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VOL. 05 NO. 07

Ribbon cut at play area

— See Page 2

Owls named champions Photo Courtesy of Cranford Fire Department

Above, Alex Kessler, age 12, is applauded by members of the Cranford Fire Department after he rang his neighbors’ doorbell to warn them of a house fire and called 9-1-1 to report the fire. Alex’s quick thinking saved his neighbors’ lives.

Residents escape from house fire PD, Daisies thanks to 12-year-old’s heroism — See Page 10

collaborate

— See Page 14

By EmilyAnn Jackman Staff Writer Thanks to the quick thinking of 12year-old Alex Kessler on Wednesday, March 31, his neighbors are alive today. “The neighbors live right around the corner from us, like five houses away. The three kids — Alex, 12-year-old Sydney and 8-year-old Peri — were walking their puppy, Emmie,” said Nicole Kessler, the mother of Alex and his two siblings, as well as a Cranford school board member, on Thursday, April 8. The Kessler family lives on Stoughton Avenue. “Alex noticed smoke, and Sydney ran to the side of the house and saw that it was on fire. Alex

handed Sydney the leash and the first thing he did was ring the doorbell of the house to alert the family. He then called 91-1. Peri ran home to get me. When I arrived, they were yelling for the last family member to get out of the house. Help arrived minutes later, and the family was able to get out.” According to Kessler, the damage to the house was pretty bad, as the fire burned through the roof of the house. But, thanks to Alex’s quick thinking, the neighbors made it out in time and no one was hurt. “I believe just two people and the dog were home, and I don’t believe anyone

was hurt,” Kessler said. “His siblings were there, but he did that part on his own, which I do think was the most remarkable part. I don’t know that we would have thought to ring the doorbell of a house on fire.” “We are so proud of all of our kids for stopping what they were doing to investigate the situation,” Kessler said. “You raise your kids and hope they will do the right thing, and so we were grateful in this case that they did. Thinking of the family’s safety first and ringing the doorbell made us particularly proud.” The Front Line Appreciation Group for See QUICK THINKING, Page 4

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New playground facilities open at Nomahegan Park The Union County Board of County Commissioners hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new playground facilities at Nomahegan Park in Cranford on Sunday, April 18. “County residents have been anxiously awaiting the opening of these new playground facilities,” said County Commissioner Chairperson Alexander Mirabella. “The Board of Commissioners is happy that the day has finally arrived for families to enjoy this new space with our county’s youngest residents.” The playground renovations replace existing equipment that was upward of 20 years old, and now there are two separate areas, one geared toward children ages 2 to 5 and another for children ages 5 to 10. Both areas are fully accessible, with play space for children of all abilities. “Nomahegan Park has long been a special place for families in Cranford,” said Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski. “As a Cranford resident, I share in the excitement of everyone here today, as well as those who will use these facilities going forward.” Mirabella and Kowalski were joined at the event by Union County commissioners Lourdes M. Leon, Chris Hudak, Andrea Staten, Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded and Sergio Granados. Also in attendance were state Sen. Joe Cryan, Cranford Mayor Kathleen Miller Prunty and Cranford Deputy Mayor Brian Andrews.

Photo Courtesy of David Pilmenstein, Union County

Area officials gather with local children on April 18 to cut the ribbon on the brand-new playground at Nomahegan Park in Cranford. The new playground has approximately six slides, ADA ramps and decks featuring spiral stairs, archways, suspension bridges, swings, plastic bongo drums, climbing stations and ropes. The surface is soft and rubber bonded.

Suburban Consulting Engineers designed the new playground facilities, and the GameTime Playground Equipment was provided by Marturano Recreation Company. Installation of the equipment was done by Whirl Construction.

The rubberized safety surface was installed by Rubberecycle. Playground users must comply with state COVID-19 orders regarding social distancing, mask-wearing and other safety protocols.

Cranford Life — May 2021 — 3

Above left, the Rev. Cameron Overbey of Cranford United Methodist Church hosts the 10th annual Cranford Community Holocaust Day of Remembrance service on April 14.

Above right, Cranford Mayor Kathleen Miller Prunty reads aloud a town proclamation commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day and remembering the atrocity’s many victims.

Cranford pledges ‘never again’ at Holocaust service By Yael Katzwer Editor The Cranford community came together on April 14 for the 10th annual Cranford Community Holocaust Day of Remembrance ceremony to remember the 6 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Despite being held virtually this year, the event, which is sponsored by the Cranford Clergy Council, Cranford Public Schools, St Michael School and the Cranford Interfaith Human Relations Committee, was poignant. The event’s host, the Rev. Cameron Overbey of Cranford United Methodist Church, explained that, though this event is only 10 years old, the individual groups that work together to put on this event each year previously held their own services; Cranford has been holding Holocaust remembrance services for approximately 27 years. “Tonight’s service will be somber and will have its heavy moments; we are talking about the systemic incarceration and genocide of European Jews during the World War II era, and it was unfathomably terrible,” said Overbey, who is president of the Cranford Clergy Council. “It is hard to believe that such an unequivocally evil system could have been allowed to exist. Perhaps it’s even harder for us to imagine that it could ever happen, but we must remember that the Holocaust didn’t just appear — it was enabled by, among many things, hate-filled, dehumanizing and divisive rhetoric that manipulated people’s fears and uncertainties to vilify and dehumanize the Jewish people. “Evil is rarely ever obvious to all the parties involved in the moment,” he continued. “We must actively resist this kind of hate-filled dehumanizing rhetoric and action in our communities, our country and in the world. Our remembrance must spur us on to action to ensure we do not allow such atrocities to happen in our

Above, Rabbi Paul Kerbel, top center, of Temple Beth-El Mekor Chayim in Cranford, leads those lighting memorial candles, counterclockwise from top left, former Cranford Public Schools social studies supervisor Judith Podbelski; Cranford Interfaith Human Relations Committee member Renee Herz; Holocaust survivor Mollie Sperling; Cranford High School student Ashley Cooper; Calvary Tabernacle pastors Connie and Clem Salerno; Cranford town administrator Jamie Cryan; and St. Michael School Principal Sandy Miragliotta. time. We have much work to do already.” Cranford Mayor Kathleen Miller Prunty also discussed the need to continue to fight hatred, prior to reading aloud a township proclamation that commemorated International Holocaust Remembrance Day, honored victims and liberators of the Holocaust, and encouraged residents to speak out when they see acts of bigotry and injustice. “As Cranford’s mayor, I am honored to lend my voice to this Holocaust remembrance, but no words I could write or speak could ever be more powerful than those spoken by survivors like Simon Wiesenthal,” Prunty said, going on to quote Wiesenthal, who said: “For your benefit, learn from our tragedy. It is not a

written law that the next victims must be Jews. It can also be other people. … For evil to flourish, it only requires good men to do nothing.” “It was 76 years ago that Auschwitz was liberated,” Prunty said. “Sadly, as we commemorate this day, anti-Semitism is on the rise in this country. At the Jan. 6 attack on our nation’s Capitol, some rioters were wearing and displaying antiSemitic messages and Nazi symbols. Just remembering is not enough. Remembering comes with a responsibility to stand up and speak out against hatred, bias and bigotry. Silence only emboldens those with hate in their hearts.” Cranford Clergy Council member Rabbi Paul Kerbel of Temple Beth-El Mekor

Chayim in Cranford spoke at length about how the Holocaust affected Jews from all walks of life and how silence from the global community allowed it to happen. “This evening we gather to remember the six-year reign of terror known as the Holocaust. Between Sept. 1, 1939, when Germany invaded Poland, and the day that Germany surrendered … in 1945, 6 million Jewish men, women and children were murdered by the Nazis; millions of people of other races, religions and ethnic groups also died,” Kerbel said, remembering also the victims of the Holocaust who were targeted for being Romani, gay or political dissidents. “In April of 1945, the majority of the Jews of Europe were gone. Jews from big cities and little villages known as shtetls, doctors and lawyers, bricklayers and factory workers, Jews who spoke French, and Jews who spoke Greek or Italian or German or Yiddish — no one was spared. “The Jews were called ‘parasites’ and ‘vermin.’ They were treated as less than human, and if you tell millions of people for years and years that Jews are not human and should be eradicated from the human race enough times and in enough places, and over enough years, you see the result,” Kerbel continued. In his address, Kerbel quotes renowned Holocaust survivor Rabbi Joachim Prinz, who spoke before Martin Luther King Jr. did at the March on Washington in 1963. Prinz, who later served as rabbi at Temple B’Nai Abraham in Newark, said: “When I was the rabbi of the Jewish community in Berlin under the Hitler regime, I learned many things. The most important thing that I learned under those tragic circumstances was that bigotry and hatred are not the most urgent problem. The most urgent, the most disgraceful, the most shameful and the most tragic problem is silence.” See INTERFAITH, Page 4

4 — May 2021 — Cranford Life

Quick thinking helps 12-year-old save multiple lives (Continued from Page 1) Cranford honored Kessler for his bravery. FLAG for Cranford was founded in March 2020 to raise funds in Cranford. “The goal was to raise funds that would be spent in our Cranford restaurants as a way to support our businesses while feeding front-line workers during an unprecedented time,” FLAG for Cranford cofounder Rebecca Tantillo said on Thursday, April 8. “After raising over $100,000, we decided to become a 501(c)(3) organization that will continue to serve Cranford for many years to come.” Raising funds for those in need, FLAG for Cranford is there to help the family whose house was damaged by the fire. “FLAG for Cranford teamed up with a neighbor and family friend to help raise funds for the Ghiretti family,” Tantillo said. “They are currently looking for temporary housing, and FLAG would love to

alleviate some of their stress by providing gift cards to local restaurants and markets for meals. We have currently raised nearly $1,100, via Venmo @Rebecca-Tantillo, to purchase gift cards. We are also collecting gift cards at two locations, Augusta Mae Boutique at 35 Alden St. and the Ditzel residence at 93 Stoughton Ave. in Cranford.” FLAG for Cranford thanked Kessler for his heroic deed, for which Cranford Fire Department also honored him. “FLAG felt it was important to recognize Alex publicly for his quick thinking and brave act,” Tantillo said. “We offered Alex a trip to Vanilla Bean Creamery for everybody’s favorite treat! The Cranford Fire Department has also offered to drop off a surprise for Alex and his family. We are so incredibly proud of Alex. He thought on his feet and immediately of others. His brave act could have very well saved their lives. He’s Cranford’s little hero.”

Cranford Township fire official and Emergency Management Coordinator Matthew Lubin also acknowledged Alex’s bravery. “The department was thrilled to hear Alex’s story,” Lubin said on Thursday, April 8. “The loss of someone’s home to fire is always a terrible event, but the one outcome which helps fire victims get through something so traumatic is the fact that everyone was able to escape unharmed. Alex’s quick thinking and action in alerting the occupants to the fire certainly helped ensure they could escape before the smoke and fire conditions were too intense. We teach firefighter recruits about the outsize importance of the early stages of an incident in determining the overall outcome, and I think this is a great example of that. “In a few years, when Alex is older, he can use me as a reference for any firefighter application,” he added.

Alex Kessler

Interfaith community comes together for service (Continued from Page 3) Kerbel stressed that silence is not an option, especially when we are seeing anti-Semitism growing worldwide, antiAsian bigotry leading to violence, and anti-LGBTQ hatred leading to bullying and murder. “When people are treated differently because of the color of their skin, when citizens of other countries are stripped of their rights, or citizens are mistreated because in some way they are not one of us, they are other — we need to speak out and we need to speak up,” Kerbel said. “Six million of my people were murdered, and the world was, for the most part, silent. In 1938, there was a conference in Evian, France, to talk about the fate of the Jews. No one wanted to let my people into their countries. The gates of America and Canada, New Zealand and South Africa were closed to most new immigrants. Some of my people could have been saved. The world was silent.” Kerbel led the event’s candle-lighting ceremony, which is based on the Jewish tradition of lighting yahrzeit, or memorial, candles for those who have died. Lighting the seven candles at this year’s event were Judith Podbelski, the former Cranford Public Schools social studies supervisor who was instrumental in organizing this annual service; St. Michael School Principal Sandy Miragliotta; Cranford Interfaith Human Relations Committee member Renee Herz; Cranford town administrator Jamie Cryan; Holocaust survivor Mollie Sperling; Connie and Clem Salerno, pastors from Calvary Tabernacle in Cranford; and Cranford High School student Ashley Cooper. Cranford Superintendent of Schools Scott Rubin spoke about the importance of Holocaust education, citing a 2018 New York Times article, “Holocaust Is Fading From Memory, Survey Finds,” which featured a study that found that 11 percent of

Above left, Rabbi Paul Kerbel of Temple Beth-El Mekor Chayim in Cranford urges attendees to stand up and speak out when they see an injustice occur. Above right, Superintendent of Schools Scott Rubin discusses the importance of Holocaust education. U.S. adults and more than one-fifth of millennials either had not heard of the Holocaust or weren’t sure if they had ever heard of it. “As we get farther away from the actual events, 70-plus years now, it becomes less at the forefront of what people are talking about or thinking about or discussing or learning,” Rubin said, reminding event attendees that many Holocaust survivors are now in their 80s and 90s, and there are fewer living survivors each year. “It is essential that we gather year after year as a community to remember. We are fortunate in Cranford to have so many partners who recognize the importance of this event.” Rubin thanked Podbelski, who retired from the district a few months ago, for her years of service and introduced the district’s new social studies supervisor, Gabrielle Rendek. “This event holds particular importance and meaning in not only honoring the lives of those that were lost but also in recognizing the resiliency and courage in those who survived,” Rendek said. “Our schools serve as venues for our students to have important and challenging conversa-

tions, where they are able to build the empathy, nuanced historical understanding and strong character in order to be agents of change to ensure that acts of genocide like the Holocaust never happen again. However, it is events like tonight’s

that break through the four walls of the classroom that benefit us as lifelong learners of all ages.” Cranford Public Schools students participated heavily in the event, with CHS Academy Dance performing “Infinite”; Hillside Avenue School student Leah Gelfand sharing her human rights project on hate symbols; Orange Avenue School student Marcela Godoy-Pleitez sharing her human rights project on modern slavery; the Orange Avenue School eighthgrade chorus singing “Ani Ma’amin,” or “I Believe”; CHS students collaborating to present an art showcase while reading aloud quotes from noted Holocaust survivor and bestselling author Elie Wiesel; and the CHS Madrigal Choir performing “We Walk in Love,” by Deanna Witkowski, from “The Justice Choir Songbook.” Additionally, St. Michael School students Emily Harrington and Colleen Moraghan, from Isabella Fasolino’s class, read original poems.

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6 — May 2021 — Cranford Life

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH Allen S. Potts, varsity bowler

“Allen deserves accolades for being determined and focused all season. Allen proves that being dedicated and leading by example is an exemplification of what a captain should be.” — Coach James Fealey What is your favorite part of bowling? “The joy of being able to compete in tournaments against my fellow bowlers and the fundamentals of the sport, the adrenaline from bowling, wondering if you made the right adjustments in order to take the first place spot; the anticipation on whether or not the ball is going to react or not. Different aspects of bowling all build up to one thing, the drive of bowling with your fellow bowling friends and family.” In what way has the sport benefited you? “Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said that ‘Magic is believing in yourself. If you can do that you can make anything happen.’ These are words that my coach shared with me, so I now enter each match and life with the belief that if I believe in myself I can make anything happen.” What is your biggest challenge when competing? “The lane conditions changing, meaning that I will have a different reaction on my equipment, which causes me to prepare my approach accordingly. Despite my knowledge of the different aspects of bowling, it can still be very challenging to make the ‘perfect’ shot to make or break your spot in a competition.” What’s your favorite memory of this season? “Because of COVID-19 and certain changes that had to be made to the high school bowling season, actually being able to compete. Despite the season being cut short, I got to make the most of it, because it was in fact my senior year; therefore, this was my last shot to make something happen.” Who are your favorite professional athletes? “The famous bowlers Jason Belmonte and Anthony Simonsen. These two bowlers are the individuals that inspired me to bowl today.” What is your favorite subject in school? “Physics. The reason is because it causes you to look at the world in a different perspective while applying it to the world of bowling. It applies to bowling, because you need to have the right amount of force to knock all 10 pins down, which is known in the world of bowling as a strike.”

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What other hobbies do you have? “Playing the drums, making music and playing the piano. These hobbies allow me to be calm and collected on the days I’m not bowling. I also enjoy playing video games with my friends and family.” What are your plans after high school? “To go to college and major in computer science, with the intentions of bowling in college. Afterward, I plan to pursue a career in the Professional Bowling Association and, like my parents always said, you need to have a backup plan. If being a professional bowler isn't my path, I plan to become either a music producer or an actor.”

Cranford Life — May 2021 — 7

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8 — May 2021 — Cranford Life

UCC board member earns Spotlight Award

Photo Courtesy of Christopher D. Sands

TO FLY, FIGHT AND WIN — Airman 1st Class Nathan T. Sands, formerly of Cranford, graduated from Air Force Basic Military Training on April 15 at Joint Base San Antonio–Lackland. He is now undergoing Air Force Security Forces training.

On March 22, Union County College board of governors member Jeffrey H. Katz, of Springfield, received the Trustee Spotlight Award from the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, according to a recent press release Katz has served Union County College’s boards for more than 25 years. In the 1990s, he served on the college’s board of trustees. Since 2010, he has been a member of the college’s board of governors. He has also been a member of the college’s foundation board for 19 years. He is a past chairperson of the foundation board and currently serves as chairperson of the college’s Buildings & Grounds Committee. The NJCCC provides statewide lead-

ership related to the advancement of New Jersey’s 18 county colleges. The NJCCC Trustee Spotlight Award was created by NJCCC Chairperson Felix “Phil” Linfante to recognize a trustee who’s been a strong proponent for their local community college. “I am pleased that the NJCCC chose to recognize one of Union’s board members with this award,” UCC board of trustees Chairperson Victor M. Richel said in the press release. “Jeff Katz is an exemplary board member and civic leader. He generously gives of his time and expertise for the benefit of the college and its students. We are fortunate to have him as a valued member of our boards.”

Jeffrey H. Katz

STUDENT UPDATE Honors at Emerson Jin Ko, of Cranford, was named to the dean’s list at Emerson College, located in Boston, Mass., for the fall 2020 semester. Ko is a senior majoring in media arts production. The requirement to make dean’s list is a grade-point average of 3.7 or higher for the semester.

Pedrosa earns degree Cranford’s Cassandra Pedrosa received a Master of Science in educational leader-

ship from Western Governors University, located in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Awards at Colgate The following Cranford students earned the dean’s award with distinction from Colgate University, located in Hamilton, N.Y., for the fall 2020 semester: Cranford High School graduate Keith Brown, a political science major, and Kent Place School graduate Kathryn Robinson, a Russian and Eurasian studies major. Students who received a term grade-

point average of 3.6 or higher while completing at least three courses for a conventional letter grade during the fall 2020 semester earned the dean’s award with distinction.

dent must earn a grade-point average of 3.6 or higher. To be named to the dean’s commendation list, a student must earn a GPA of 3.3 or higher.

Gettysburg acclaim

Cranford’s Trevor Aschmies was named to the dean’s list at Lehigh University, located in Bethlehem, Pa., for the fall 2020 semester. This status is granted to students who earned a scholastic average of 3.6 or better while carrying at least 12 hours of regularly graded courses.

Catherine McCaffery, of Cranford, was named to the dean’s list at Gettysburg College, located in Gettysburg, Pa., for the fall 2020 semester. Cranford’s Michael Carracino, Claire Readie and Laurel Teel were named to the dean’s commendation list. To be named to the dean’s list, a stu-

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Cranford teen helps pen social justice book for kids Savannah Riera, a Cranford High School senior and Coast Guard Academy Prep School appointee to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, punctuated her 12-week residency as a research associate with the Teen Think Tank Project by unveiling a future children’s book that teaches social justice to the younger generation. Riera, along with eight other socially conscious teenagers, enrolled in the Teen Think Tank Project’s Winter Research Cohort, which commenced in January and focused on social protest and sports. Recently, the students virtually unveiled their plan to mend societal divisions and

create sustainable change. The research findings and subsequent policy recommendations presented at the “Social Protest & Sports Policy Framework Launch Party” were the culmination of the students’ work to absorb, analyze and synthesize the impediments to social protest in sports. As research associates, students dug deep into the topics of sports, protest and social justice to gain a factual and diverse understanding of the complex social, political and business issues that have thus far stymied sustainable change. The students were initially tasked with creating a policy paper; however, the

Trinitas Health’s annual gala The Trinitas Health Foundation will host its annual gala on Thursday, May 6, recognizing Fedway Associates Inc. with the Celebrating Philanthropy Award and Infineum USA LP with the Humanitarian Award. The gala will be held virtually with six different entertainment options. Attendees will be able to watch the Discovery Orchestra, magician Joe Holiday, the New Jersey Ballet, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Stress Factory comedian Ross Bennett and mixology with Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Each entertainment option will be about 45 minutes long, and guests will be able to watch as many performances as they’d like during the evening. A 50/50 cash raffle will be held, with five winners drawn as part of the festivities. Part of the net proceeds from the gala will be dedicated to funding some of the hospital’s most urgent needs, including purchasing a new MRI scanner, creating an interventional radiology suite, renovating the behavioral health facilities and expanding programs to help more patients. To support this annual benefit dinner event, contact Katy Cruz at 908-9948249 or kcruz@trinitas.org.

ambitious students decided to convey their research through additional mediums. In addition to a policy paper outlining the recommendation for a Sports League Coalition to create sustainable solutions for social injustice in sports and society, the students created a documentary following their experience, as well as a children’s book titled “Tony & Tonya,” which Riera presented. “After beginning our research for the policy paper, we stopped to ask ourselves, what else can we do to really make a difference to have an impact on social change within our society and world?” Riera said. “That’s how we came to the idea of educating the youth and reaching out and speaking to them about social change through writing and publishing a children’s book.” The book tells the story of a Latino boy and black girl who are both eighth-grade basketball players and explores social inequalities to create age-appropriate dialogue about inclusivity. Riera has been an integral part of the collaborative effort to conceptualize and create the book, which is anticipated for publication in the fall. Although Riera will be fulfilling her commitments with the U.S. Coast Guard Academy at the time of publication, she is excited to see her and her colleagues’ hard work and passion for creating social change come to life. “The more we thought about the book, the more ambition we felt to pursue the

Savannah Riera idea,” Riera said. “We realized we joined this think tank to really make a change and a difference. A children’s book will hopefully help to start those important conversations about change.” Riera was also the recipient of the Teen Think Tank Project’s first college scholarship. Riera was one of three finalists eligible for the $650 college scholarship. Teen Think Tank Project is a studentrun policy institute that fosters critical thinking, research techniques and problem-solving skills to develop policy frameworks for real-life issues and empowers students to become future change-makers for social justice. For more information, visit www.teenthinktankproject.com.

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10 — May 2021 — Cranford Life

UCC Owls named NJCAA region champs for 4th year Union County College’s women’s basketball team won the title of National Junior College Athletic Association Region 19 champions for a fourth consecutive year. For the title, the Lady Owls defeated Lackawanna College, 7342, on Saturday, April 3. For a second year, sophomore Brianna Mills was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Head coach Marbely Montas, a Union Class of 2007 alumna, was named Region 19 Coach of the Year for a fourth time. With this win, the Lady Owls advanced to compete against Region 20 champion Potomac State College of Keyser, W.Va., in the East A District Championship on Saturday, April 10, at Raritan Valley Community College. The Lady Owls defeated Potomac State, 77-63, and now advance to the NJCAA DII National Championship tournament, which is from April 20 to 24. “We are very proud of the Lady Owls for once again winning the title of NJCAA Region 19 champions,” Union President Margaret M. McMenamin said in a press release. “This past year has been particularly difficult for our student-athletes, due to delays and restrictions from COVID-19. These young women have worked hard to remain focused on their athletic and academic goals, and their efforts have paid off. We wish them luck in their next game.”

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The Union County College women’s basketball team wins the title of National Junior College Athletic Association DII Region 19 champions for the fourth consecutive year.

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Cranford Life — May 2021 — 11

Brunch & Dinner - May 9th

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12 — May 2021 — Cranford Life

Knights of Columbus host successful fundraiser Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Cranford Knights of Columbus Council No. 6226 could not have its annual St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Dance in 2020 and again this year in 2021. As an alternative, the council decided to have a corned beef dinner fundraiser, which was a tremendous success. Brother knights and their families cooked more than 650 pounds of corned beef and prepared and sold 550 dinners. In addition, 110 dinners were donated to Cranford Family Care and five trays of leftover corned beef to St. Joseph Social Service Center in Elizabeth. From the proceeds, the council was able to raise $4,000, which was donated to the Cran-

ford Police Athletic League’s Will DeGregorio Scholarship Fund. The Cranford Council thanked the Cranford community for its tremendous support of this worthy fundraiser. The Cranford Knights of Columbus is a Catholic fraternal organization dedicated to four core principles: charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. The Cranford K of C Council supports many charities and civic causes locally, statewide and nationally and is committed to being a viable part of the community. For information about joining the council, contact Jerry Conheeney at 908-416-3464 or visit the council website at www.cranfordknights.org.

Photo Courtesy of John Doolan

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Cranford Life — May 2021 — 13

KEEPING CRANFORD CLEAN — Although the townwide cleanup, hosted by the Cranford Clean Communities Committee and several area Girl Scout troops, was scheduled for April 24, some residents got in on the action earlier. In the week before the townwide cleanup, volunteers from the Central Jersey Stream Team, the Hackensack Riverkeeper and the Rahway River Watershed Association cleaned a large area of the river in Nomahegan Park, collecting 28 bags of trash, six tires and three chairs. At right, volunteers also cleared away this bunch of trash that had been left just 3 feet away from the trash cans at the Nomahegan soccer field.

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14 — May 2021 — Cranford Life

County college grads move on to elite 4-year schools Union County College has announced that three of the college’s spring 2020 graduates are continuing their educations at prestigious colleges and universities. Kamilla Kocsis is attending Dartmouth College, Beianka Tomlinson is attending Princeton University and Vasiliki “Vas” Vlastaras is attending Georgetown University. While these three graduates all had their own journeys, there is a common thread: they wanted to start their college experience at an affordable school that provided a high-quality education and was close to home. Once at Union, they sought out engagement and leadership opportunities through their involvement with student clubs, American Honors and the honor society Phi Theta Kappa. Kocsis, of Rahway, has continued her studies at Dartmouth College with a major in international relations. At Union, Kocsis was an American Honors student with a 4.0 grade-point average. She served as president of the college’s Model United Nations Club, was a Cranford senator for the Student Government Association and served as co-vice president of scholarship for Phi Kappa Theta, the international

tutoring to students. At Princeton, Tomlinson is majoring in chemistry. She hopes to pursue a career in medicine as a cardiovascular surgeon. Vlastaras, of Union, is now attending Georgetown University. She is majoring in government with a minor in modern Greek. While at Union, Vlastaras was also an American Honors student. She served as SGA secretary, vice president for the American Honors Council, fellowship committee leader for PTK and worked as an ALC tutor. Vlastaras graduated from Union with her associate’s degree in public Photos Courtesy of Nicole Torella administration. Vlastaras headed to the right city for her future goals: She hopes to Union County College graduates Beianka Tomlinson, Kamilla Kocsis and become a lobbyist or campaign staffer. Vasiliki Vlastaras are continuing their education at Princeton University, “Each of these three outstanding stuDartmouth College and Georgetown University, respectively. dents made their mark at Union before honor society for two-year colleges. In 13 transfer students admitted to Princeton moving on to their dream four-year 2020, Kocsis was named a Jack Kent University for the fall 2020 semester. schools. Their hard work and dedication Cooke Foundation undergraduate trans- Tomlinson graduated from Union with a has paid off. As Kamilla, Beianka and Vas fer scholar. This prestigious award 4.0 grade-point average and an associate did, we welcome all students to start their includes as much as $40,000 per year in degree in chemistry. While attending higher education journey at Union, earn financial support to attend a four-year Union, she was an American Honors stu- an affordable and excellent education, college or university. Kocsis was selected dent, served as SGA president and was a and then go on to attend the four-year as one of only 50 recipients out of almost member of PTK. Tomlinson also served as school of your choice. We look forward to 1,500 applicants. a tutor in the college’s Academic Learning seeing what they do next,” said Union Tomlinson was accepted as one of only Center, which provides free peer-to-peer President Margaret M. McMenamin.

Photos Courtesy of Cranford Police Department

DAISIES PLANTING DAISIES — On April 13 at Peace Park, Cranford police officers met with Daisy Troop 42917 to do an annual beautification of the communal space, adding much needed pops of color by planting flowers.

Cranford Life — May 2021 — 15

UCC welcomes nontraditional students to classes In support of the state’s 65 by 25 initiative, for 65 percent of adults to have earned a postsecondary credential by 2025, Union County College reminds residents that registration for summer and fall classes is open now. There is an increasing demand for a skilled-labor workforce with postsecondary credentials, and, currently, less than half the adults in Union County have a college degree. Individuals who have never attended college or those who have credits but no degree are encouraged to enroll. Union County College offers affordable tuition, with no increase for the 20212022 school year. This is the second year in row with no increase. For those who have college credits, Union accepts transfer credits. On top of the affordable tuition, eligible students may attend the college tuition free. Those who enroll in at least six credits and have an adjusted gross income of less than $65,000 may be eligible for New Jersey’s Community College Opportunity Grant. There is no separate application for this grant. Students who complete the FAFSA or New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application are automatically considered. The college offers an array of schedul-

justice and education; 17 of those programs are offered completely online. Students are encouraged to register now to create their ideal schedule. Payment for fall classes is not due until Thursday, Aug. 5. Fall classes start on Wednesday, Sept. 1. If assistance is needed, student services centers are open in Cranford, Elizabeth and Plainfield. For those unable to visit campus, remote student services are offered. The application to Union, link for remote student services and more information can be found at www.ucc.edu. “We know there are many adults in Union County who want or need to pursue a college degree: to change careers, to be considered for a promotion or whatever your reason may be. Union County College is here to help you. We are an affordable, flexible option right in your own Photo Courtesy of Nicole Torella backyard. We provide excellent support to our students. Our goal is to help you earn Above, Union County College students study together in the Academic your degree. Every member of our faculty Learning Center at the Cranford campus. Union County College is offerand staff is laser focused on student sucing affordable tuition with no increase for the 2021-2022 school year. cess,” said UCC President Margaret M. ing options. Students build a schedule that campus reopening in the fall; remote live; McMenamin. For additional information and to works for their needs. Classes are offered and online. The college offers more than face-to-face on campus in Cranford, Eliza- 60 programs of study, including supply search for classes and register, visit beth and Plainfield, with the Scotch Plains chain, cybersecurity, business, criminal www.ucc.edu/fall or call 908-709-7000.

BULLETIN BOARD Cranford United Methodist Church’s parking lot is next to the Cranford Library, 201 Lincoln Ave. E. in Cranford. Cranford United Methodist Church has Especially needed items, according to a announced that it will host its next drive- food bank volunteer, include boxed milk, through food collection event on Satur- oil, spices, salt, pepper, tea and coffee, day, May 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the sugar, flour, tuna, crackers, soup, canned church’s parking lot, as the pandemic vegetables, rice, cake mix and frosting, rages on and more neighbors are strug- dish detergent, soap and paper goods. gling to keep food on the table. Can’t make that date? There are bins Place your bags of nonperishable food placed outside the entrance to the church in your trunk, drive up, pop your trunk off the parking lot where donations can be and volunteers will remove them, so no dropped any time. contact is needed. Your food donations will be delivered to Cranford Family Registration open for pool Care, St. Joseph’s Social Services and Registration for membership of Cranother local organizations serving families ford’s Orange Avenue Pool began March 1. in need. The pool will be open weekends only

Cranford drive-through food collection event

beginning May 29 and will open for a full season as of June 21. Sign-up for summer swim lessons — for members only — began April 19. Many, but not all, previously available amenities will be available, with modification, if needed, to follow COVID-19 guidelines. Registration may be done online using Community Pass at https://register.communitypass.net/cranford. Residents who already have a Community Pass account should not set up a new one; those who have forgotten their username or password, should call the pool office and select “registration,” or send an email to pool@cranfordnj.org. For more information, visit the website

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Blood drives in UC in May New Jersey Blood Services will conduct the following blood drives in Union County: Monday, May 3, from 2 to 7 p.m. at Cranford United Methodist Church, 201 Lincoln Ave. E. in Cranford; and Wednesday, May 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Living Word Church, 2208 Stanley Terrace in Union. To donate blood or for additional information on how to organize a blood drive, call 800-933-2566 or visit www.nybloodcenter.org.

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UCC welcomes new wrestling coach Union County College has hired BJ Young, of Jackson, as its new wrestling head coach. For the past five years, Young has served as the assistant wrestling coach at his alma mater, Jackson Memorial High School. He has successfully helped build the program, for which he set many records. When he is not training athletes in wrestling techniques and strategies, he competes as a professional MMA fighter. Young attended Newberry College, an NCAA Division II institution from which he earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education leisure services. In his four years at Newberry, he was a four-time nationals qualifier, a three-time NCAA All-American, a two-time NCAA National Finalist and set the record of 143 all-time wins for the college. While attending Newberry, Young began coaching during a 2015 internship. At the same time, he coached youth and high school students at an elite

wrestling club in New Jersey, many of whom went on to become state champions. In addition to the accolades he received while wrestling, Young has been inducted into the 2016 New Jersey Shore Conference Wrestling Hall of Fame for his individual accomplishments; the 2018 Jackson Memorial Hall of Fame; and the 2019 New Jersey Shore Conference Wrestling Hall of Fame for the success of the 2007 Jackson Memorial High School team. “BJ is an excellent addition to our coaching staff, and he is working on building our team for winter 2022 competition,” said UCC’s dean of college life, Tammy Smith. “BJ is dedicated to the sport and in developing student-athletes who are successful on the mat and in the classroom.” For more information on UCC’s wrestling program, contact Union County College Director of Athletics Shawn Noel at 908-709-7495 or at shawn.noel@ucc.edu.

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