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Fratelli Beretta: One Common Link to our Sister City, Carpegna, Italy

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Mt. Olive Life • August 2018 • Page 3

Page 4 • August 2018 • Mt. Olive Life

MT. OLIVE EDITORIAL

Mt. Olive Life

t is hard to believe that this will be our fourth issue of Mt Olive Life.

Mary and I started this with a vision to develop a magazine for the town we live and serve in. Mary has been serving on the board of the Mt Olive Child Care Center and organizes a Thanksgiving dinner at the Senior Center for years for people that are alone. I have been fortunate to have been serving the people of Mt. Olive on Council for seven years. There are so many people throughout the township that do so much and give their time to help others and we want to know who they are and showcase all they do. Please let us know. Send us an email of people who you feel do over and above to joe@ mylifepublications.com. In this issue we are featuring our sister City Carpegna, Italy. The mayor and I along with family had the pleasure of taking a personal vacation to Italy and spend a day in Carpegna for a ceremony celebrating the sister cities. In our continuing effort to highlight the houses of worship we feature The United Presbyterian in Flanders. A great article on the South Branch Preserve and even the goat! What does the DPW actually do? Check it out inside this addition as well as articles on the Jr. Mauraders Football team, Flanders Animal Hospital and Operation Cares. It is free to have a copy emailed to you each month. Just visit www.mtolivelife.com and sign up today.

Mt. Olive has so many great people and organizations. We need your help to let us know who those people and organizations are. You are the eyes and ears of the town. Email me, joe@ mylifepublications.com, with any suggestions that you have to feature residents that have achievements that we might not ever know about. Do you know someone who is turning 100? Celebrating a big anniversary? How about the unsung hero who is always there to help people and do good for the community. We want to know. WE NEED YOUR HELP: Consider us the facebook of print (without all the politics) and send us photos from your family vacations, information on your life events, parties, birthdays, weddings, engagements or any other milestones. You can send them to joe@ mylifepublications.com. We welcome your feedback as well to the same email. You can also visit our website www.mtolivelife.com or on Facebook under “Mt Olive Life.” Please support our advertisers in our publications as they make this magazine and our newspapers available free to all with their advertising support. We want to help the local businesses and your support of them is appreciated. Thank you for choosing “Mt. Olive Life” to read and enjoy. Joe Nicastro & Mary Lalama, Publishers

To receive your free copy of Mt. Olive Life direct to your email visit www.iwantmypaper.com and sign up! Subscribe $35 / year / $60 for 2 Call 800-691-7549

Editorial editor@ mylifepublications. com Sales joe@ mylifepublications. com

Publishers Joe Nicastro Mary Lalama Editor Cheryl Conway Graphic Designers Terri Armswood Mary Lalama Sales Manager Joe Nicastro

Mt. Olive Life • August 2018 • Page 5

Change Your Genes Everyday Yep… I’m Referring To Your Genes Not Your Jeans

mean you should probably change your jeans every few days as well, but that’s a discussion for another time and another day. You have probably been taught that the genes you are born with are yours for life. You excuse things like your angry behaviors, high blood pressure or your weight on your genetics. My patients often tell me that their illnesses are genetic, and because of that they can’t do anything about it. What if I told you that isn’t completely true? What if I told you that changing the way you think can actually change your life? That might sound like fantasy to some, but it’s true! I know, I know… now you feel like you’ve been living a lie, but it’s time to wake up!! Check this out… Research shows that those who practice Meditation/Yoga can “steer” their DNA, reducing inflammation and reducing their risks for diseases like cancer. You may be asking how in the heck is that possible? Let’s break it down… Our bodies have a sympathetic nervous system and a parasympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) aka “fight or flight” response is activated by stressful situations. Historically this fight or flight response was needed for survival in the wild. For example, when being chased by an animal the SNS kicks in and all functions that are not needed for

immediate survival (i.e digestion…) are shut down. Among other processes, the body speeds up, heart pumps faster, the muscles contract and the brain is more alert. Activating the SNS also triggers the production of a molecule called Nuclear factor Kappa b (NF-Kb), which is responsible for our gene expression. During this process NF-Kb activates genes that release cytokines. These cytokines are responsible for producing inflammation on a cellular level. During a life/death event this is actually helpful short -term. However, in modern day life this same sequence of events occurs due to every-day stressors (that weren’t present in our early ancestors lives). Things like traffic, work-related stress and finances trigger this same “fight or flight” response, causing the same cascade of events that lead to increased NF-Kb and increased release of cytokines. In fact, just thinking about that stressful situation you had earlier will cause the same cascade of events to take place. Most people in today’s society are living in a constant “fight or flight” state. This longterm “exposure” to these cytokines are linked to cancer, premature aging, mental disorders (including anxiety and depression) and other diseases. On the other hand, it has been found that practicing yoga/meditation activates the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS).

The PNS, known as the “rest and digest” state, is the way that the body should be functioning normally. In this natural state, the heart rate slows down, blood pressure decreases and digestion takes place. Studies show that practicing Meditation/Yoga, specifically, reduce NF-Kb, therefore turning off the genes that release the cytokines, which in turn reduces the inflammatory response and therefore prevents premature aging and diseases like cancer. This is all happening on the molecular level! You can actually leave a molecular signature on your cells to regulate your own gene expression! Boom… and there you have it! Now all you have to do is start Meditating to experience the benefits for yourself!

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First row (kneeling): Bonalberti Giugliana, Cappelli Stella, Antonella Monza, Andrea Beretta, Alberto Beretta, Pasquini Luca, Salucci Luca. Second row: Anna Beretta, Xavier Fisher, Valeria Beretta, Sperafico Flavia, Giuseppe Beretta, Cristina Fisher, Marta Veroni, Andrea Beretta, Giorgio Beretta, Filippo Beretta, Vittore Beretta, Rob Greenbaum, Angelo Francioni, Joe Nicastro, Daniel Amianda, Alex Roman, John Mania and Andrew Tatarenko.

Sister Cities Share Clean Air, Similar Climate, Prosciutto Factories And Friendship “It was love at first sight,” says Simone Bocchini, president of Fratelli Beretta U.S.A. Inc. “It was a fantastic September day”; sky was clear, air was clear. Once we saw the parcel there was no stopping ourselves.

By Cheryl Conway he way things are going, Mt. Olive may soon be labeled the second best city in the world for making dry cured prosciutto. Not too far of a stretch now that the township is sister cities with Carpegna, Italy- the original land where the cured prosciutto was born and known for making “The best prosciutto in the world.” A partnership that was announced and established in June, the mayors and representatives from each city have been visiting each other since then to commemorate their new relationship, exchange gifts, tour popular attraction sites in each area and sample the best cured meat products. The connection between the two cities is Fratelli Beretta, a small meat processing family owned business that began in Europe in 1812, expanding into a manufacturing enterprise in the early 1900s and eventually opening an operation in the United States 20 years ago with its second location in Mt. Olive just three years ago. After discovering the similarities between Carpegna and Mt. Olive regarding its climate condition and temperatures that are ideal for manufacturing dry cured prosciutto, the owners of Fratelli Beretta decided that Mt. Olive was the perfect location for its new manufacturing facility. “It was love at first sight,” says Simone Bocchini, president of Frataelli Beretta U.S.A. Inc. “It was a fantastic September day; sky was clear, air was clear. Once we saw the parcel there was no stopping ourselves. We found the air very similar to mountains in Italy. That was a good starting point; we use outside air,” as

part of the curing meat process. “That was our first impression of the International Trade Zone,” says Bocchini. He found that the physicality, change of climate, low humidity and elevation mirrored the conditions in Carpegna. While a lot of particulars go into the manufacture of cured meats, Bocchini explains how the outside air is important when dry curing of salami. He says for six months, they pull in outside air for the inside dry curing process. Depending on the type of meat, prosciutto requires up to 11 months before it is ready for consumption; as they get into the fifth or sixth month of that process “We can use outside air to control temperature of the room.” To think that this process is happening at the International

Mt. Olive Life • August 2018 • Page 7

Trade Zone in Mt. Olive is quite impressive. Fratelli Beretta added a 192,000 square foot, new state of the art facility built at 750 Clark Drive in Mt. Olive, moving into its headquarters on May 18, 2015, and quadrupling its size since opening its original U.S. facility in South Hackensack in the late 1990s. With 83 employees at the Mt. Olive facility, the company produces prosciutto, salami, coppa and pancetta. It gets 90 percent of its meat from the midwest, “where the biggest farmers are,” says Bocchini, and organic meat from Canada. At the facility, 43 different dry curing rooms- such as “resting,” “drying” and “aging”- were established to play a role in the manufacturing of the meat products. Some items, such as small salami, can take 25 days before it is cured, while others such as prosciutto can take 11 months, explains Bocchini. One aging featured during a tour of the facility held 92,600 legs. Bocchini says they cure 2,400 legs per week and work with 60 thousand pounds of meat per day. The cured meat is then packaged on site in different varieties - whether pre-sliced, single chopped, small salami and bulk- with 4,000 packages of prosciutto sealed every hour, for example- and then distributed all over the U.S. to all major retailers and supermarkets such as Costco, Sam’s Club, Wegmans and Shoprite, and sells to 54 countries with shipments to Korea and Singapore right from the Mt. Olive

facility. Through the catalogue, customers can choose from 156 different items, says Bocchini. About a year ago, the company decided to create and dedicate a line labeled “Mt. Olive” to feature cured meat with no preservatives, using natural preservative of Swiss chard powder instead. “Because retailers love the idea and cleanliness” of the Mt. Olive brand, it is sold “everywhere,” placing Mt. Olive’s name on the map in retailFratelli Beretta added a 192,000 square foot, ers throughnew state of the art facility built at 750 Clark Drive out the U.S. in Mt. Olive, moving into its headquarters on After the May 18, 2015, and quadrupling its size since production opening its original U.S. facility in of the first South Hackensack in the late 1990s. supply of prosciutto cured on site, Bocchini says the idea for a sister city developed about a year later. “It’s so nice to be so far apart distance-wise but with same conditions,” says Bocchini. “The idea to create energy between two towns,” was the appealing aspect of the partnership, “to make both cities more known,” to exchange benefits, tourists, other trade opportunities that “can improve economics on both sides.” Two Cities Become Sisters

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Fratelli Beretta facility in Mt. Olive.

To commemorate this partnership, a ceremony was held Wednesday, June 27, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., in the Mt. Olive Twp. Council Chambers with Mt. Olive Twp. Mayor Robert Greenbaum and the Mayor of Carpegna, Italy, Angelo Francioni, to exchange keys, flags and gifts. Lisa King from the Sandshore Elementary School sang accompanied by Gerald D’Abliss, music teacher at the Mt. Olive Middle School. About 29 people from Carpegna, Italy, arrived on Saturday June 23, and toured the area, the Fratelli Beretta facilities in Mt. Olive and South Hackensack and well as New York City. Vittore Beretta, president of the company, as well as other family members and employees, were part of the constituency from Italy. “I bring you greetings to all of you and all the thanks to the mayor of Mt. Olive Township,” says Francioni, transcribed by his interpreter Maria Galetta. “It’s a great pleasure to meet you all and visit your town. I want to thank the Beretta family and everyone who works for the Beretta company. It is a great honor for me to be here with you. Thanks for welcoming us. We’re very proud to be here.” Francioni presented a slide show featuring sites in Carpegna and providing some details about the city. He describes

Mayor Rob Greenbaum and Simone Bocchini.

Vittore Beretta stands with Marta Veroni, wife of the late Giuseppe Beretta.

it as a “small town right in the center of Italy” that is part of a region ancient in nature and rich in history where famous artists and musicians once lived. He talks about its “clean air” which makes it a beautiful vacation spot. Greenbaum then spoke and presented gifts which included a key to the city of Mt. Olive, a shirt with the township logo, a pocket watch and “It’s a great pleasure to meet you all and visit a sign that your town. I want to thank the Beretta family and says “Frateleveryone who works for the Beretta company. li Beretta It is a great honor for me to be here with you. Lane.” Thanks for welcoming us. “I like to We’re very proud to be here.” thank everyone,” says Greenbaum. “I look forward to future gatherings.” Greenbaum then received gifts in return from representatives of Carpegna which included books of pictures of the sister city and region, pictures of its churches and monasteries and a sculpture from an artist created from the same material used to build the princess’ palace. The sculpture contains the letter C with two other C’s reinforced inside which in Italian represents “believe;” “sharing” and “building

Vittore Beretta, Simone Bocchini, Alberto Beretta and Mayor Rob Greenbaum.

Mt. Olive Life • August 2018 • Page 9

Page 10 • August 2018 • Mt. Olive Life

ive gave out pins with its emblem to all those in attendance as well as homemade cookies from Adam’s Bakery with the Mt. Olive emblem. Company Is Passed Down By Generation To Generation Vittore Beretta’s great great grandfather had started the company 206 years ago. With a stable business structure that has thrived through two World Wars and The Great Depression, “Fratelli Beretta reCurrently run by the fifth generation of its mains the longest existing founder, several brothers who are sons of family-owned business in Vittore Beretta and his late brother Giuseppe Beretta, are the current key players in the business. Italian charcuterie tradition, focused on providing quality products, deeply all five senses including the sixth one entrenched in tradition while emerging which is passion. The very pure crystal- as a leader in innovation.” Currently run by the fifth generation line air processed in a unique way makes it a very special product. The aromas and of its founder, several brothers who are the taste of the prosciutto cannot be re- sons of Vittore Beretta and his late brothpeated elsewhere and so we wait so you er Giuseppe Beretta, are the current key can see it in its environment in Carpegna players in the business. Giuseppe Beretta’s wife, Marta Veroni, was on the trip so you can taste it in all of its glory.” At the end of the ceremony, Mt. Ol- to pay tribute to her husband and a friendship.” Another gift from Carpegna is a plate which shows the view of the sister city. The Commissioner of Carpegna, Luca Pasquini, spoke about the special qualities that go into the making of prosciutto. “It’s a miracle of taste coming from Italy,” he says. “Prosciutto, it’s not just a product, it’s an expression of the land of where it’s coming from, It embraces

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visit the sister city of Mt. Olive, accompanied by her son Alberto; her other son Mario stayed behind in Carpegna to keep operations running there. Before the tasting event held at the facility, Marta Veroni, posed with several family members in front of a plaque and picture of her late husband. The plaque reads: “In February 1972, Giuseppe was the first Beretta to arrive and believe in the United States of America.

What began then as only his intuition and dream has now become a reality realized and treasured by the entire Fratelli Beretta family.” In 1997, they started operations in South Hackensack, explains Bocchini. Since “they had a good experience in Hackensack” they decided that staying in N.J. would be a good idea to grow the business. As part of the sister cities’ celebration, those in atten-

Mt. Olive Life • August 2018 • Page 13

dance got to put on hats, slippers and not be possible. After looking within white coats and tour the Mt. Olive fa- the right place of N.J., we decided to cility to learn how the meat is cured build a plant in Mt. Olive and we are very happy.” firsthand. On July 17, Fratelli Beretta received Private Tour Held A private tour of the facility, that the Best Neighborhood Award from included 47 people made up of the the N.J. Business & Industry Associvisitors from Italy, along with Green- ation. Mt. Olive nominated the combaum, Council President Joe Nicastro pany for investing in the facility, creand other representatives from the ating jobs and supporting other fields township, followed the ceremony along Five local residents, including Greenbaum with a tasting of and Nicastro, visited Carpegna and sites in Italy Fratelli Beretta’s finfrom July 13 to July 23 as part of the exchange. est products. Before the tasting, Vittore Beretta spoke about the history of the company in the area of construction, plumbing and how it came to N.J. and thanked and electrical, explains Bocchini. After four years of living here, Bocall the “stars” who made the dream a reality such as the Beretta family’s chini feels at home. “willingness to work hard” and staff, “Every year is growing on me more says Vittore Beretta. and more,” says Bocchini who has “Everybody has the strong will to been with the company for 16 years work both in the U.S. and Italy,” he and as its president since 2013. “I love says. “I must include all the wives, the location, love the corporation,” as without their patience with work and well as professionals in town includtravel with the business this would ing the police and fire depart-

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town. That was followed by a walk entering the city’s downtown with many towns’ people joining in. They were very proud of this event. The local band played our national anthem as well as the Italian anthem. That was followed by a walk to the town hall where the two mayors signed the proclamations for sister cities. “In attendance were also mayors from other Greenbaum says the relationship provides towns, the local council opportunity for “cultural exchange, as well as the press,” helping market Fratelli Beretta” which is a says Nicastro. “After it “large corporate taxpayer in MO.” was a walk across the street to the Palazzo dei and sites in Italy from July 13 to July 23 Principi (the Palace of Princess), a casas part of the exchange. A celebration tle built around 1680. “The Prince who of the sister city partnership was com- owns the castle was actually sitting memorated there on Saturday, July 22. next to me, where there was a press “This was an incredible event,” says conference and exchanging of gifts Nicastro who traveled to the sister city between the mayors.” Afterward, they with his wife Mary Lalama. “When we attended a reception in the gardens of got to Carpegna there was a ceremony the palace, describes Nicastro. At the ceremony, Greenbaum reto unveil the sister city sign that they have displayed at the entrance of the ceived “the key to the city and ments and township officials. “Everyone’s been very helpful. They feel part of us and I feel like part of Mt. Olive already. We feel proud to be here and we want to grow even more.” Mt. Olive Representatives Visit Carpegna Five local residents, including Greenbaum and Nicastro, visited Carpegna

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some books about the area,” the Mt. Olive mayor describes. “We had exchanged gifts of the same nature two weeks prior when the mayor from Carpegna came to Mt. Olive. Both were very touching ceremonies. The importance of the trip to the mayor and Carpegna was vividly evident. Their extreme pride was beaming.” After the ceremony, the Mt. Olive contingency got to tour the Beretta plant in Italy, adds Greenbaum who brought along his daughter Halle Greenbaum and his girlfriend Kelly Hyde. For Mt. Olive, this is the town’s first time establishing a sister city relationship with another city. Greenbaum says the relationship provides opportunity for “cultural exchange, helping market Fratelli Beretta” which is a “large corpo“The trip was wrapped around this event in rate taxpayer in Carpegna,” says Nicastro, “but the trip was MO.” a vacation as well and being our first time Adds Nicastin Italy we had to do what people do. Rome, ro, The idea of The Vatican, Coliseum. Then on to Pompeii, the sister city a trip to Capri, Sorrento and the Almalfi is “To promote coast, wrapping up in Carpegna.” the businesses that we share a common interest with them. In this case, Fratelli Beretta, a billion dollar business, chose Mt. Olive for the plant as it reminded them of the city of Carpegna in Italy.” The relationship will “build a friendship and understanding between the different cultures.” Besides attending the ceremony, the local visitors extended their experience to tour other sites in Italy. “The trip was wrapped around this event in Carpegna,” says Nicastro, “but the trip was a vacation as well and being our first time in Italy we had to do what people do. Rome, The Vatican, Coliseum. Then on to Pompeii, a trip to Capri, Sorrento and the Almalfi coast, wrapping up in Carpegna.” With each party paying their own way, why not explore sites loaded with culture, art, history and delicious cuisine. “This trip was paid for by each of parties personally,” specifies Nicastro, rather than any cost to the township.

Rob Greenbaum, a local priest, and Angelo Francioni.

Mt. Olive Life • August 2018 • Page 17

Page 18 • August 2018 • Mt. Olive Life

“There were no tax dollars spent at all. This was a vacation that included a good will trip to Carpegna for the ceremony.” With so many sites to see, Nicastro describes his favorites. “Each part was so different,” says Nicastro. “Pompeii and the Colosseum as far as history goes was fantastic, Capri so beautiful as well as the Almalfi coast with all the houses built into the mountains and the blue waters were breath taking. Sorrento walking to the downtowns and all the small cafes and shops you get the feel what it’s like to live locally. Then Carpegna, what a small town in Italy is all about: Local people, food and the beautiful mountains. A small downtown with no big box stores, just small shops and cafes streets filled With any new relationships, opportunities for growth and sharing are endless. “We became instant friends, the Beretta family adopted us as part of their family,” says Greenbaum. with local vendors and local people.” Highlights from their trip included, Rome with visits to the Colosseum, old Italy, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Vatican; Pompeii; Sorrento which was “absolutely beautiful,” says Greenbaum; Capri, Amalfi Coast, Riccione. With any new relationships, opportunities for growth and sharing are endless. “We became instant friends, the Beretta family adopted us as part of their family,” says Greenbaum. In Mt. Olive, residents can visit town hall to see the display set up with books and materials on the area surrounding and including Carpegna that was given to the town when the mayor visited here, says Greenbaum. “I would certainly like to go back one day,” reflects Nicastro. “I think it is more about the friendship between two cities as well as our common interest for a business that is great for both our economies and towns. You never know, people may read about Carpegna and maybe want to travel there. Every day the locals of Carpegna- when they are going in and out of their small town- will see the sign that reads “Carpegna and Mount Olive closer than you think,” and maybe the people of Carpegna might want to visit our country and see Mt. Olive, their sister city. Until that time…it is Ciao for now.

Alberto Beretta and Angelo Francioni

Alberto Beretta and Robert Greenbaum.

Mt. Olive Life • August 2018 • Page 19

Flanders Retirees Kick Off Their Week Sorting Care Items For Military

By Cheryl Conway sk Pete Grice how he got involved in Operation Jersey Cares and he credits his friend Bill Grant. But Grant points to Grice for encouraging his volunteering every Monday down in Somerville to help sort donations and create care packages for deployed servicemen overseas and veterans. It does not really matter how they got involved. What matters most is how these two retired men from Flanders have committed themselves every single Monday to volunteer their time with Operation Jersey Cares. They hop in their car, taking turns each Monday to drive the other, at 9 a.m. and spend about three hours, until noon, helping out the non-profit 501c3. Part of the Monday Morning Crew, Grice and Grant join about 20 to 30 other volunteers from central and northern NJ in an operation to bring much needed items to military men and women from the United States. Since its founding in 2007, more than 750,000 lbs. have been shipped. Each package contains an assortment of personal items, toiletries and food items. Many of these packages are sent to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to navy personnel aboard various vessels. Grice, who has lived in Flanders since 1985, with his wife Carol and their two kids now grown, got involved in OJC two years ago shortly after retiring in July 2015. He had worked as an electrical sales manager in manufacturing for the past 45 years. Since retiring, Grice, 71, has gotten more involved with the Knights of Columbus in Mt. Olive; the New Jersey Jazz Society where he plays clarinet and saxophone with several

Pete Grice is fourth from the right.

jazz bands; and is a member and volunteer with St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Flanders. Monday mornings are set aside for OJC. “Whatever they have a need for I volunteer my time,” he says. Most of the volunteers, men and women, are also retired or semi-retired. “They bring in a lot of donated materials, items to be repackaged, toiletries, food items, personal items,” says Grice. From the Girl Scouts, OJC receives about 40 pallets of cookies that get redistributed to troops overseas. Mary Kay donates sunscreen. “We get a large request for peanut butter and jelly,” says Grice, adding that the servicemen and women “can’t get much of that in Iraq or Afghanistan” or while on a ship. “Squeezable peanut butter and jelly,” when they get that, “it’s as close to home as you can get.” Other popular items that go in the care package include coffee, tooth paste, body wash, shampoo, Q-tips and baby wipes to clean weapons. “Everyone gets toothpaste, soap, toothbrush, soup, oatmeal, hot chocolate,” he says, and sometimes a pair of socks, a stocking on Christmas, candy after Halloween. On Mondays, the volunteers sort through the donations and put items inside Ziploc bags, “making sub-assemblies so that when we do have a packing we take one of each.” Separate Ziploc bags are created for personal care items and contain toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, body wash and all other personal care items. The boxes OJC ships are 40 pounds each, 16 inch by 16 inch deep “filled to the brim,” says Grice. “We do not ship any Jersey air; every inch is filled. Filling the bag is

Page 20 • August 2018 • Mt. Olive Life

like a big puzzle.” In addition to going every Monday morning to help sort the donated items, Grice and other volunteers attend packing events to fill the boxes. “Sixteen times a year they have packing,” says Grice. “We do 200 to 300 boxes that eventually get shipped somewhere. “It’s a very feel good experience,” says Grice. “You can’t be there,” when they are opening their care packages, “but you know you’re there in spirit. You know you’re doing a good thing.” For the past 11 years, OJC has sent over more than 20,000 care packages, notes Grice. Of those packages, 90 percent go to men and 10 percent go to women. His volunteering for the OJC is his way of doing his part, despite his effort to be involved in the military his younger years. While attending Drexel University in Philadelphia before getting his degree in electrical engineering in 1970, Grice served with the ROTC for a few years. He had wanted to join the army, he says, but was rejected because his feet were flat, he says. “They said I had weak arches,” says

L to R: Bill Grant, Tom Cunningham - president Operation Jersey Cares, Pete Grice, Jane Fidacaro Operations Coordinator.

Grice. He says his dad got rejected from serving for having flat feet as well. “Back then, if you’re going to be an officer you need to be perfect,” Grice explains during the late 1960s. “They didn’t want any sergeants with flat feet.” As far as volunteering though, Grice

can’t be stopped. “It’s a good thing to do,” says Grice about his volunteering at OJC. “It’s something different, supplements the fact that I didn’t serve in the military.” He says he gets a lot of satisfaction knowing that his role “helps the troops somewhere.

Mt. Olive Life • August 2018 • Page 21

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Bill Grant

When you’re a soldier somewhere, it’s nice to get that box from the mainland” and to know “that we’re thinking of them.” Grice says, “Imagine being a soldier over there somewhere and getting a bog box 40 pounds filled with all this good stuff?” Grice sometimes brings his daughter Kathleen- who is a teacher in Rockaway- along to help. He says he learned about OJC through his friend Grant, who he knows through the neighborhood, church and Knights Of Columbus. But Grant says it was the other way around. “He got me involved,” says Grant. There was another member of KOC from Chester who was volunteering with OJC; he invited Grice and then “I said “I’ll come down with you,’” explains Grant. Bill Grant Cares About Military Too When he is not serving as a grand night at KOC, Grant, 68, of Flanders, is either playing golf, shooting photographs, volunteering as a walking scorer at amateur golf tournaments or helping sort items at OJC with Grice. “Happily retired” for the past two years, Grant worked in information technology for AT&T for a “long time;” then worked for IBM, and as a consultant technical manager and analyst for M&M Mars. He has lived in Flanders for the past 35 years with his wife Christine and their three children now grown. His son Michael Grant, and wife Amy, remain in town. The fall after he retired, Grant says he’s been joining Grice on Mondays and some special Saturdays at OJC. “We take turns every other week” driving, he says. Grants explains the reason for his commitment: “To volunteer my time, to help my troops deployed overseas, send them stuff overseas” as a “payback for their sacrifice and what they are doing for us,” says Grant, “giving them a little taste over there of what they had here.” Although he never served in the military, Grant says he had many relatives who did serve in the army, air force and navy during World War II. As part of the KOC, Grant also assists Long Valley in its Vets Summer Fest Operation Chill Out, an annual music festival which was set to be held August 11 at Vasa Park in Budd Lake to help homeless veterans. Every “little bit to make our servicemen and women’s time a little more bearable a couple hours a week, it’s the least I could do,” says Grant. Grant and Grice join many other volunteers in its mis-

Mt. Olive Life • August 2018 • Page 23

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sion to provide support to the military through OJC. History of OJC Its foundation began back in 2005 when Tom Cunningham of Ringoes started to send care packages and boxes to his nephew George who was in the Marines serving in Iraq. When Cunningham met another caring individual also sending packages for military through the Somerville Post Office, the two connected and “started to send stuff together,” explains Cunningham. “This grew into a group,” to take care of veterans in nursing homes, veterans in hospitals and send packages overseas. In 2009, OJC became a 501c3 and since 2007 has sent 800,000 pounds to troops packed and shipped overseas to all over the world, and has helped military families, veterans in nursing homes as well as those in transitional housing, explains Cunningham. Since he began, Cunningham’s son Tommy is a captain in the Marine Corp.; his niece is also in the Marines, as well as another nephew who was wounded in Afghanistan and another serving in Iraq. He says he is “just a marine dad,” and his wife, Susan, who died last year, was “a marine mom.” His packages through OJC not only reach his family members, but all who serve. According to its website, “Operation Jersey Cares aims to honor those men and women who provide us the blanket of freedom we all sleep so soundly under. OJC will continue to support those who are currently deployed, proud veterans, as well as our loyal

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suffering from the effects of deployment, as well as assisting them as they transition back into civilian life. OJC supports military families in need, homeless veterans, Veterans in Transitional Housing and wounded service members at various VA hospitals throughout the country. Fundraisers are organized annually to help with its mission and monetary donations are always welcome. “For a little group in New Jersey, we touch thousands of lives,” says Cunningham. “We have so many people who want to help.” To get involved, visit www.operationjerseycares.org for more details. Churches and schools can organize collections, students can write letter to troops as well as to veterans in nursing homes and transitional housing. The next fundraising event, the third annual Gala of Giving, Country Style, set for Sept. 15 at Patriotic Barn, in Asbury, is sold out with 250 people registered to attend. Financial donations are always accepted. Call 908-989-0245. Peter Grice and his daughter, Kathleen.

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Today, the United Presbyterian Church, Flanders is located at 58 Drakesdale Road.

Outreach At United Presbyterian Church Lies Deep Within Spiritual DNA “Our worship style is a very eclectic format comprising all genres of worship music, several music ensembles, [and] uses one or two large screens for videos and lyrics,” said Oppelt.

by Elsie Walker here’s a saying that some people are so generous that they’d give their right arm. In the case of Rev. Rick Oppelt, he didn’t give a right arm; he gave a kidney. Just before he came to United Presbyterian Church in Flanders, 11 years ago, Oppelt was at a church in Edison where a parishioner with diabetes asked the congregation to pray for her as she was going on the kidney transplant list. As she exited the church that Sunday, Oppelt quipped, “I’ve got two. If I end up being a match, I’ll give you one of mine.” Later, the woman came back to Oppelt and asked if he was serious. He was tested, found to be a match, and gave the parishioner a kidney. Thanks to Oppelt’s kidney, that woman was able to live 10 more years; she later succumbed to other complications of diabetes. Oppelt’s giving spirit is reflected in the Flanders church. The church reaches out to the local community, Appalachia, and overseas; plus, it offers a place for people to grow as Christians through education, services featuring diverse musical styles, and a warm fun fellowship, especially when the annual Apple Festival comes along. Church historian, Faithe Ludlow of Chester Township, shared that The United Presbyterian Church, Flanders came to be in 1959 when two long established churches, the Flanders Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian Church of Mt. Olive merged. Both were small churches with dwindling congregations, so a merger was suggested. Oppelt quipped that they combined the spiritual DNA of the two churches to form one congregation.

Ludlow shared that the new church occupied a church building on Main Street, Flanders. However, over time, the congregation grew and wanted more room. Land was purchased and building started. The result is the present building which the church moved into in 1983. Worship in its sanctuary is at 10 a.m. on Sundays. “Our worship style is a very eclectic format comprising all genres of worship music, several music ensembles, [and] uses one or two large screens for videos and lyrics,” said Oppelt. There is some sort of musical offering every Sunday, an adult choir sings twice a month, a bell choir plays monthly, a Little Ringers chimes group and a worship band each play one Sunday a month. “In addition, we have different

Mt. Olive Life • August 2018 • Page 27

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individuals who add flavor to our worship through ukulele, guitar, harp, flute and various musical ensembles, including barbershop quartet,” said Oppelt. “Our Music Director, Argaille Dimatteo, just celebrated her 40th year with us and remains a dynamic force of inspiration and musical creativity.” A musician himself, Oppelt shared that “music is an important part of my outreach ministry.” He not only plays music in church, but entertains those in nursing homes. Among the instruments he has collected and plays are the mandolin, violin, piano, strummed stick (an instrument with roots in Appalachia) and the ukulele. He shared that he started a ukulele group at the church. In addition, recently Oppelt introduced the congregation to his latest “musical toy,” a bowed psaltery. Common to the area of the south below the Mason-Dixon Line, Oppelt noted the psaltery makes a “ringing sound” and is a harp-type instrument. Oppelt also noted that the church has a Sunday school for pre-K, through 8th grade. Youths are confirmed in the ninth grade, and Youth Coordinator, Denise

In 1959, the Flanders Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian Church of Mt. Olive merged to form the United Presbyterian Church, Flanders.

When the new church was formed in 1959, its congregation worshiped in this building on Main Street, Flanders.

Bouvier, actively recruits middle school and high school youth for church projects and youth activities. One week during the summer, the church offers a Vacation Bible School. There are also opportunities for adults to learn as well, including a periodic “Jesus Café” video series after worship and a monthly evening small group that meets

at a member’s home for fellowship and to discuss a faith-based book. The fall book will be “Inspired” by Rachel Held Evans. A weekly men’s Bible Study meets to study New Testament books using the commentaries of Scottish pastor and scholar, William Barclay. Speaking of learning, the church

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Page 30 • August 2018 • Mt. Olive Life

is also home to the Fun n Friends Nursery School. It began as a parent co-op more than 35 years ago, and Oppelt said it is still going strong today. The director of the school, Kolleen Adams, as well as the volunteer board, are all church members. Oppelt shared, “The school provides excellent socialization and beginning education for pre-schoolers, with many different programs, trips and presentations over the course of the year.” Besides its well-known pre-school, the church touches the local community in many other ways. Oppelt said that he participates in the Mt. Olive Clergy Association and the church is part of the Mt. Olive Interfaith Alliance. The latter was formed through the efforts of Oppelt, Serena Rice from Abiding Peace [Lutheran Church ] and Mohsin Ansari from the North Jersey Muslim community. Oppelt explained, “[It} is devoted to building bridges of understanding and cooperation between our various faith traditions. We plan to continue planning events that show it possible to work together, in

Putting on the Apple Festival is a great time of fun and fellowship for the church. This year’s festival is September 22 from 11a.m.-3 p.m.

a social and political climate that seems to be devoted to dividing, rather than uniting people.” One event the Alliance held was to raise money for the food pantry at the Presbyterian Church which helps families in need on a weekly basis.

The Presbyterian Church also participates monthly at Dover’s Faith Kitchen, which helps the needy, by providing and serving food, and has an ongoing relationship with the New Bridge Group Home in Flanders, a residential facility for adults with special needs.

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United Presbyterian Church, Flanders reaches out beyond the local area, too. It has members involved in an organization known as the Foundation for Peace, which does development work in the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Kenya. Also, for more than 20 years, the church has made a yearly trip to Central Appalachia to help those in one of the poorest parts of this country. That yearly trip took place recently. Flanders resident Kathy Benfe, the church’s Congregational Life & Fellowship Elder, was one of those who made the trip. It was her eighth time going on the mission. “[The mission team] is a combination of teens and adults; anyone over the age of 14 is welcome,” said Banfe. “We do construction work to repair homes that are in poor condition with homeowners who are unable to do the work themselves, for monetary or health reasons. Some owners work beside us. They are all so appreciative. Most towns we visit have an average household income of $10,000-$20,000 per year.” This year’s trip, coordinated through the Appalachian Service Project (ASP) included 17 people, who were on the worksite for one week, Monday – Friday. The volunteers were from United Presbyterian Church, Flanders, Union Hill Presbyterian and a United Presbyterian Church, Flanders visitor. However, Banfe noted, “we encourage anyone to join, not just our congregation.” Banfe shared that the locations of mission work include places in Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky. This year, the team helped out in Logan County, West Virginia. Banfe shared that she goes each year with her two sons and several friends. While she admits that she is out of her

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“comfort zone,” she says she gets a great deal out of the experience, makes new friends, and finds the experience to be rewarding and “grounding.” “We have so much compared to those we help and they are so kind, generous and appreciative,” she says. “We love meeting the families, playing with the kids and their animals. ASP has evening activities. One night each year, we do something related to the local culture. It is always interesting to learn about their lives, the coal mines, local folklore, music history of the area.” In order to fund its many outreaches, like the Appalachian trip, United Presbyterian Church, Flanders has fundraisers, with its biggest being its Annual Apple Festival. This year, the 17th annual Apple Festival will be Sept. 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Banfe and co-elder, Cindy Peach, organize the congregation into sub-com-

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mittees to make the festival possible. While the name may give people the impression that it is all about apples, Banfe shared that the festival offers much more. “[There will be ] picnic foods for purchase, crafts and games for children of all ages, including a bounce house; vendors will be selling jewelry, accessories, food items, bath and body [items], and more,” Banfe shared. “R&H Farms will be there with fresh produce. [There will be] live music from Shane Zen and live and silent auctions.” In addition, the Red Cross will be on hand to sign up donors for a blood drive the following Wednesday. The drive is coordinated by the family of the late Fred Swinson, a congregation member who was the original person responsible for it happening and the drive continues in his honor. In addition to fundraising and outreach, the Apple festival is a time of fellowship. “Applefest not only brings us (the congregation) together for a fun day, it is a great way for us to have visitors and introduce ourselves to the community,” said Banfe. “Everyone who attends, members and visitors, all mingle for a fun day. There are a lot of kids laughing, running and playing. Adults visit over lunch, shopping vendors and enjoying live music. And of course, the auction is tons of fun.” The United Presbyterian Church, Flanders is located at 58 Drakesdale Road, Flanders. Worship is 10 a.m. on Sundays, with nursery care for young infants. Its phone number is (973) 5848195; its email is office@unitedpcf.com More information can be found on its website: www.unitedpcf.com.

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Page 34 • August 2018 • Mt. Olive Life

For Flanders Veterinary Couple, Community Is Paramount

The staﬀ and doctors of Animal Care Centers gather in front of the veterinary facility.

“You really have to perform at the top of the industry [to achieve AAHA accreditation],” Hammond commented. “It’s probably one of the things we’re most proud of.”

By Anya Bochman he Flanders Animal Care Centers is a facility that has attended to local clients and animal patients for two decades. Serving Mt. Olive, Roxbury and the surrounding areas, the AAHA-certified center has a satellite office in Landing, and had undergone a complete reconstruction in 2005 which saw the Flanders building razed and replaced by a newer, state-of-the-art office better suited to serve patients with its laboratory equipment. Yet Animal Care Centers, owned and operated by Drs. Chris Hallihan and Kristen Casulli, has been a vision for the doctors – who are a married couple – since veterinary school. As Becky Hammond, staff manager who has worked with Hallihan and Casulli for over 12 years, stated, Casulli grew up in the area and was determined to open her practice there. “We decided to stay in Mt. Olive – we both loved it and wanted to have kids here,” says Hallihan, a native of Hackensack, who worked for the same veterinarian as his wife after the two graduated veterinary school. Having worked at the Flanders location since the mid90s, the couple made their dream a reality when they of-

ficially purchased the business in 1999. Since then, they have dedicated their business to being up to date with all veterinary developments, and two years ago achieved the prestigious AAHA certification. The American Animal Hospital Association is the accrediting body for companion animal hospitals in the United States and Canada and the “premiere standard of veterinary excellence,” as Hammond put it. Every aspect of the practice was analyzed by AAHA – from equipment to staffing standards – before certification was issued. “You really have to perform at the top of the industry [to achieve AAHA accreditation],” Hammond commented. “It’s probably one of the things we’re most proud of.” While Hallihan echoed this sentiment, he also added that a major source of pride is being a family practice with major roots in the community. “We pride ourselves on being a family practice. My daughter is interested in becoming a veterinarian, and may some day take over the business,” the vet stated. “We just want to improve on our community, and with our office in Flanders, we don’t plan on going anywhere.” “It’s very important to Chris and Kristen to have the small town feel,” Hammond added.

Mt. Olive Life • August 2018 • Page 35

Both the office in Flanders and the satellite location in Landing see rather “average” patients, primarily cats and dogs, although Hammond recalled occasions when the vets treated pigs, chicken, sheep and lizards. Exotic birds also occasionally make their way into the waiting room. Animal Care Centers, which currently employs five doctors and about 20-25 staff members – who vary from technicians to administrators – offers a wide variety of animal care. Among these are routine physical exams, which the practice asserts are “essential for early detection of health issues and discussions on behavioral problems.” The staff doctors also recommend yearly laboratory testing, such as fecal, urine and blood tests. According to the Center’s website, “fecal tests can detect intestinal parasites that can be harmful to pets and their human companions. Blood tests and urine tests can recognize early signs of health problems.” Additionally, the veterinarians advise on medication to safely treat or prevent heartworms, intestinal parasites, ticks and fleas. The location at Flanders offers boarding for a variety of animals, as well as wellness plans, exotic pet care, oncology and pain management. The kennels at the Animal Care Center offer to “feed, walk, water, play with and pay attention to” pets in an enclosed pen where the pet can get “supervised exercise on natural grass under shade trees.” According to Hammond, a significant number of boarded animals have special needs, such as issues with mobility or insulin

Doctors Kristen Casulli and Chris Hallihan.

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Page 36 • August 2018 • Mt. Olive Life

Recently, a team of staffers from the clinic had traveled to South fication. Hammond enthused about the training provided by Hallihan New Jersey to rescue animals in a hoarding situation. Animal Care Centers took the cats in, rehabilitated them and had them adopt- and Casulli. “Chris and Kristen are all about family, which includes staff, clied. Both Hammond and Hallihan stress the importance of staying ents and patients.” The doctors’ efforts to help the staff include paying for continuup-to-date with technological developments in the field. To this end, the office offers critical care and emergency services, dig- ing education that involves traveling to conferences several times a year. ital radiography, ultrasonography, “It’s a tremendous benetelemedicine, anesthesia, pain manAdditionally, the clinic has been certified as a fit for staff careers, “ Hamagement, laser therapy, cardiology, “Cat Friendly Practice” by the American Association of mond said. ophthalmology and endocrinology, Feline Practitioners. As Hammond explains it, clients tend to Another on-site training among others. The facility features a bring dogs to the vet more often than cats, partially because program offered to staff full in-house lab and a dental suite on illness in felines may present itself diﬀerently. members is nutrition and the premises. appropriate healthcare for “Chris and Kristen make notes of pets. all developments in technology, and Animal Care Centers likes to stay involved in the communiinvest in that,” Hammond stated. “For instance, the in-house lab ty through sponsorship of various endeavors, including library allows for a quicker diagnosis.” Additionally, the clinic has been certified as a “Cat Friendly events, the town dog parade, tricky trays of service organizations Practice” by the American Association of Feline Practitioners. As and the annual Hopatcong Lake 4-H show. “We try to give back to the community,” Hammond stated. Hammond explains it, clients tend to bring dogs to the vet more For his part, Hallihan is not looking to open more office locaoften than cats, partially because illness in felines may present tions, focusing instead on growing the family practice in Flanders itself differently. “Cat-Friendly” practices use techniques and protocols that and its Landing satellite, while staying abreast of technological make the visit less stressful for cats; the facility in Flanders, for developments. “We don’t plan on going anywhere,” Hallihan said. “We’ll just instance, has a different entrance for feline patients. Staff were required to undergo “cat-friendly” training to achieve this certi- keep improving the Flanders office.”

Mt. Olive Life • August 2018 • Page 37

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Page 38 • August 2018 • Mt. Olive Life

This Jacob sheep can’t be used for breeding because of his unusual horn configuration. Most Jacob’s have either two curling horns or two curling and two straight horns. This one has an extra, making him look mythological, so he ended up at Antler Ridge and now working at the South Branch Preserve. Photos by Jane Primerano

Start A Garden And Watch It GrowLand Conservancy Spreads With More Plots And Contract To Provide Healthier Variety Sandy Urgo, vice president for land preservation of the Land Conservancy, explained the former Wolfe Farm was slated for a housing development. Roads were begun, two foundations were visible and a detention basin was cut in, but wetlands violations and a mud slide curtailed any development.

By Jane Primerano or decades the cornfields of the Wolfe Farm followed Route 46’s eastbound lanes on both sides of Wolfe Road, but the land has been fallow for years now. In 2010, the Land Conservancy of New Jersey acquired the farm to establish the South Branch Preserve and farming returned to the land in the form of a community garden. Now a contract with City Green, a Clifton-based non-profit educational organization dedicated to bringing healthy food and farming knowledge to people with little access to either, will bring farming back to a field on the other side of Wolfe Road from the Community Garden the conservancy started six years ago. City Green’s main property is an open space tract purchased by the town of Clifton from the Schulteis family and turned over to City Green. Sandy Urgo, vice president for land preservation of the Land Conservancy, explained the former Wolfe Farm was slated for a housing development. Roads were begun, two foundations were visible and a detention basin was cut in, but wetlands violations and a mud slide curtailed any development. Since Budd Lake is the headwaters of the South Branch of the Raritan River, the Land Conservancy saw the property as a perfect location to preserve land

and help keep the river pristine. The original Wolfe Farm was 208 acres. The Conservancy bought a total of 404 acres, Urgo said. An early Conservancy project was reforestation of several cornfields above the river, planting more than 1,000 trees and installing eight-foot deer fencing to protect the saplings. It also created a trail system through the forest near the river. And a butterfly meadow near the powerlines that run through the property. Because the fallow fields attracted invasive plants, the Conservancy entered into a partnership with Antler Ridge Wildlife Sanctuary. Urgo said she knew she

Mt. Olive Life • August 2018 • Page 39

A sign on the shed advertises Project Chew.

One garden plot has sunﬂowers and an unusual trellis

wanted to employ goats to take care of the invasives, which include mudwort, mile-a-minute weed and Russian olive as well as multiflora rose. She spoke to a number of “goat people,” and then reached out to Antler Ridge. Kelly Corless, director of Antler Ridge, noted a connection between the two groups. When Urgo was mayor of Roxbury Township, Corless’s husband, Jim Simonetti, was police chief. In addition, Antler Ridge has worked with Dennis Briede, the conservancy’s stewardship manager, on other projects. Corless is supplying two pygmy goats and three Jacob sheep to

do the work of removing invasives, called Project Chew. “Goats and sheep like different plants,” she commented. She uses animals she has rescued to control weeds on her 120-acre farm, she said. She and the Land Conservancy team discussed the needs of the preserve and the appetites and grazing methods of each animal in order to choose just what the conservancy needed. “Animals need jobs,” Corless said. The goats are named Mr. O’Malley and Trouble and the sheep are Screwy, Louie and Dooie, she said.

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She explained the Jacob sheep, a heritage breed, like to scratch their horns on vines and large trees, pulling the vines down for easier feeding. Although Antler Ridge deals mainly with wildlife, they take in farm animals in certain circumstances. Corless created three fenced-off chambers for the animals over a total of four acres. Some of the foliage is very tall so the animals won’t eat everything quickly. They will move from one chamber to another each 30 days until the end of the season. “We will pull them off in late October and they will winter over at Antler Ridge,” she said. Corless was glad it didn’t take a lot of paperwork to strike a deal with the conservancy. She said some groups get “tied up in legalese,” she said. “They (the conservancy) don’t get bogged down with lawyers, it was easy working with them.” Community Garden Barbara McCloskey is in charge of the community garden for the conservancy. In its sixth season, the garden has 145 plots, most of which are in use. The cost Gardener Felicia. for residents and members of the conservancy is $35 per plot per year plus a oneRosado caught a couple of groundhogs conservancy. Other corporations that send time $30 irrigation fee. For non-residents, the annual fee is $45 plus the one-time in a Have-a-Heart. He believes he didn’t people include Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, $30 irrigation fee. Plots are assigned on take the first animal far enough away and BASF and M&M/Mars. The volunteers help with plot maintenance, weed control a first-come, first served basis. Residents it returned. McCloskey said between 60 and 75 per- and wood chipping, usually two days each don’t get priority she said, but McCloskey cent of the gardeners renew each year. The spring and fall. Toyota sent volunteers to has never had to turn anyone away. This is the only community garden on plots are 10 by 10 feet and no gardener can help plant trees. Partners for Parks operates on other rent more than three plots because of the Land Conservancy property, she said. “It’s the perfect location,” she said. “It amount of work the plots need, she added. conservancy land, McCloskey said. Most of the plots are taken by individThe hoses and hose holders were dowas a farm. The soil was perfect.” uals or families, The first year the conbut the Girls on servancy offered 69 plots “Prudential is one of the first to step in every year,” she said, noting they also the Run chapter at and sold out in three weeks. Many of the gar- work at the Grover Cleveland Homestead for the conservancy. Other corporations Sandshore School that send people include Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, BASF and M&M/Mars. The has a plot, McClodeners have been on the volunteers help with plot maintenance, weed control and wood chipping, usually skey said. She said property all six years, she two days each spring and fall. Toyota sent volunteers to help plant trees. the camaraderie added. among the gardenThe garden is surers is wonderful. rounded with the fence During a tour of the garden, McCloskey buried two feet into the ground to keep nated, she said, and the conservancy regroundhogs and other burrowing animals ceived a grant from Wal-Mart two years in pointed out the bluebird and bat boxes along the perimeter fence. She said the from enjoying the produce. On a recent a row for fencing and the port-a-john. The conservancy receives volunteer boxes and the kiosk that holds land conafternoon, Aaron Rosado and Joe Pelley help from several corporations through its servancy information were Eagle Scout were extending the fence. “We’re trying to keep the groundhogs Partners for Park initiative. The companies projects. Briede oversees the maintenance, she out,” Rosado said. “We need a cat for the set up a “day of service.” “Prudential is one of the first to step in said. He also keeps a list of the bird species voles and field mice,” he added, noting they already have the goats and sheep on every year,” she said, noting they also work people see on the property, McCloskey at the Grover Cleveland Homestead for the said. staff.

Page 42 • August 2018 • Mt. Olive Life

Gardeners working their plots.

Extra produce is donated to the food pantries at Christ Episcopal Church and Crossroads Church, both in the township. A volunteer couple weighs and keeps track of the donated food, McCloskey said. City Green Across Wolfe Road from the community garden is land that will soon be worked by City Green which has mostly operated in Clifton and Paterson. Jennifer Papa, founder and executive director of City Green, is excited about the new partnership. City Green’s Clifton property is only 12 acres. The addition of a field in Mt. Olive enables City Green to provide locally grown food to more people in Essex and Passaic counties. There are already two sheds on the property which is just across Wolfe Road from the Community Garden, Papa said. The for peppers and certain tomatoes. Various Middle Eastern natives Land Conservancy is working on getting permission for a curb cut look for different eggplants and several potato varieties. The Afrito provide access, she added. The property is fenced but there is can-American community seeks collards and turnip greens as well as okra, which is problematic for the Clifton property. Okra rea gate for access to the field. quires a large amount City Green plans to of space for a small continue its “double There are already two sheds on the property which is just across yield and just doesn’t bucks” program which Wolfe Road from the Community Garden, Papa said. The Land Conservancy work on a small paradds value to federis working on getting permission for a curb cut to provide access, she added. cel. al EBT (food stamp) The property is fenced but there is a gate for access to the field. The large field can cards. This allows also be used for more low-income families to spend their food dollars on locally grown produce. They can also storage crops to increase the growing season. There is irrigation on the property but it will need to be exuse WIC (Women, Infants and Children, a program for pregnant women and their small children) coupons for local items that fall panded, Papa said. There is also an eight-foot deer fence which under the WIC guidelines. The low-income consumers can also she hopes is enough. The new farm will have a farm manager and possibly two staffapply their benefits to CSA shares in New Jersey, which is not comers, Papa said. Other work will be done by evening and weekend mon in other states, Papa said. Another benefit to the larger parcel is variety. Many of the volunteers. “I’m hoping we can start an apprentice program with this new Passaic county consumers look for ethnic vegetables like broccoli rabe and plum tomatoes. Papa said the Mexican community looks partnership,” she said.

Mt. Olive Life • August 2018 • Page 43

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Page 44 • August 2018 • Mt. Olive Life

Ready For Some Football

“There are tons of Moms and Dads helping in the concession stand or painting fields. Others help with game day preparation or operating things during the game like down markers.”

By Kate Young risp autumn days may still be weeks away, yet on recent night, dozens of first and second graders braved the heat and humidity at Turkey Brook Park ready to play some football. “I love it, best day ever,” said six-year old Patrick Valocsik of Budd Lake, who was trying out the sport for the first time. Learning the plays and doing a scrimmage were his favorite parts of the practice. “I love the different drills because I get to run fast,” added Quinn Hanson, also six. These young players are part of the newest batch of Mt. Olive Junior Marauders, the township’s youth football league, which is open to both boys and girls entering kindergarten through eighth grade. On the heels of a successful high school season, coaches and leaders involved in the sport also hope they will be part of a new era in Mt. Olive football. Ralph Carpini, the organization’s president, says the league has been operating in the township for roughly 50 years and between its flag and tackle programs serves roughly 150 athletes each season. Running the league is a huge undertaking, made possi-

ble by an army of volunteers. There are 30 coaches across all the levels from flag to tackle in addition to many other parents who fill a number of important roles during games. “We can’t do it without large help from parents, there’s just too much to do,” he said. “There are tons of Moms and Dads helping in the concession stand or painting fields. Others help with game day preparation or operating things during the game like down markers.” According to its website, the purpose of the Junior Marauders program is to instill in its athletes “the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty, courage and respect.” Carpini says the skills these players learn such as teamwork and comradery will help them to become better men and women. But, of course, it is also about competition and learning to win. Especially after last fall, when Mt. Olive’s high school team made just its second trip to the NJSIAA sectional finals. An incredible accomplishment given its record was 1-9 the prior season.

Mt. Olive Life â€˘ August 2018 â€˘ Page 45

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Page 46 • August 2018 • Mt. Olive Life

The team ended up falling to undefeated Old Tappan in the sectional match-up at MetLife by a score of 31 -28, but emerged with their motto of ‘forget what you heard’ intact, ready to defend their top 25 ranking. Junior Marauder leaders, who see their organization as a feeder program for the high school, are hoping to capitalize on the momentum by further streamlining the training coaches and players receive with that of the high school, even using the same playbook so players can hit the ground running in ninth grade. Another key issue is safety, because perhaps no sport has been more in the spotlight when it comes to player injuries than football. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE, has emerged as a major issue for the National Football League, as more players have stepped forward after being diagnosed with the disease, which is caused by repeated brain trauma and leads to the degeneration of the brain tissue. Concern over injury could be a reason youth football has seen a drop off in participation, after several studies linked playing the sport as a child to the onset of CTE and neurological issues. Researchers at Boston University found athletes who played tackle football before age 12 were more prone to behavioral and cognitive issues than those who started playing later in life. According to the Aspen Institute, participation in youth sports is dropping overall, with only 37 percent of children ages 6 – 12 playing some type over organized sport in 2016, down from 45 percent in 2008. But the decline in tackle football exceeds the average, falling 19 percent from 2011 to 2016. Here in Mt. Olive, the Junior Marauders have not seen that kind of drop. However participation does vary from year-to-year, with the number more closely linked to the number of children entering kindergarten. Carpini admits injuries will happen, but that player safety is the league’s top priority. “Concussion is a very serious issue and we don’t take it lightly at all.”

The organization attempts to minimize their occurrence by staying on top of the latest technology and training, striving to provide the best available equipment while ensuring coaches are educated in the newest techniques aimed at minimizing injury. In the last few years, youth coaches have had direct training with the high school staff. Volunteers are also required to undergo background checks and be fingerprinted before stepping foot on the field to work with players. The Morris County Youth Football League, in which all Junior Marauder teams compete, also requires a certified trainer to be on the sidelines for each game so that an injured player may receive medical attention right away, and no player is allowed to return to the game unless they are cleared by that medical professional. While focusing on safety first, coaches are also strongly encouraged to emphasize the valuable lessons of teamwork and build a sense of comradery among their players. “We try to teach them to sit together during school, or wear their football gear, say hi when they pass each other and to bond as a family,” said Carpini. As the league prepares for the start of another season, increasing fundraising efforts will be top goal. The cost of playing tackle football is $235 dollars, with the flag level slightly less. Local parents have expressed concern over the fees, which is why the organizers are looking for ways to help by selling Football Mania tickets and running a haunted corn maze each fall at Highview Farms off of Sandshore Road in the fall. The league is also currently without a permanent scoreboard for games after its current one was struck by lightning in the middle of last season. Local businesses have helped with the cost of renting a temporary board, but a replacement will cost $10 thousand dollars, not including instillation. Carpini is confident the money will come, and scoreboard or not, Junior Mauraders players and coaches will be ready for another season full of football and life lessons.

Mt. Olive Life • August 2018 • Page 47

The Mt. Olive Department of Public Works – They Do It All! For the uninformed, the DPW staﬀ of 44 employees does more than just fill and fix potholes and pick up garbage.

By Steve Sears hen speaking with Tim Quinn about his position as director of Department of Public Works (DPW, for short) for the Township of Mt. Olive, and all that falls under the DPW umbrella, one is encouraged to ask, “Okay, Tim, what don’t you and your team do?” “No, no,” he responds when asked if there’s ever a dull day. “I have so many hats…” For the uninformed, the DPW staff of 44 employees does more than just fill and fix potholes and pick up garbage. “Mt. Olive Township – we’re one of the few townships around that are full service,” he says. “My responsibilities cover sanitation and recycling, roads and road signage, water and sewer, fleet maintenance, and engineering (with an outside engineer). “We do everything,” and then adds, “Actually, under all my departments I also forgot parks, buildings, and grounds. That falls under me also. They’re all mine.” In addition, the Mt. Olive DPW also performs shared services with Chester Borough for street sweeping and assists charitable associations with any needs they may have such as large item removal and solid waste removal. Take a breath, reader. As busy as the prior sounded, there’s more to come.

A brief rundown of each department. As for fleet services, Quinn says, “Our fleet department consists of one supervisor and three mechanics. They cover police vehicles, all DPW department vehicles (dump trucks, pickups, backhoes, loaders, mowers), they perform vehicle maintenance on fire and first aid vehicles.” The road department consists of seven employees; their responsibilities covering snow removal, drainage repairs, paving and patching, roadside mowing, ditch maintenance, street sweeping, storm drain system maintenance, storm basin repairs, and basically any work that has to do with roadways and

Page 48 • August 2018 • Mt. Olive Life

township rights-of-way. Sign and signage is responsible for all township street signs and advisory signs, school zone road lettering and school advisory signs and street line striping. Sanitation consists of 13 employees who pick up solid waste, recycling, grass, yard waste bags and leaf bags in the fall. All items other than solid waste are sent to their prospective recycling facilities. As for parks, buildings and grounds, this department of 10 takes care of mowing and all maintenance of parks systems throughout the township. All playing fields for township sports groups are also maintained by this department. “In addition,” says Quinn, “they cover building maintenance for the many structures the township operates in and the grounds around these properties.” Finally, water and sewer are a combined department, 12 employees responsible for all the township water systems, wells, hydrants, and water towers. They are also responsible for the three different sewer systems and all sewer pump stations throughout the township. ALL DPW employees work snow removal and all major storm events. “We have one secretary that receives all complaints, covers permits and sticker sales and handles the phone calls. Probably the hardest and most demanding job due to the wide array of knowledge of each department’s functions she has,” says Quinn. What it comes down to is if something happens in Mt. Olive Township, which also includes Budd Lake and Flanders, Quinn and his team get called. “It really doesn’t matter what it is.” A chief concern year-round are potholes. “We are the third largest township in Morris County with a population closing in at 29,000,” he says. One mile of an average roadway with a width of 24 feet is about 1,564.44 tons of asphalt for a two-inch overlay. Current cost is about $104,800. The most important thing about potholes is to report them to us. *Note: Residents with pothole issues should contact us at 973691-0900 ex. 7361 to get a work order in the system. “Now what I’m finding with Facebook and the media outlets the people tend to voice their complaints, and a lot of them aren’t going to the right areas,” he explains. “There’s probably eight or nine different Facebook or website pages for different areas and different organizations for Mt. Olive Township, but the key is for people to understand is that if you’re going to complain, or have a complaint or issue, it’s got to go the Mayor’s Facebook page or our DPW Facebook page, so we can address it. A lot of times I’m hearing these things (issue) a week or two later because it went to a different outlet and I’m not aware of it, and we’re a big job – we cover about 140 miles of road with 33 square miles, and I can’t see everything. The key to me is the residents informing me of the issues they have out there and making sure that I’m getting the message and I can respond.” Quinn also is quick to notify that his department does not take care of Route 46, a major highway that runs through the town. “[Route] 46 is DOT (Department of Transportation), that’s a state highway, so we don’t cover any highways. A lot of people don’t know that. A lot of complaints I get are about 46, and I forward them on to DOT. [Route] 46, 206 and 80 are state highways; we don’t cover those, and we have a couple of country roads that go through the town, like Flanders Road for instance, and

Tim Quinn, DPW Director

Mt. Olive Life • August 2018 • Page 49

those are covered by the county. Everything else – we cover at 140 – 145 miles of roadway.” Quinn also states that patience on the part of the residents is important. “My road department staff is down to seven guys, so to cover this much area, it does take us time to get around. When I explain to people most understand, and when we get the complaints we try to get to it as soon as possible. With this past March the winter killed us. We do chipping also, and we had a lot of residential trees down. My chipping usually ends in April; I had to chip right into June, and that really interfered with my patching operation, so I’m behind.” Does Quinn and his team handle floods as well? “Oh yeah, anything that happens we’re involved with. Whether it says they’re closing a road down, we have trees across the roads, we clear them – there’s not much that we don’t do.” The DPW has employed since 2012 one-arm bandit garbage trucks for sanitation pick up. “One of the main issues with the one-arm bandits were employee injuries,” he says. “The old way we were using two people on a truck, and all the cans were lifted by hand. In that time period, when an employee has been here for a while, we start to see a lot of claims for back and shoulder injuries. We saw the amount we were paying out on workmen’s comp cases, looked into the one-arm bandits, and decided to go that route. Two reasons for that: One, there is no physical lifting. Even if they have to

get out to get the can, there’s a lift on the back of the truck that dumps it. We’ve pretty much done away with all lifting. Second, I only need one person in each truck. So, as people retired I didn’t have to replace them. Nobody lost their job, it went to attrition. On the recycling side we’re still using the read loading trucks, but this year were starting to replace those with the one-arm bandits also. So, within the next three years, recycling and solid waste are going to be automated.” Specific to residential recycling, the DPW handle more than 4,000 tons per year, with the total for Mt. Olive including businesses coming in at about 35,000 tons. The process has taken time, and that included the township providing special cans for the residents. “That was huge,” he says. “They were expensive. Every can at every house is technically owned by the township.” Per Quinn, he states with a laugh that the biggest challenge was distributing the garbage cans. “To all the homeowners in town, there are probably about 6,000 residents, and we had to distribute all these cans, each is serial numbered and had to go to a specific house. That was the biggest thing going with the automated system. Other than that, it’s worked very well. It saves us time in the field. We get to our runs quicker, we’re not dealing with as many employee injuries, our injuries have dropped dramatically since we’ve gone with the one-arm bandits.” So, Quinn and the DPW are hard at work, all the time. Be sure to give them a hearty ‘thank you’ next time.

Page 50 • August 2018 • Mt. Olive Life

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