans Memorial is a moving experience

History came to the township of Union when The Moving Wall Vietnam Veterans Memorial paid a visit from Thursday, May 18, through Monday, May 22. This half-size traveling replica of the actual Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., has been touring the country for more than 30 years. The Moving Wall arrived in Union on Wednesday, May 17, and was set up on Thursday, May 18, in Biertuempfel Park, 1300 Winslow Ave., followed by a candlelight ceremony at 6:30 p.m.

— See Page 3 Tales from the swamp

Several local and veteran organizations participated in the candlelight ceremony, including the VFW Michael A. Kelly Post No. 2433, the Knights of Columbus Council No. 4504, the Union Elks Lodge No. 1583, the Union High School Army JROTC, the Rahway and Linden High Schools JROTC, and Union police officers and firefighters.

— See Page 4 Giant earns doctorate

The Moving Wall came about when John Devitt attended the 1982 dedication of the actual memorial and was so moved that he decided to find a way to share this experience with everyone who did not have the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. Devitt was joined by Norris Shears, Gerry Haver and other Vietnam veterans in building The Moving Wall. At 375 feet long and as much as 7½ feet tall, the half-scale replica first went on display in Tyler Texas in October 1084. The two structures of The Moving Wall now travel the country from April through November, spending approximately a week at each site.

During its five-day stay, the public was permitted to visit and make rubbings of the names. Slips of paper and charcoal were available on site. The names are in chronological order, according to the date of casualty. Within each day, the names are alphabetized. For POW/MIAs, the date of casualty is the date they were reported as captured or missing. Grief counselors were available

See Page 10

volunteers were onsite to assist visitors.

and

Photos by David VanDeventer

The names of more than 58,000 fallen United States military servicepersons are etched into the interlocking walls of the Vietnam Veterans Moving Wall Memorial, which was assembled within Biertuempfel Park in Union on Wednesday, May 17. It remained open to the public 24 hours a day from Thursday, May 18, through Monday, May 22. Below, two of the countless people visit The Moving Wall to pay their respects during its five-day stay in Union.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, acclaimed actress and alumna are named commencement speakers

Author and investigative reporter Jodi Kantor, of The New York Times, and critically acclaimed actress and Kean alumna Holly Taylor, Class of ’21, were the featured speakers at Kean University’s graduate and undergraduate commencement ceremonies in May.

Kantor, whose pioneering reporting with colleague Megan Twohey on the Harvey Weinstein Hollywood sexual abuse scandal launched the #MeToo movement, addressed the Graduate Commencement ceremony at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark on Tuesday, May 16. She and Twohey also authored the book about the Weinsten story, “She Said,” which was turned into a major motion picture.

Taylor is best known for her starring role as Paige Jennings in the Emmy/Golden Globe/Peabody-winning FX series “The Americans.” Taylor currently stars as Angelina Meyer in one of Netflix’s most streamed series, “Manifest.” Prior to this, Taylor starred in the action thriller film “Rogue Hostage,” as well as the Dolly Parton/Netflix anthology series “Heartstrings.” She also had a recurring role on ABC’s “The Good Doctor.” Outside of acting, Taylor is a dancer who appeared in “Billy Elliot” on Broadway for two years. She spoke at Kean’s Undergraduate Commencement at the Prudential Center in

Newark on Thursday, May 18.

“Kean University is proud to name two women who are leaders in their respective fields as our 2023 commencement speakers. Holly Taylor, who we are also thrilled to claim as a Kean graduate, and Jodi Kantor each have powerful messages to share,”

said Kean President Lamont O. Repollet. “We know these speakers will add to the spirit of achievement and celebration for our graduates at both ceremonies.”

Kean University Board of Trustees Chairperson Steve Fastook, Class of ’06, said each of the commencement speakers

stands as an impressive role model for Kean’s graduating class.

“At commencement, we celebrate our students and the hard work it took for them to achieve this important milestone in their lives,” Fastook said. “The professional dedication and excellence of our speakers stand as an inspiration to the Class of 2023 as they pursue their professional and personal goals.”

In addition to her work on the Weinstein investigative story, Kantor has reported on detrimental employee scheduling and work issues at Starbucks and Amazon. She also wrote about Harvard Business School’s attempt to change its climate for women, prompting a nationwide discussion about women in business schools.

In addition to her impressive acting credits, Taylor is a talented graphic designer, who graduated summa cum laude from Kean’s Robert Busch School of Design in 2021 with a degree in graphic design: advertising. While at Kean, she balanced her acting career with her studies. After graduation, Taylor designed the cover and inside illustrations for professor Robin Landa’s latest book, “The New Art of Ideas: Unlock Your Creative Potential.” Taylor’s oil

were recently displayed in her first solo gallery show at Urbana Gallery in New York City.

paintings

Photos Courtesy of Kean University

Above left, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Jodi Kantor was the featured speaker at Kean University’s Graduate Commencement, Tuesday, May 16, at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. Above right, acclaimed actress and Kean University alumna Holly Taylor, Class of ’21, was the featured speaker at Kean's Undergraduate Commencement, Thursday, May 18, at the Prudential Center in Newark.

Union County will not change its current seal

By David Jablonski Managing Editor

The Union County seal was almost changed last month, if not for the efforts of concerned organizations and individuals in the Union County government.

“We were not told about it at first, but our understanding is that a group, Mothers Against Domestic Violence, questioned why our seal has the scene it does,” said Barbara La Mort, president of the Union Township Historical Society, in an interview with LocalSource on Monday, May 1. “And I don't think the person addressing our group knew the history of the seal. My disappointment with this is that this had been in discussion since 2020, but we’ve only been made aware of it at Christmas 2022. Though polling was introduced in March, the existing seal wasn’t a third option.”

“When we found out about this last December, it was only by a fluke that somebody heard someone talking about it in the court house or the commissioners building, and they passed it onto us,” she added. “The Union County Historical Society also agrees with us.”

“We love our town and want to preserve its history as best we can,” said David Arminio, vice president of the Union Township Historical Society, in an interview with LocalSource on Monday, May 1. “The mission of the Historical Society is not just the preservation of the his-

The Union County seal has remained unchanged since 1933. It depicts a British Redcoat shooting a woman, Hannah Caldwell, as she stands in front of her home. The shadowy figure in the doorway is meant to represent Elias, Caldwell’s 4-year-old son, who was there that fateful day.

tory of the American Revolution – it’s the preservation of the history of the town, from the 1620s all the way to 2023 and beyond.”

The county seal is unique in New Jersey and very likely the entire nation, as it depicts a woman being killed in the doorway of her home,” La Mort said. “If that

was the entirety of the picture, then perhaps Mothers Against Domestic Violence would be justified in its opposition to this as the county seal; however, when viewed from a historical standpoint, this seal is extremely important to both the county and to the importance of women in our nation’s history.

“Our museum is on the site that’s depicted on the seal. The actual house was burned with Hannah Caldwell’s dead body in the house. One of her neighbors begged the British officers to let the husband and children have a proper funeral for her and then the neighbors brought her body to the neighbor’s house. She was in the house with two of the children and two friends. Steven Speilberg wants to make a movie out of it. There’s deep faith. There’s military battles. It’s like ‘The Patriot.’”

To better understand the significance of the scene represented in Union County’s seal, La Mort went into greater detail regarding this historical event.

“On June 7, 1780, Hannah Caldwell was sitting on her bed, nursing her baby,” she said. “Her 4-year old son kept running to the window and saying he saw soldiers coming. She asks the two women with her to get him away from the window. Finally, she gets up from the bed, hands the baby to one of them and goes to the window and, at that moment, she is shot through the window and dies.”

La Mort said some historians speculate that Caldwell was assassinated because her husband, the Rev. James Caldwell, was preaching revolution, although she feels that isn’t what happened. Some speculate it was friendly fire, but to her, that’s the least believable. Most likely, a British

See DESPITE, Page 14

Photo Courtesy of Union County

Infamous Kawameeh Path lives on only in memories

Father Time and Mother Nature have not been kind to the longforgotten, three-quarters of a mile dirt trail that still straddles the woodsy border of Suburban Golf Course and the murky edge of Kawameeh Swamp. For several generations of Kawameeh Junior High School students — now known as Kawameeh Middle School — ‘The Path’ was the location of either your first kiss or your first fistfight, depending upon how well your week was going. The neglected and overgrown route along the west branch of the Elizabeth River also provided relatively safe passage and a nifty shortcut from serene Kawameeh Park to the long-defunct Fox Theater and Two Guys Department Store, currently home to Lowe’s Home Improvement Center on bustling Morris Avenue. Will ‘The Path’ and its soggy surroundings ever be designated as a well-deserved state wildlife refuge? Only the ever-present ‘World’s Tallest Watersphere’ knows for sure and the silent sentinel of the swamp isn’t talking.

Photos by David VanDeventer and Adrienne Browne Dempsey

Vietnam Veterans Moving Wall Memorial rolls into Union

A small but spirited crowd of patriotic Americans attended the arrival and opening ceremony of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the evening of Thursday, May 18. The half-size traveling replica gave veterans and their families, scholastic ROTC units, police officers, firefighters, local residents, out-of-towners and a variety of political and military dignitaries the opportunity to pay their respects to the more than 58,000 fallen United States soldiers of the Vietnam War whose names are etched into the wall’s many interlocking panels. The sprawling memorial was assembled within Biertuempfel Park on Wednesday, May 17, and remained open to the public for 24 hours a day through the closing noontime remarks on Monday, May 22.

Publisher: David Worrall

Managing Editor: David Jablonski

Advertising Manager: Joseph Farina

Photos by David VanDeventer

We

COVID-19 pandemic comes to an end in NJ

By Javon Ross Staff Writer

Westfield Regional Health Department

Director Megan Avallone discussed COVID-19 vaccinations at the Summit Press Office on Monday, May 8. Avallone answered several prepared questions and then took questions from viewers.

When asked for her assessment of the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic in the region, Avallone said she expected, as we enter spring, to see low levels of the coronavirus statewide. “This time of year, as we enter the warmer months, respiratory illness does tend to decline,” she said. “I do not anticipate any spikes until the fall, although COVID-19 has surprised us before. I think that it is safe to say that these summer months are going to be great ones.”

Avallone then reassured everyone that what we were seeing now was actually the end of the pandemic, and not just an end of a phase of it or a particular emergency.

“As everybody knows, May 11 is the federal end to the pandemic,” she said. “That is not a magic date. It does not mean that illness will go away, but what it does signal is a shift. Now, what we consider COVID-19 to be is an ongoing health issue, just like the flu or other respiratory illnesses that will see upticks in the fall and winter and lower levels in the warmer weather. This will be a seasonal illness moving forward.”

The next topic she broached was federal funding, especially with regard to free COVID-19 testing.

“The real change is going to be that there is not going to be funding anymore

for free COVID-19 testing,” Avallone said. “The privatization of vaccinations is different (but), right now, vaccinations will still be free. If individuals are looking to get tested after May 11, they will either have to purchase an over-the-counter test kit or go to their doctor to get tested. But for Summit and the Westfield Regional Health Department, we have lots of test kits for free, so if individuals are interested, all they have to do is contact our office or City Hall and we will let you know where you can get one for free.”

Several questions concerned the COVID-19 vaccination plan for New Jersey and many states along the region, and Avallone said, for now, they will continue to vaccinate those who are high-risk.

“Anybody that still needs a bivalent booster and any children that are now eligible … if any resident is interested in getting a COVID-19 vaccination, they can call our office or contact the press office and we will set them up with a free vaccination appointment,” she said. “We are also doing home visits for individuals who would like that as well. This will continue as long as the federal reserve of vaccines is available – for today we have plenty for those who are interested.”

She then addressed concerns some individuals had regarding potential sideeffects from booster shots or for those experiencing “pandemic fatigue.”

“I can understand and empathize with

that; some individuals may have some mild side effects after a vaccination, feeling a little tired or having a sore arm and cold-like symptoms for a day after vaccination,” Avallone said. “We recommend that you may want to take the vaccination on a day where you can rest the next day. We find our Friday to Saturday clinics to be well attended, because individuals can typically take it easier the next day.”

Avallone emphasized that getting vaccinated or taking a booster shot was a personal choice that every individual should make, considering their age and risk for potential infection in mind, particularly for those who are 65 and older and are immuno-compromised. With regard to the COVID-19 booster being treated in a similar manner as an influenza shot, she admitted it was a little too early to say, although it seemed headed in that direction.

According to Avallone, 97% of the variants detected in New Jersey have been the omicron variant, so the current boosters available are effective against the current strain of COVID-19 being detected in the state.

“What we are seeing now is that a lot of the COVID-19 activity mirrors flu activity, where there are higher rates in the winter,” Avallone said. “I would not be surprised if, in the fall, there was a new formulation of booster that mirrors the type of strains that we are seeing currently.”

Alan W. Goldfeder, M.D. • Charles E. Rassier, M.D.

Photo by Javon Ross Westfield Regional Health Department Director Megan Avallone addressed many questions and concerns regarding COVID-19, now that the federal government is declaring an end to the pandemic.

Union library offers events for month of June

Union Public Library is celebrating Caribbean American Heritage, Juneteenth, LGBTQ Pride and African American Music Appreciation Month in June.

• Union County Department of Aging, table event in-person at Main Library, Thursday, June 1, from 10 a.m. to noon: Do you have questions about services for seniors or their caregivers? Speak to a specialist and get answers about pharmaceutical assistance, home energy assistance/USF, cooling assistance, home care, home delivered or congregate meals, Medicaid eligibility, Social Security, caregiver relief programs and transportation.

• Keep Your Balance, in-person at Main Library, Thursday, June 1, at 10:30 a.m.: Yasmin Ofek's noimpact classes can help you establish a better connection between the brain and body while gently strengthening the muscles that keep your body upright and balanced in different situations.

• Meditation, virtual on Zoom, Thursdays, June 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, at 11:30 a.m.: Join Bindu Bhatt for a virtual meditation session. No experience is necessary. Bindu has practiced meditation for more than 30 years and wants to share her insight.

• Friends of the Library meeting, in-person at the Main Library, Thursday, June 1, at 6 p.m.: Join the Friends of the Library at its monthly meeting. New members are always welcome. Come and support your library.

• The Sixties: The Motown Story, in-person at Vauxhall Branch, Saturday, June 3, at 1 p.m.: Vinnie Bruno takes attendees on a musical journey of the history of Motown Records. Motown, established by Berry Gordy in 1960, has been described as the greatest pop music hit factory in recording history. Explore how the “Motown Sound” was created and how it has become a worldwide phenomenon beloved by millions to this day, from the

“hit machine” songwriting teams to the in-house studio band to the extraordinary roster of recording artists, including Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, The Supremes, Four Tops, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and countless others. The influence of the house that Gordy built is still standing with 201 No. 1 worldwide hits and counting.

• Drop-In and Knit with Beyond Yarn, in-person at Main Library, Monday, June 5, at 6:30 p.m.: Whether you're an expert knitter or want to learn how, this is your chance to talk with an expert, bring your materials and projects and join us. Adults and teens are welcome. Registration is required, as space is limited.

• Drop-In and Knit with Beyond Yarn, in-person at Vauxhall Branch, Tues, June 6, at 10:30 a.m.: Whether you're an expert knitter or want to learn how, this is your chance to talk with an expert, bring your materials and projects and join us. Registration is required, as space is limited.

• LGBTQ Characters on T.V.: A Talk with Video Clips, virtual on Zoom, Tuesday, June 6, at 7 p.m.: LGBTQ people's lives and rights have changed profoundly since the mid-20th century. This talk uses clips from U.S. television comedies and dramas to explore how popular culture reflected those changes during the 20th century. In honor of LGBTQIA+ Month.

• Walk in Wednesdays, in-person at Vauxhall Branch, Wednesdays, June 7, 14, 21 and 28, from 12:30 to 2 p.m.: Do you need help navigating the many resources that the library has to offer? Learn to navigate HOOPLA, Freegal, and Kanopy to download and enjoy e and audiobooks, music and movies, and so much more.

• The Wide World of Spices, in-person at Main Library, Thursday, June 8, at 6:30 p.m.: Join Kerri Goad-Berrios, vice president of sales at Kalustyan, a

world leader in the spice and herb industry. She’ll cover their extensive product line, services and commitment to the community. Following the presentation, Goad-Berrios will discuss emerging trends and offer attendees spice samples and other freebies. Kalustyan's headquarters are in Union.

• Caribbean American Concert and Celebration, inperson at Vauxhall Branch, Monday, June 12, at 6 p.m.: JuanMa Morales, founder of the musical group Sonido Costeño, will perform on guitar a high-energy fusion of Latin music and salsa of many classic artists. Morales’ unique sound appeals to broad audiences from all generations. This program is in honor of Caribbean American Heritage Month.

• National African American Jazz Legacy Museum, virtual on Zoom, Wednesday, June 14, at 7 p.m.: In honor of Juneteenth and Black Music Appreciation Month.

• Off the Shelf Book Club, in-person at Main Library, Thursday, June 15, at 6:30 p.m.: New members are always welcome. This month's title is “The Henna Artist,” by Alka Joshi.

• Madam C.J. Walker: The First Black Female Millionaire, in-person at Vauxhall Branch, Saturday, June 17, at noon: Madam C.J. Walker was the first African-American female millionaire, transcending poverty and prejudice to create a line of beauty care products for black women in the United States, even though her parents were formerly enslaved. Rick Feingold tells all about her.

• Movie of the Month, in-person at Vauxhall Branch, Tuesday, June 20, at noon: Call the library for the exact title being shown that month.

For more information about other programs, call Adult Services at 908-851-5450, ext. 3, visit the website at uplnj.org or the Main Library at 1060 Stuyvesant Ave.

From NFL to Ph.D., former NY Giant earns doctorate

Kean University graduate student Kareem McKenzie played NFL football for 11 years and won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants, but he says a more challenging career is ahead of him as a licensed professional counselor.

The former offensive tackle, who has worked with teens struggling with substance use, will receive his doctorate in counseling and supervision and said he is looking ahead to his next move off the field.

“From a mental standpoint, I’d say counseling is more difficult,” said McKenzie. “Football, it’s just a matter of doing the work and making sure you’re prepared on Sunday. With counseling, you can’t actually prepare for who walks through that door. Football is pretty simple; either you win or lose. As a counselor, every day you’re dealing with someone who’s in crisis.”

McKenzie, the first person in his family to earn a doctoral degree, took part in Kean’s Graduate Commencement at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, May 16.

This summer, he plans to defend his dissertation and, pending committee approval, will complete his degree. He successfully defended his dissertation proposal in March.

McKenzie, who grew up in Willing-

boro, played football for just two years in high school, because his mother didn’t want him to play.

With his size and ability, football

became an opportunity to go to college.

He won a scholarship to Penn State University, graduating in 2001 with a degree in business administration.

A third-round NFL draft pick for the New York Jets, he joined the Giants in 2005. He was key to the Giants’ offense, blocking for players such as running back Tiki Barber and quarterback Eli Manning. He won his first Super Bowl ring in 2008 and the second in 2012.

“It was a surreal experience to make it to that level of play,” McKenzie said. “The first distinct recollection I have of the Super Bowl is the opening ceremony and kickoff. I remember watching Super Bowl kickoffs on TV as a kid; to see it in person on the sidelines was like a dreamscape, to realize you’re really on this world stage.”

As for the championship rings, he said, “They’re too heavy to wear with any frequency.”

McKenzie left football after the 2012 Super Bowl, his last NFL game. He began studying for graduate school admission exams, and earned his master’s degree in counseling at William Paterson University in 2016. His next step was Kean.

He said he discovered counseling when dealing with some personal issues and found it provided “the opportunity and space to reflect on things.”

Initially, McKenzie planned to counsel military veterans who transition to civilian life, seeing similarities between their regimented work and his structured life in football.

Photo Courtesy of Kean University Former New York Giants offensive tackle Kareem McKenzie, who helped the NFL team win two Super Bowls, earned his doctorate in counseling and supervision at Kean University.

See FORMER, Page 11

Former NFL player to work as a licensed professional counselor

(Continued from Page 10)

But he applied for work at a nonprofit counseling center in Irvington and learned about a new program there working with teens. Hired as a group facilitator, he found his calling.

“I think they felt a former professional athlete had relevant experience to speak about discipline and give an honest viewpoint,” McKenzie said. “I liked giving my clients an opportunity to talk about their issues – to be someone who would advocate for them, have conversations to figure out ways to overcome issues, and not look at them as victims of circumstances.”

In his dissertation, McKenzie is interviewing clinicians to gain perspective on the substance use assessments of Black teenagers.

Kean assistant professor Jane Webber, who started the doctoral program in counseling and supervision at Kean, is McKenzie’s faculty advisor. She said he is a “passionate advocate for the unique mental health needs of black teens in today’s stressful adolescent culture.”

“Kareem brings so much of his life experience to his work and studies," she said. “Pro football is part of his formative development and a past career for Kareem. His present career is professional counselor and a scholar as a doctoral student. Kareem never brought football up in class. He is a student here at Kean, and we all respect this and live in the present with him.

“I see his incredible qualities — perseverance, dedication, integrity, empathy and passion in his work to help AfricanAmerican male teenagers find their voice,” Webber said.

At commencement, McKenzie’s sister, brother-in-law and possibly other family members may have been watching.

The day will be somewhat bittersweet. McKenzie lost both parents during the past three years, and the anniversary of his father’s death is May 16, the same date as commencement.

“It gives new meaning to that day,” McKenzie said. “This will be the first time I’ve ever graduated from anything without my parents attending. Ultimately, it’s a great way to honor them both, walking in the ceremony and wearing my doctoral regalia.”

Students travel the world to give back and learn

Kean University students spent spring break traveling across the globe as part of six international Travelearn excursions, including a trip to Costa Rica to launch Kean’s new Give Back Abroad internship initiative. Kean students built gardens and taught children English in Costa Rica; volunteered at a shelter for refugees on the U.S.-Mexico border; traveled in the steps of World War II veterans in France, Belgium and Germany; visited civil rights sites in Northern Ireland and Ireland; and learned first-hand about psychology in Spain and global business in Greece and the Czech Republic.

“The world becomes the classroom for our students during Kean’s Travelearn programs,” said Kean President Lamont O. Repollet. “These transformative experiences broaden the Kean experience for students. Now, through our Give Back Abroad internship, Kean is also giving back to the world.”

A total of 113 students took Travelearn trips, earning college credits in the process. Their schedules were full of learning and museum visits but also included activities like kayaking in Costa Rica, visiting the Irish coastline, and enjoying local cuisine.

“We gave back, we took away memorable experiences and we left behind our Kean Cougar spirit,” said Jessica Barzilay, executive director of the Center for International Studies at Kean, who led the Costa Rica trip.

In addition to building raised gardens

and teaching English, students in Costa Rica set up composting systems and conducted environmental research, collecting data on dolphins, whales and bats.

Jared van Ramshorst, an assistant professor of Global Studies in Kean’s Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, led the group to Brownsville and McAllen, Texas, on the Mexican border. Students volunteered at a shelter for refugees and asylum seekers, serving hot meals and playing tag and soccer with children; met with legal aid attorneys and Border Patrol agents; and visited the border fence.

“Students were able to experience and witness, firsthand, ongoing issues at the border,” he said. “As you can imagine, this was a particularly impactful experience.”

Some of the Kean students are children

of immigrants. Joshua Rivera, assistant director of Kean’s Center for Veteran Student Success, traveled with a group to World War II sites from Normandy, France, to Munich, Germany.

The Veterans Travelearn to Normandy, which included Kean student veterans, toured battle sites and bunkers; visited Omaha Beach, the site of the D-Day landing; and learned the background of the war.

“Some places were absolutely beautiful,” Rivera said. “Then when you dig deeper into the wars and some of the things that took place there, it really puts it into perspective.”

No matter where they went, students said they came back with a new understanding of the world and themselves.

“I think I found another place of

peace,” said Aneus Brown of Springfield, a junior global business major who joined the Costa Rica trip. “It allowed me to understand the world isn’t just the U.S. or New Jersey or Kean University. It’s very diverse and very different.”

Hilda Bermejo, a junior sociology major from Passaic, and the daughter of immigrant parents, participated in the U.S. border trip.

“It is one thing reading about asylumseeking families, but it is such a different feeling when you are there interacting with these families and young kids,” she said. “It is something everyone should do at least once in their lives.”

Freshman Ashley Saavedra, a criminal justice major from Elizabeth, said it was difficult to leave the refugee center after volunteering.

“One thing that kept me going was that this small moment of kindness meant the world for them,” she said. “I thought to myself that the kids would remember this moment when they get older and I’m glad to be part of the help. From that day at the refugee center, my perspective changed.”

Kayleigh Polidura, a senior history major from Colonia and Army National Guard member, said the Veterans trip helped her appreciate other cultures.

“As a history major, seeing how museums are set up is always fascinating – how those countries interpreted the events of World War II and chose to put them on display,” she said.

Photos Courtesy of Kean University

Kean University Travelearn students visited Spain, above left; Costa Rica, above right; and other countries during spring break.

Elizabethtown Gas provides $20,000 in grants to local youth sports

Elizabethtown Gas, 520 Green Lane, Union, has announced the winners of its annual Game On Grant Program. Twenty $1,000 grants will be awarded to help provide critical support to local, community-centered children’s athletic programs, leagues, clubs, associations and recreational organizations.

“At Elizabethtown Gas, we care about the communities where we live and work,” said Christie McMullen, president and chief operating officer, Elizabethtown Gas. “We’re proud to partner with this year’s Game On Grant recipients and support them in their missions to provide safe and fun activities for kids in our region.”

Since the program’s inception in 2021, Elizabethtown Gas has contributed $53,000 toward community-centered children’s athletic programs.

The 2023 Game On Grant Program recipients are: Skylands Field Hockey Association, Linden Recreation, Bethlehem Township Recreation, Long Valley Cheer, Girls on the Run of Hunterdon, Mansfield Softball, Flemington Raritan Baseball, North Hunterdon Youth Baseball, Hackettstown Football, Scotch Plains/Fanwood Soccer, Hackettstown Recreational Baseball, Scotch Plains/Fanwood Baseball, Delaware Valley Basketball League, Lenape Valley Youth Baseball and Softball, Lambertville/West Amwell Baseball, Lambertville Ramblers Youth Football and Cheer, Vernon Youth Football and Cheer, Youth Softball of Westfield, Wolfpack Hockey League and Clark Township.

The Game On Grant Program will be offered again in February 2024. For more information, visit elizabethtowngas.com/community.

IN MEMORIAM

• BUSALACCHI – Angela, of Union; May 12. Worked for many years at Mr. Pizza in Union. Widow, mother, aunt, grandaunt.

• GIGLIO – Lucille, of Mountainside, formerly of Sicily, Newark and Union; May 11. Loved cooking, gardening, crocheting. Wife, mother, grandmother, 78.

• MURNANE – Michael J., of Union, formerly of Ireland and Elizabeth; April 22. Worked for Prudential Insurance Co. Widower, father, grandfather, 89.

• PFEIFFER – Margaret “Marge,” of Toms River, formerly of Union; May 8. Widow, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, 87.

• RICIGLIANO – Barbara, of Union; April 22. Widow, mother, grandmother, 89.

• SIMONS – Sandra “Sandy,” formerly of Union; May 15. Widow, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, 84.

• ZORN – Werner R., of Newark, Del., formerly of Pforzheim, Germany, and Union; April 20. Chemical engineer. Father, brother, grandfather, 82.

In Memoriam is a monthly feature compiled by the news staff from various sources. We also provide the opportunity for families and funeral directors to publish a more extensive, special notice about their loved one called an obituary. These notices are published on our website immediately and then in the next edition of this newspaper. To place a paid obituary send an email to obits@thelocalsource.com or fax to 908-688-0401. Family and friends’ submissions must include sender’s name, address, phone and the name of the funeral home. Call 908-686-7850 for assistance.

There’s

Despite controversy, residents vote to keep seal

soldier, maybe not much older than 18, saw movement in the window and shot at it before he knew who it was.

To understand Caldwell’s death, one has to take into consideration its place in history, she explained.

“That day, June 7, 1780, the battle that was fought was called the Battle of Connecticut Farms, what Union was known as before it became Union,” La Mort said. “They were skirmishing over by Milburn and Vauxhall and Springfield. They were trying to get to Washington in Morristown. The Battle of Connecticut Farms and the Battle of Springfield were the last two major battles fought in the north.”

Caldwell’s death inspired people to join the New Jersey militia and the Continental Army, she said. Her husband rode around, telling people they killed his wife, the mother of his nine children.

“Her husband was an ordained minister and was a quartermaster in Washing-

ton’s army,” La Mort said. “He was a chaplain in the New Jersey Militia. There are legends about how, when he preached, he kept two loaded pistols in the pulpit with him. There was a price on his head, there was a price on Washington’s head and there was a price on Gov. William Livington’s head. Livingston was the first man elected governor in New Jersey.”

“Caldwell was killed 18 months later in Elizabethport in 1781 A sentry, James Morgan, shot him. There's speculation he was going to collect the reward for bringing Caldwell to the British. So the Caldwell’s nine children were left orphans, but the family was so beloved, all the children were taken in. The 4-year-old boy, Elias Boudinot Cadwell, who was with his mother when she was shot and died, was adopted by the man he was named after, Elias Boudinot, and later became a clerk of the U.S. Supreme Court.”

As for the house itself, even after the British Redcoats burned it to the ground,

its place in history was not complete.

“The members of the Connecticut Fams Presbyterian Church rebuilt it in 1789,” she said. “We think they started rebuilding it in 1782. Their church was burned, too, in the battle.”

“The Union Township Historical Society was founded to maintain the house in 1957,” La Mort continued. “They bought it from the estate at the time for $18,000. They even had a campaign in the schools called Pennies for the Parsonage. Otherwise, a lot of other people donated a lot of money.”

“We’re a nonprofit organization that exists to maintain that house,” she added. “The board is all volunteers.”

The house is now known as the Caldwell Parsonage, 909 Caldwell Ave., Union.

According to La Mort, the current seal was being used in 1932 by the county. It became official in 1933.

“We have a copy of the resolution

stating why they chose this artwork,” she said.

Despite its historical value, the Union County seal recently became a point of contention when the image it portrayed was considered offensive by Mothers Against Domestic Violence. This led to the Union County Board of County Commissioners deciding to replace it by offering possible new seals for residents of Union County to choose between. Option 1 was the quadrant and option 2 was the courthouse. Keeping the original seal was not an option.

“We had over 6,600 residents vote for the seal. It’s at stand still until they go over all of the messages,” said Kelly Martins, director of communication and public information, in an interview with LocalSource on Monday, May 1. “We finished the vote last Monday, April 24, at the end of business. I don’t think there is a timeline. They just want to review all

Above left, Hannah Caldwell has become a significant historical figure and her death served as a symbol in the fight for independence during the Revolutionary War. These two possible new seals, known simply as

the quadrant, above center, and the courthouse, above right, were the only options given to residents in a recent poll. The original seal proved the overwhelming winner.

Photos Courtesy of Union County

Residents show their support for original seal

(Continued from Page 14)

the messages before they make a decision. Everyone seems to have different opinions. The commissioners just want to do their due diligence. No decision has been made.”

The poll was open to Union County residents, she said. When the poll ended, anyone who resided out of the county and voted was not counted and separated from the tally. Only the tally of Union County residents were accepted. Each IP address and email was permitted to vote only one time.

Schools who participated in the poll were from Clark, Cranford, Elizabeth, Garwood, Hillside, Linden, New Providence, Plainfield, Rahway, Roselle, Roselle Park, Scotch Plains, Springfield, Summit, Union, Westfield, and Winfield.

“We are aware of a petition that was going around by residents against the changing of the seal which has 1,951 signatures,” said Martins in an online message to LocalSource. “However, those who signed the petition are not just from Union County – they are from all of New Jersey, out of state and sometimes country. Our poll just included Union County residents.”

“I agree with the commissioners that the seal is not accurate and I don’t know if it was ever meant to be accurate,” Arminio said. “It was an artist’s rendition of an action that changed the course of the war. Hannah Caldwell was the first woman killed in battle in New Jersey. She was shot and killed by a British soldier. One of the girls who was with her testified about that.”

“One of the arguments that was used … is that the seal should be replaced because it’s not accurate, but I feel it’s artistic license, it’s a dramatic picture of what happened,” La Mort said. “The picture on the seal in the doorway of the shadow is supposed to be Elias. The artist is trying to tell the story symbolically.”

“The two women who were present, a girl named Abigail Lennington that did some housekeeping and a nurse named Catherine Benward, testified at the Essex County Courthouse at the inquest into her death.”

Caldwell’s name still figures prominently in Union.

“Hannah Caldwell was the last school built in Union; actually, it was a lab that was converted into a school,” Arminio

said. “One of the former board of education members, Ray Perkins, he and his wife were walking down the street when they agreed it would make a good school. They talked to Superintendent Ted Jacobowski and they named it after Hannah Caldwell in the late ’90s.”

As for the issue of the county seal, everyone interviewed said they hoped it was resolved.

“They seem to be indicating that they could revisit this debate, but we're just hoping they’re going to end it,” La Mort said. “The Board of Commissioners meets every other week. We thanked the commissioners on April 27 for their decision, but nobody from the other groups was there, so maybe they’re dropping it.”

“It came as somewhat of a surprise that the commissioners were thinking of changing the seal,” added Arminio. “I don’t think this is important enough that (the Union County Board of County Commissioners) should spend so much time on a seal that’s been around since 1933.”

Arminio also praised Kean University history graduate Kelly Komar for everything she did, particularly putting togeth-

DIRECTORY

er change.org to try to get more support for the current seal.

“She helped quite a bit in getting the word out,” he said. “She put it on Facebook and all those sites.”

He also pointed out that even other towns were agreeing with them.

“The mayor of Elizabeth endorsed us,” Arminio said. “Westfield supported us not changing the seal. To me, the seal is significant, not just for Union but for the area.”

As for the county, it’s more of a waitand-see attitude.

“At this time, the Union County Board of County Commissioners are taking into consideration all of the individuals who have emailed, called or attended the commissioner meetings on both sides of the topic,” Martins said. In her statement. “For the moment, we have decided to postpone changing the seal until we have further discussions on all of the feedback received.”

That response is fine with La Mort.

“We’re happy that the existing seal is not being replaced,” she said. “And we hope that continues. Maybe the matter will just fade into the sunset.”