Mount Olive March 2021

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From the Desk of Megan Roche, Editor

H

ello Mount Olive and Happy 150th Birthday!

I’m Megan Roche, the proud editor of Mount Olive Life. Along with the publishers, I hope you enjoy this commemorative issue of our publication, celebrating this historic milestone in Mount Olive’s history.

We’ve uncovered so many interesting facts about the township through piecing this issue together.

We began working on

this special edition early in 2020. From planning out our stories to tracking down the oldest families throughout the township, this issue was an extremely big undertaking. As the editor, I got the opportunity to help bring the history and interesting stories to you throughout these pages.

As a kid, I grew up in neighboring Long Valley (Washington Township) and I was in Mount Olive almost

every day. Whether I was heading to the ITC to do some shopping, visiting my favorite restaurants, or conducting interviews, I always felt like I had a second home in Mount Olive. I am so excited to see the culmination of this issue, especially now that it is in print.

I’d like to take a second to thank some very important people who made this issue possible. Many thanks to Thea Dunkle, township

historian, who provided multiple interviews, photographs, and historical documents to my writers to comb through. A special thanks also to the students of the Mount Olive High School Marauder Monthly magazine. The students and staff advisor, Erin Riley-Lepo, were generous in their time of interviewing many school district officials for our publication, especially during a crazy time

of virtual learning. I’d also like to extend my gratitude to my writing staff, Steve Sears, Jillian Risberg, Henry Holden, and Elsie Walker, who put in many long hours throughout the last year and a half creating the stories that you will read throughout these pages.

Mount Olive is a special place, and no doubt that all the 150th anniversary celebrations will encompass all the excitement and

more. Happy 150th Birthday Mount Olive, you sure look good!

Megan Roche

From the Desk of Rob Greenbaum, Mayor

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s Mount Olive begins a year long celebration of the Township’s 150th anniversary, I hope all are doing well and surviving these difficult times we are all struggling with. At the outset, I wish my condolences to those families in Mount Olive

who have suffered loss as a result of Covid. May God bless you and your families and provide strength to continue to move forward.

On a brighter note, the 150th celebration kicks off in March and will get into full swing in April and beyond. The Township, in

conjunction with the School system, has planned numerous social distancing events such as a 5k run and other activities that can be found on the Township’s website.

With all of us feeling somewhat isolated, taking advantage of these opportunities should bring back a little

normalcy to our daily lives.

The Township has also created memorabilia with a cool logo to commemorate the anniversary. You are reading the anniversary edition of Mount Olive Life which will includes relevant articles and history of the Town.

I am really excited to see everyone after this year long hibernation and hope that you all will take advantage of what the Town has planned for this event. Until then, stay well and stay healthy.

Robert Greenbaum Mayor

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From the Desk of Joe Nicastro, Council President

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ount Olive is celebrating its 150th anniversary. Under normal circumstances we would holding in person events and gathering as proud residents to celebrate the occasion.

The Events will kick off with a Mt Olive’s 150-year Anniversary Virtual Opening March 22 and continue throughout the year with other events.

Mt Olive is a beautiful township. Living here you have the best of all words. Open space, parks, mountains, trials, farms, a great lake, shopping, great schools. Mt Olive is a great

place to live work and play.

It is truly a great township that has it all Having the privilege of serving the residents of Mount Olive for the past 10 years as a councilman has been such a great honor and I am so happy to be part of a team that cares so much about the town and its residents.

In 1871 the year Mount Olive became a township there was a lot of other things going on around the country as well. Here are some interesting facts and numbers.

• On May 4 – The first supposedly Major League

Baseball game is played and on May 8 – The first Major League Baseball home run is hit by Ezra Sutton of the Cleveland Forest Citys.

• P.T. Barnum US showman, founded “The Greatest Show On Earth” in Delavan, Wis. He presented General Tom Thumb and Jenny Lind “The Swedish Nightingale,” to the public.

He also introduced 3 rings to the circus.

• The Great Chicago Fire broke out and destroyed over 17,000 buildings and left almost 100,000 people homeless. It was usually blamed on Mrs. Kate O’Leary’s cow kicking over a

lamp. However, in 1997 the Chicago City Council looked into the evidence, both new and old, and passed a resolution exonerating Mrs. O’Leary and her cow. Many still believe the cow was guilty.

• Albert L. Jones of New York received patent No. 122,023 for corrugated paper, an “improvement in paper for packing” which could be used to make boxes.

• Henry Bradley of Binghamton, New York was issued U.S. Patent No. 110,626 for oleomargarine, “improvement in compound for culinary use.”

Known as margarine.

• The American Museum of Natural History in New York City was opened to the public.

• Thomas Adams, of Hudson City, New Jersey, received a patent for a method of producing chewing-gum.

• Sugar was 7 cents per pound. Butter 15 cents per pound, Cheese 5 cents per pound. Flour 4 cents per pound. Land was 5 dollars per acre. You could buy a house 32 x40’ 4 rooms for $700.00. If you wanted a shanty a one room dirt floor 8’ x10’ it was only $25.00.

Congratulations to

Mount Olive and all the residents who make up this great township and enjoy all the festivities coming up the remainder of the year.

Stay well and healthy.

Joe Nicastro Council President

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From the Desk of Stephen Beecher, MOPD Chief of Police

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s the 150th Anniversary of the founding of Mount Olive approaches, I have been reflecting not only on how the town has changed through development, but how the law enforcement profession has evolved. At the time of the founding of Mount Olive Township, law and order was maintained by the Mount Olive Vigilant Society. In the 1920s, the governing body hired two Constables, Harold McLaughlin and George Hildebrandt. In 1929, Harold McLaughlin was appointed our first Chief of Police and authorized to hire three police officers. In addition to myself and Chief McLaughlin, Mount Olive has had ten Police Chiefs: Chief Dan Tremitier, Chief Fred Vital, Chief John Connelly, Chief Roger Stephens,

Chief William Bielicki, Chief Edward Kane, Chief Charles Brown; Chief Edward Katona, and Chief Mark Spitzer.

Notably, Chief Tremitier is the only former Police Chief in New Jersey killed in action during World War II. On March 22, 1944, he was in a B-52 bomber on a mission over Germany when his plane was shot down.

All these Chiefs saw and managed change throughout their tenures. Advances in communication and technology have had prodigious impact on the law enforcement profession.

When I started in 1987, the Mount Olive Police had no internet or cell phones. Communication capabilities were limited. We had radio contact with headquarters, but did not have the ability to get additional information

over the phone. Before officers worked the road, they were given a list of all the payphones and the designated Post Numbers.

If a dispatcher or officer wanted to talk to the officer, officers were told to respond to a Post #. They would pull their patrol car next to the pay phone, and when it would ring the officer would pick up and speak with the dispatcher or officer. Communication with officers would change again with the advent of beepers. Beepers were devices, about half the size of cell phones that the officers carried on their person. Beepers had a small display area that would notify an officer that he or she needed to call someone or that they had a message waiting for them on a voicemail. From beep-

ers we moved on to cell phones. When our police department received its first cell phone it was large enough to have to carry it in a bag nearly the size of a briefcase. The shift supervisor had the high privilege to be the one assigned it during their tour of duty.

It was primarily used for contact with headquarters.

The other officers working did not have cell phones.

As cell phones became more cost effective and reduced in size they became ubiquitous. Very few people today do not have one.

They have altered the way we live and work. As long as you are in an area that has internet or cell towers, we are always connected.

Communication is possible with our officers 24/7 365.

Technology used today was once the stuff of science fiction. Advances in technology have provided the police department state of the art tools for motor vehicle enforcement and crime prevention, detection and apprehension.

Law Enforcement is peppered with acronyms for new technologies BWC, ALPR, MVR, BEAST, MDT and CODIS among these.

Mobil Video Recorders (MVR) are in all of our patrol cars. These have audio and video capabilities. MVR data is used for investigative as well as evidentiary purposes. Officers will be equipped with Body Worn Cameras (BWC) this year. The legislature has set a deadline for June 1, 2021.

Like MVRs, BWCs have audio and video capabilities and have a similar purpose.

Both technologies enhance transparency regarding police officer conduct. Law enforcement will be the only profession where all

our interactions with the people we serve or interact with are audio and videotaped.

Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs) are a high speed computer camera system. The system captures images of license plates and rapidly compares that license plate to multiple data systems. The ALPR can alert officers to a variety of circumstances necessitating police action, including alerts to a registration linked to an Amber Alert, a BOLO (Be on the Lookout) Alert, unregistered vehicles, uninsured vehicles, and suspended registered owners. The ALPR system also stores data that can later be searched for investigative clues or evidence.

Mobil Data Terminals (MDT) are in car computers that officers can use to access criminal justice and motor vehicle data systems. They can check the status of vehicle registrations, insurance and driver’s licenses. They can also be used to communicate by text with the Communications Center and with Officers in other Patrol Cars.

The Bar Coded Evidence Analysis Statistical Tracking (BEAST) system is a computer based system to track evidence and property which comes into the possession of our police department. The system enables officers to affix a label and bar code to each evidence of property item.

Details regarding the item in the computer system are linked to the bar code. The bar code system allows for rapid item identification and tracking and enhances maintenance of evidence integrity and control. This is critical in proving cases

in court.

CODIS is the acronym for Combined DNA Index System. In New Jersey, DNA collection is required at the time of arrest for forty two different offenses and at the time of conviction for twenty different Disorderly Person offenses and any conviction for an indictable crime of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th degree. Mount Olive Officers are responsible for collecting the samples by swabbing the inner cheek of those arrested and/or convicted. These samples are then sent to the New Jersey State Police for evaluation and data collection.

This data is compared to DNA evidence obtained at crime scenes. Scientific and technological advances in DNA collection and processing have led to successful resolutions in cases that otherwise might never have occurred.

The Mount Olive Township Police Department has built upon the preceding success of generations of officers who sought advancements and improved processes in maintaining a safe community. I’m proud of the men and women who are serving, and have served, and am looking forward to what the future offers us for law enforcement operations.

Stephen Beecher MOPD Chief of Police

Page 6 • March 2021 • Mt. Olive Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Mount Olive Township Celebrates Sesquicentennial

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By Henry M. Holden ount Olive Township covers a landscape of ridgelines, and river valleys surrounding the communities of Budd Lake, Mount Olive Village, and Flanders. Covering 34 square miles, it includes farmlands, suburban developments, historic homes, mill ruins, and the largest natural lake in the state. The path of the historic Morris Canal also passed through Mount Olive. The highest point in Mount Olive is 1,027 feet.

Mount Olive, like many municipalities in the Highlands region, has a history of farming and mining. Some active farmlands may still be found today. Iron mining was a focus in the 19th century, with two mining belts running through the north and center of the township where glacial deposits are found.

Millions of years ago, a great tectonic shift raised the flat featureless surface (peneplain) of Mount Olive above sea level, and left the surface covered with coastal sediment and rocks exposed to the winds of the ecosystem.

The historic and economic development of the township was drastically influenced by several periods of glaciation that occurred. The area had formed slowly over several ice ages. The thousand-foot-thick sheets of ice embedded with rocks and sediment had melted away, leaving deposits of terminal moraine marking the maximum advance of the glaciers.

The ice and water from the glaciers carved mountains up to 2,000 feet, lush valleys and re-deposited the soil. The glaciers created a northern section replete with rich deposits of iron ore that would eventually lead to an iron mining industry. The south, however, was flat with fertile soil and gentle rolling hills, eventually spawning the agricultural industry.

The greatest sculpting of the area was created by the Wisconsin Glacier. The grinding force of this glacier left the region buried in massive boulders to fine sand. Even the impenetrable parent rock was cut by the overwhelming strength of the glaciers.

The wetlands of Budd Lake Bog act as a sponge, collecting large supplies of water that are slowly released throughout the year.

The first inhabitants of Mount Olive Township were the peaceful Native American Leni-Lenape people. The natural features of streams, woodlands, fertile fields, and marshlands provided food and shelter for a people who lived by hunting, fishing and farming.

The Township of Mount Olive is named after Benjamin Olive, a local landowner, and a colonial-era Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey who donated land for the site of several churches built.

Mount Olive was part of Roxbury Township until March 22, 1871, when it was independently created by dividing Roxbury Township.

Mount Olive consists of two unincorporated sections: Flanders, and Budd Lake. It has 374 acres, and is named for John Budd, who acquired 1,300 acres of land in 1714, from the King of England.

The town of Mount Olive is located on the peak of Schooley’s Mountain and was originally called Rattletown.

In 1855, the settlers built the Mount Olive Baptist Church, which is still standing, as well as the first school in the community, the Mount Olive Academy, built in 1837, and also still standing. The school is closed and there is an empty piece of land between them that was the Presbyterian

This scene on the Forest House porch will probably never be repeated as today’s society is action-oriented and does not have time for lounging afternoons on the porch. The Forest House fell into disrepair and was razed in the 1920s, rather than repair it. (Credit Mount Olive Township)

This post card advertises the fun teenagers can have on the water wheel on Budd Lake. (Credit Mount Olive Township).

Church and graveyard. According to Thea Dunkle, Township historian, “The two buildings and the empty lot between them are pending National Historic Landmark status. The Presbyterian Church burned to the ground after the paperwork was submitted and will be included in the consideration.”

With many streams, the area was rich in waterpower.

Grist and sawmills, distilleries, tanneries and creameries grew abundantly.

Two hundred years ago, fresh water came from springs and wells. Sanitary facilities consisted of outbuildings.

As Mount Olive developed, local water companies

moved in to serve certain areas, for example, Flanders Water Company, and others. Sanitary facilities went to cesspools and then to septic tanks.

With the completion of Interstate Route 80, in the 1970s, the year-round status of the community became even more permanent. By 1980 there were 18,748 permanent residents in Mount Olive.

The various areas of Budd Lake, Flanders, Mount Olive, and other villages have their separate, yet interrelated histories starting in the 1700s.

Flanders is an unincorporated community first settled continued on page 7

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Sesquicentennial... continued from page 6 in the early 1700s, was the largest village in the township. The village grew up around the Methodist Church, and later the Presbyterian Church. It was a convenient stop for travelers and merchants on the old road from German Valley (now Long Valley) to Succasunna.

Flanders, was named for a group of early settlers who vacationed in Flanders, the present-day South Hampton, on Long Island, N.Y. Roads in the Township are named after early settlers such as: Smith, Drake, Bartley, and Waterloo.

“In the 1700s, the Smith and Batson families established early farms in the area that became Smithtown.” According to Dunkel, these families and other early settlers intermarried.

Waterloo, which had served as a French Army Officer’s hospital in 1740, by 1831, was an important lock and incline plane stop on the Morris Canal.

The Morris Canal (1829–1924) was a 107-mile canal across northern New Jersey, cutting through Morris County. The canal was built to transport Pennsylvania coal to markets in New Jersey and New York.

Miners in the hilly northern portion and farmers in the fertile fields of the southern part of the community all needed

transportation to move their goods.

In the summer of 1850, Budd Lake began as a resort area attracting people as far away is New York and Philadelphia. As the area grew as a resort, a community developed along Sand Shore Road and Netcong Road. The influx of people created the need for some large hotels and boardinghouses.

In the late 1860s, with the railroad connection, Flanders grew to a sizable village.

Products from the iron mines and foundries, the mills, farms and sand quarries were shipped through the village. Flanders had a creamery with the first pasteurizing plant in New Jersey, several mills, a post office and several general stores.

In 1885, veterinary Dr. Daniel Salmon, of Mount Olive, isolated the group of bacteria that cause the disease known as Salmonella (named after the Doctor).

John L Boyce owned a private landing strip, which was licensed as a “private aviation facility,” (later called Flanders Valley Airport). He hoped to make it into an airport which would cater to the needs of the business and executive flying industry and would include a probable operation of an air taxi and charter service, and include airplane servicing and fuel facilities.

Boyce, as a pilot in the Army Air Forces during World War II, and with 40 years as a

The Mount Olive Academy, built in 1837, is the oldest structure standing in Mount Olive Township and is municipally held, as well as the first school in the community. (Credit Mount Olive Township)

pilot, he felt able to handle such a venture.

The field he planned would need 38-acres in Roxbury Township, and in Mount Olive, but both were zoned for residential with minimum of one-acre lots. A variance was needed, and after months of debate his dream became a reality.

Flanders Valley Airport appears to have begun construction in 1957 when an aerial photo shows a long cut (for a runway) be-

tween two tree lines. It closed in 1984 and was replaced with homes. All that remains to hint that an airport ever existed are a few street signs designating Earhart Dr., and Lindbergh Lane.

Over the past 150 years, the historic and economic development of the township grew via major roads yet, many of the through routes in Mount Olive Township are still rural in nature.

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By Henry M. Holden udd Lake is a geological phenomenon.

It is precisely located on the ancient line which divided New Jersey into East and West. The Illinois and Wisconsin Glaciers had the greatest effect upon the township. All deposits from the Illinois Glacier can be found on the west side of Budd Lake. The more recent deposits on the east side of the lake and greatest sculpting of the area came from the Wisconsin Glacier.

That happened about 40,000 years ago when a northward flowing river drained into Lake Hopatcong. The materials that were carried on the forward edge of the Wisconsin terminal moraine blocked the flow of this river. The valley filled with water and built up pressure against the surrounding hills. Eventually the water broke through to the south and drainage shifted, forming the south branch of the Raritan River, a source of drinking water for nearly 2-million people.

The natural lake is the largest in the state and is recharged through groundwater seepage through a series of wetlands.

The terminal moraine of the Wisconsin Glacier cut Mount Olive in half. The northern section, where the glacier had reached, is covered in rocks and boulders. The southern section of the township is not covered with glacial debris.

About 5,000 BC the peaceful Native American Lenni-Lenape lived and held their councils in the Budd Lake area. There they found a deciduous forest climate with copious wildlife for hunting and fishing. They concentrated their fishing on Budd Lake Ridge which had an abundance of bass and pickerel. Their culture remained stable until the Dutch arrive in the early 17th-century.

Budd Lake is named for John Budd, who acquired 1,300 acres from the King of England, in 1714, part of which is present day Flanders. The lake is 933 feet above sea level, and a surface area of 374 acres. It is 7–12 feet deep and can develop large algal blooms at times. This bloom was created by thousands of years of decaying plant material. The lake supports wetland plants such as black spruce and tamarack, which grow on a floating mass of plant roots, held together in a sponge-like substrate.

Budd Lake provided scientists with challenges relating to climate change and vegetation of the past. The Bog, which developed from poor drainage and occupies 50-percent of the shoreline allows scientists to examine various levels of the Bog and relate them to past climates and conditions.

Budd Lake has also presented scientists with a riddle. The presence of the Black Spruce a northern (boreal) forest species, should not grow in the deciduous forest of

Budd Lake Still Beckons

the area. Scientists speculate that the Wisconsin Glacier carried Black Spruce seeds south.

According to Mount Olive Township historian Thea Dunkle, three families, the Budd, Sharp, and Wagner families developed the area around the east side of Budd Lake with several cider mills and an ice company. “They intermarried and over the decades helped to make the area grow with stability.”

Change developed slowly until the turn of the 20th century when Budd Lake began to see a major population increase.

Budd Lake evolved into a genuine summer resort. The early accommodations were far from glamourous, as described by Harry Hosking in a letter written in 1915: “We had ‘deluxe’ tent quarters, three rooms: living and sleeping, kitchen, and in between an open dining area. We had wooden floors underneath, homemade ice boxes and a kerosene stove.”

Even though it was 2 1/2 hours from Newark, the area grew with vacationers and permanent residents. The original platform tents were replaced by cottages and hotels. Before the construction of Route 6 (now Route 46) in 1923, visitors to Budd Lake would usually take a train to Netcong and make their way to the lake via taxi.

There was a dirt/asphalt road snaking from the Netcong train station to the lake, like a cow path, with 23 sharp curves.

The first road builders were probably the elk who crashed through the brush and forest. The Native Americans followed their tracks because the elk was food. Farmers followed the tracks armed with axes to hack their way through the forest. This explains the crooked routes which later became roads.

“There were 14 taxis to take commuters to the station every day,” said Hosking. “We had movies on Saturday night run by the Sharp family. There was no electricity, so power for the movie projector came from a one-lung engine which could be heard all over the lake, drowning out the piano player. If it did not start, we stood around with helpful advice, or we headed for a dance hall.”

For more than a century, Budd Lake was a resort destination, attracting vacationers and permanent residents from the hot summer cities.

Judge Mann, of Newark, was one of them. He purchased a 155-acre tract of land on the east shore of Budd Lake in 1883. On it he built a mansion with a stable for his carriages and thoroughbred horses. Mann’s wife missed her Maine home and beautiful pine trees, so Mann spent $30,000 for pine trees, and had them planted around the

The Bartley Chapel was built in 1913 by direct descendants of the founding family Bartley. It still stands on Bartley Road. (Credit Mount Olive Township)

The terminal moraine of this glacier will perhaps deposit materials similar to what the Wisconsin Glacier did in Mount Olive Township, bringing seeds of new plant growth thousands of miles to new ecosystems. (Credit Henry M. Holden)

property.

For more than 20 years, young and old were drawn to the enclosed wooden merry-go-round. The horses galloped in place, and when the bell rang, their riders would stretch for the gold ring worth a free ride.

In 1934, during the Depression, the wooden horses went into the storage. Not until 1937 did the horses return. Pictures show children riding the carousel, which was meticulously maintained until it was continued on page 9

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 9

Budd Lake Still Beckons... continued from page 8 lost to a fire, in 1957.

Demand for a place to stay near Budd Lake was so high, that locals created one of the first bed and breakfast locations in the state. They rent out rooms to accommodate almost 6,000 visitors each summer.

One of the first and most well-known boarding houses on Budd Lake was Forrest House, which was built in 1856 by a son-in-law of the Budd Family. It hosted up to 200 guests within its large, white three-story structure and surrounding annex buildings. The main building had a large front porch lined with rocking chairs.

The end of World War II spurred an interest in aviation.

Somewhere around 1946/47, Budd Lake Airfield appeared.

It was a small unpaved (grass), runway capable of landing small, light, single-engine airplanes. According to Tom Beemer, “The runway had wires at one end and trees at the other. It was a different era, accidents were expected.

The airfield ceased operations around 1957.” Today homes dot the area.

In the 1970s, the new interstate state highway, Route 80, made it easier for travelers and vacationers to get to the lake, and as a result, the personality of the area changed.

Hamburger stands popped up, gas stations flourished, diners, bars, additional police and garbage collection, ambulances and dance halls serviced these visitors.

“Budd Lake’s pavilion changed ownership and names, but remained popular until the late 1950’s,” said life-long Budd Lake resident Jim Smith, whose family connection to the area dates to early 1700s.

“In the 20’s and 30’s if you had a big band, you played as part of the circuit on Budd Lake.”

This undated postcard shows what is probably a typical day at Budd Lake. (Credit Mount Olive Township)

Heber Peters built the well-remembered Wigwam Restaurant. It was one of the first ten-cent per dance halls in the state. Jackie Gleason, the Glenn Miller Orchestra and even rock and roll hall of famers the Everly Brothers all made appearances at the Wigwam.

Today these places which were so essential to Budd Lake’s development, are gone, destroyed by fires or the unavoidable changes that come with time and urbanization.

But Budd Lake continues to be a popular location for sport fisherman, kayakers and boaters.

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Farming in Mount Olive: Centuries of Memories and Continuing Love of Land and Township

By Steve Sears farms once were, or shopping in ount Olive has changed a spots where silos once reached lot in the past 73 years, but for the sky. And to tell the entire according to Aimee Ashhistory of farming in Mount Olive ley Myers, retail manager and overin a limited amount of space is not seer of the farm market at Ashley doable. There’s just too much real Farms, Flanders still has wonderful estate to cover, too many stories. high-quality soils to grow in. “We Consider the farms that were born have been fortunate to be able to in Mount Olive and what the land add to our original piece of farmis used for now. Peacock Farm is land, but the most special part about now a golf course; Schott Farm farming in Flanders is the community is now the Shop-Rite Pharmacy support. We have had generations of at Bartley-Chester Road; Crinkley families now shop with us and they’re Goat Farm of Budd Lake now has the reason we keep going,” Myers apartments on their site; Turkey says of her family’s farm, which was Brook Park was once Willswood founded in 1948.

Farm; Sutton Farm became the “Keep going.” Two key words that Clover Hill housing development; speak to longevity in a business that and Burd’s Farm is now TD Bank. thrives on family involvement and We will, therefore, allude to a love of the land and what it produces. few, hoping to encourage reflecMany folks will recall the names. tion of what was, and in some casSmith, Batson, Drake, Budd, McPeak, es what still is.

Stephens, Chamberlain, Wolfe, and Chamberlain Farm once many more. All are a part of Mount Wolfe Farms. Photo courtesy of the Mount Olive Historical Society. thrived where the Village Green Olive families that farmed in town, and Home Goods Shopping Plaza some that date back well over two centuries. now stands. In 1888, Amos Chamberlain and his wife, Eliza Ann Hopkins, and their family “I am sure there were many more small farms as everyone just about farmed,” says town- moved to Budd Lake from Mendham. They had one son, Silas, who took over the running of ship historian and Historical Society President, Thea Dunkle. the farm, and he married into the Wolfe family, which produced a son, Leland, and several Not all still exist. As you travel through the township, you may be traveling over spots where continued on page 12

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Farming in Mount Olive...

continued from page 10 daughters. Leland took over the farm when Silas retired. Leland was injured in a crash with a tractor trailer while working, and with Route 80 being built he decided to sell the family farm and moved to Hope to continue dairy farming.

Chamberlain Farm was sold in 1971.

Stephens Farm on Drakestown Road is still in business. The family arrived in Mount Olive in the middle 1700’s. “Richard D. Stephens married Dolly Landon in 1762, and they settled near the churches on a farm that has been passed down through generations of the Stephens family,” says Dunkle.

“Four of their children married four children of Captain Peter Salmon, who arrived from Long Island about the same time.” The Stephens family, in addition to farming, served in numerous church activities, and part of the Union Cemetery was part of their farming acreage. “Many family members married into many other families in the area: the Budds, Wolfes, Bartleys and others,” says Dunkle. In 1872, the first Mount Olive Village post office was located at Stephens Farm.

And then there’s Wolfe Farm , which had former locations on Flanders-Netcong Road and on Route 46. The latter site was farmed for over 100 years, and the state of New Jersey presented a certificate for that achievement. “That was quite an accomplishment,” says Dunkle.

“My grandparents, Hubert and Muriel Ashley, started the farm with just a few turkeys that someone gifted them,” says Myers of the Ashley Farms beginnings. “Hubert was a bus driver; Muriel was a homemaker. They started out just raising turkeys, which is still a huge part of our business. One summer, they decided to grow some sweet corn and tomatoes and made enough selling them roadside to buy a brand-new pickup truck.

At that point, they decided to start growing some produce to sell directly to the community, just like they did with the turkeys. It’s always been a family business. Hubert and his son, Larry, were partners for years.” Larry and his children, Scott Ashley and Myers, are now partners, and each have children that all help out at the farm, which is now in its fourth generation.”

“Keep going.” You get the feeling those words are apropos to describe Stephens Farm and, of course, Ashley Farms, regarding their future in town and importance to the farming community. “We love Flanders,” attests Myers. “We live here, go to school here, shop here, and we are thankful to be a part of the Mount Olive community. The special part of being a farm family in Mount Olive is the fact that while this used to be primarily a farming community, we are one of the few left in town. We find it an honor to be able to feed this town’s families with food we grow in our hometown.”

Chamberlain Farms. Photo courtesy of the Mount Olive Historical Society.

Ashley Farms. Photo courtesy of Ashley Farms.

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Learning from the Past: Mount Olive’s Cemeteries and Historical Landmarks

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By Henry M. Holden he Mount Olive Township Historical Society’s (MOHS) mission is to discover, collect and preserve Mount Olive Township’s history. The society shares that history with all interested persons, through programs, publications and exhibits.

“The M0unt Olive Township Historical Society emerged from concerned residents meeting with the director of the Mount Olive Library in September 1997,” said Thea Dunkle, president of the Mount Olive Historical Society, and the Township historian. “During this meeting we decided that Mount Olive Township had a rich historical past, and it was time to collect and preserve the history for the people to enjoy and reflect on old times.

“With the dedication of the founding members, the Mount Olive Township Historical Society held its first open meeting in October 1997.”

Olive Historian Thea Dunkle talks about the township’s history as the mayor and freeCurrently Drakes Brook Park, is their new Mount holders look on. (Courtesy Thea Dunkle) home. “A portion of the building, formerly used by the Blue Atlas Nursery, was offered for our use,” said Dunkle.

Cemeteries Cemeteries, if properly documented, can tell the story of a people and their culture. Thea Dunkle knows this well and has devoted years to this end. There are seven cemeteries that contain the early settlers and founders of the township: Mount Olive Baptist Church, Mount Olive Union Cemetery, Flanders Methodist Church, Stark Cemetery, Flanders Hillside Cemetery, the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, in Chester, and the recently rediscovered Drakestown Old Burial Ground, located in the old Drakestown schoolyard adjacent to the Mount Olive Township border.

“Then there is Saint Michael’s Cemetery,” said Dunkle. “It’s abandoned on Old Ledgewood Road. “The land was donated by the Brady family and it is on a very steep hill that probably could not support farming.

“It was attached to the Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, in Hackettstown, and they turned it over to Saint Michael’s in the late 1800s, but it is closed today.”

There are six headstones visible on the property according to Dunkle. “There is little known about it, but I found about 95 people buried there without headstones,” said Dunkle.

“The area was poor with a lot of miners and children, and they did not have the money for the headstones. “The cause of death in so many cases was infant mortality, disease, mining accidents or train accidents,” Dunkle went to the library and sat before the microfilm reader for weeks. “I read the newspapers from 1885 to March 1950, and I Two Spam Bridge Marker (Via Thea Dunkle)

wrote down the name of every person mentioned that had died. Then I went to Trenton and got the death certificates for those people.”

Dunkle said that the only common clue to where they were buried was the listing “Catholic cemetery,” said Dunkle. “Well, we only have one Catholic cemetery in the township.

“What I have found since 1997 is a unique situation in our township. Each of two founding families, the Salmons and the Stephens, had several children. Four of their children married into four of the children in the other family and they branched out and married into the Budd, Wolfe, Sharp, Yager, and Wagner families. So, the Mount Olive Union Cemetery is mostly people from those founding families.

“When I was starting to do the genealogy of the founding families, I found that records for the cemeteries were not well cared for or maintained. Often records were destroyed in housefires or no records were kept, so I ran into some dead ends.”

Dunkle began walking through the cemeteries in the area searching for clues. She started writing down the inscriptions on the headstones. “Limestone grave markers get pitted with acid rain and they are extremely hard to read” she said.

“Then I started reading some of the old newspapers in the libraries looking for clues to put this challenge in perspective. I received several grants to document the cemeteries in Mount Olive. I found some hand-written lists in libraries or given to me.

“I was able to identify many people who were buried by reading various newspapers and finding their names. I went to Trenton and got death certificates to verify that the person was buried in that spot. I also went through a lot of the newspapers to see if I could find a death notice or an obituary.”

When Dunkle put the death certificates and obituaries back-to-back, she found dozens of graves that could be identified. Often the family had a copy of the burial certificate but not the death certificate. The towns were not mandated to keep death records then. Later they changed the laws.

“I was able to identify a lot of the early people who were buried in church yard cemeteries. Often, if they had a large piece of land, a farm for example, people would take a small piece of that land and use it as a cemetery to bury their family members.

“The Mount Olive Union Cemetery at one time was two separate cemeteries separated by a wrought iron fence, and a rock wall. The land was donated by the Stephens and Hulse families. They had a rock wall separating the continued on page 14

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Learning from the Past... continued from pag 13 Mount Olive Presbyterian Church. The church stopped church services in 1959, because not enough people were attending. Later the church burned down. I was told that they merged two church cemeteries into the Mount Olive Union Cemetery.”

Thea Dunkle is still searching cemeteries because “people are still being interred,” she said. “I am still updating our records, and Trenton has expanded the number of years that a death certificate can be claimed.

“I go down periodically. I could only get up to 1940 before, and now they have released the certificates up to 1959. They hold back the certificates thinking there is a possibility that the people are still alive, and they want to make sure that there is enough time to pass.

“After 9/11 they came out with a new ruling regarding death certificates so I really can’t go to the Town Hall and request that certificate unless I can prove absolutely that I am a relative of the deceased.

Historical Landmarks The definition of a landmark is an object (such as a stone or tree) that marks the boundary of land or a conspicuous object on land that marks a locality.

Morris County has had a historic site marker program since 1975. Several hundred historic sites now have their significance briefly described on cast aluminum signs painted in burgundy and pale grey with the county seal in gold.

The New Jersey Register of Historic Places is closely modeled after the National Register of Historic Places Program. Both Registers have the same criteria for eligibility, nomination form, and review process, and provides a de-

gree of review and protection from public intrusion.

Mount Olive Township is bordered on the north by Washington Township and Sussex County, on the east by Roxbury Township, on the southeast by Chester and on the west by Warren County. As a result, some historic places span more than one township.

Mount Olive Township certainly has numerous historic sites that dot the Township. These sites weave together the threads of Mount Olive Township’s history from the colonial era through the twentieth century. Locations marked include forges, iron works, taverns, schools, mills, historic districts, churches, homes, and mansions.

Flanders continued on page 16

The Stephens Mansion in Turkey Lake Park stood in the way of construction of the park, but Thea Dunkle and others managed to save the mansion. (Courtesy Mount Olive Township)

4 1837 Schoolhouse 1837 Academy school. In looking at the building, it may be hard to picture, but once children attended classes there, and people “dressed up” on Sunday to celebrate their faith.

(Credit Mount Olive Township)

Baptist Meeting House will soon reopen to visitors after major renovations. (Courtesy Mount Olive Township)

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Learning from the Past...

continued from page 14 According to Rita L. Hilbert, former director of the Mount Olive Public Library, a founding member of the Mount Olive Township Historical Society, and author of Images of America, Mount Olive, Flanders was the largest village in the township. Settled in the early 1700s, it grew up around the Methodist Church and later the Presbyterian Church.

Flanders, situated in an area of farms, mills, and iron mines attained its greatest prosperity in the nineteenth century. Following the Civil War, Flanders became a railroad depot for the shipment of iron, firesand used in making fireplace bricks, and agricultural products. Dairy production continued into the twentieth century. A creamery, built in 1909, provided the first pasteurization of locally produced milk. In 1980, Flanders was placed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Budd Lake Community was once an industrial hamlet where mills and an ice-works operated in the mid1800s. The community became a thriving summer resort area by 1880. During the 1930s local night clubs hosted famous big bands. After World War II the community continued to grow as a summer resort stop but slowly new permanent residents began to settle in the community.

The 1874 Budd Lake chapel was built on land donated by John Budd and remains a focal point in the community.

In 2007 the Budd Lake Community became a historic site compliments of the Morris County Heritage Commission.

The Budd Lake Prehistoric Site The wetlands of the Budd Lake Bog act as a sponge, collecting large supplies of water that are slowly released

throughout the year. The Bog is one of three Natural Heritage Priority Sites. The other two are Budd Lake Outlet, near the municipal beach, and Bridge to Nowhere along the Musconetcong at the Township’s border with Byram and Stanhope. In 1993, the Prehistoric Site was placed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Bartleyville This settlement was named after the Bartley family who built forges and mills in the early nineteenth century. A descendant, William Bartley, established the Wm. Bartley & Sons Foundry in 1861. The foundry manufactured farm machinery, steam engines, and turbines. Occasionally it also produced steel truss bridges for county roads. By 1875, Bartleyville included a school, post office, general store, and worker’s housing. The railroad, which still runs through this area, gave the foundry and local farmers access to wide markets. In 2001 Bartleyville was placed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Mount Olive Village In 1768, on land donated by James Heaton, the Mount Olive Presbyterian Church congregation was organized, the same year as the Schooley’s Mountain Baptist Church.

The two congregations jointly erected a log meetinghouse, which they shared until the 1850s.

The Baptist Church was the second church organized in the township. For over four decades, Presbyterians shared the log church with three other Christian denominations.

As the congregations grew, building a new place of worship on the same site became necessary. This second church, a wood framed structure was completed around 1818. Mount Olive Academy was built in 1837, after an

Mount Olive Village Historic marker (Via Thea Dunkle).

1820 stone school on the same site collapsed. The Academy functioned as a public school for many years.

In the mid-1850’s, the Baptist, and the Presbyterians congregations each built their own houses of worship. The churches stood on either side of the 1837 Mount Olive Academy. The Baptist Church was the third building on the continued on page 18

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Learning from the Past...

continued from page 16 site. The first was the log church, the second a wood frame building in the early part of the 19th century.

In 1889 the Schooley’s Mountain Baptist Church changed its name to the Mount Olive Baptist Church. Today the church is closed, and signage on the front of the building calls it the “Meeting House.”

Mount Olive Academy School and Baptist Church are now municipally owned to prevent anyone from putting a modern building in the middle of the historic buildings.

Today, a vacant piece of land stands where at one time was home to the Presbyterian Church (built in 1857).

“What stands there today, is a small cemetery, with a few soldiers from the Revolutionary War, and probably more than a few from the Civil War interred there, since there are a lot of headstones missing,” said Dunkle.

In 1970, Pax Amicus, a theater group, purchased it. In 1983, it was sold again, renovated, and became a private residence until a fire destroyed it in 2011.

According to Dunkle, “The Baptist Church renovations are just about complete, and we are hoping to have a dedication ceremony soon, depending on the COVID-19 issue.”

In 2003, the Baptist Church, cemetery, school building and the land where the Presbyterian once stood were placed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Drakestown Drakestown, in Washington Township, arose after Ebenezer Drake bought 200 acres in 1759. An early public house closed by the mid-1800s, but by 1837, there was a school, store, and post office to serve the local farm families. In 1855 the Methodist Church became to center of the

community, but the store, the post office and the school were in Mount Olive Township.

Thea Dunkle argued for a joint monument marker. “I had to convince Washington Township to put the marker up. This is the first time the two townships worked together for one purpose. We decided to put the marker at the church since there is parking available. In 2004 Drakestown was placed in the National Register of Historic Places.

“The school has been closed for decades and the church was abandoned in 1970 as the Baptist and Presbyterian congregations moved up the road to newer buildings. (The Presbyterian church which had gone into private ownership was destroyed in a fire in 2011.) Both buildings have been closed and the Township is working to reopen the buildings to the public when they are safe for people to congregate inside. “The Academy will be renovated but we don’t know when that process will start. This area is all part of the first settlement in the area,” said Dunkle. “All the villages came after this.

Dunkle discovered the earliest grave marker in the cemetery is Elizabeth Cozad. She died in 1812, in her late 80s.

Think of what she saw and lived through. She was probably in her 40s during the American Revolutionary war, and she may have witnessed part of the War of 1812. Imagine if she had kept a diary what she could have passed down to us.

Flanders Drakestown Road Stone Arch Bridge The two-span stone arch bridge across the south branch of the Raritan River was constructed in 1860. It had extensive deterioration and required major repairs for public safety. The structure was the oldest of its type in Morris

Drakestown Historic Marker (Via Thea Dunkle).

County until it was modernized in 2017. Stone masonry and capstones from the original bridge, including some original stones that included carvings of the names of area residents, were used in the project. The efforts successfully made the bridge retain as much of its original look as possible. In 2018 a new historic interpretive panel was placed outside the Town Hall and a marker on the bridge, both compliments of the Morris County Heritage Commission.

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Do You Know These Notable Places in Mount Olive?

By Henry M. Holden Mount Olive Library and Town Hall he Mt. Olive Township Library Association was incorporated in 1976. In 1979, a major addition was added to the original octagon shaped building. In 1985, the township held a referendum on the municipalization of the Library. The vote was overwhelmingly in favor of municipalization. The library became a municipal Library in 1986.

In 1991, a second addition was added to include an administrative area and the periodical/reading room. In January 2005, the residents of Mount Olive entered the new $3.88 million library built on Flanders-Drakestown Road.

“We have gone fully digital with hundreds of e-books, and audio books,” said Mauro Magarelli, Library Director.

“In addition to nearly 80,000 fiction, nonfiction and reference books we have 5,000 books in our Blu-Ray and DVD libraries, and nearly 100 magazine titles. And during the pandemic, we are still operating every day.”

Mount Olive Town Hall is a resource for information and questions about local government as well as services offered in the community. Home to the Mayor and Town Council and all other service departments, all are welcome and encourage persons to call or stop by during business hours!

Turkey Brook Park Turkey Brook Park is located at 30 Flanders Road next to the Chester M. Stephens Elementary School, in Mount Olive Township.

Building the park in 2003 was temporarily halted by a structure which was unoccupied and in disrepair.

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The Seward mansion, described using its historic name, Seward House, was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 24, 2013, for its “significance in architecture.” (Courtesy Mount Olive Township)

The Seward Mansion was in the way of the proposed entrance to Turkey Brook Park.

The mansion was built in 1858, by Beulah and Henry Seward. It had nine large rooms, a grand staircase at its center, chandeliers, ornate mantels and a wrap-around porch.

Architecturally, it is an example of 18th century stone construction in a mid-Victorian style.

“When they were building Turkey Brook Park, some said the mansion, which had not been kept well, and unoccupied for years should be torn down.” said Thea Dunkle, the township historian. “They wanted to demolish it and use the space as the entrance to Turkey Brook Park.”

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“I said no, there isn’t a building like it anywhere,” with emphasis on the unshakable tone in her voice. “And besides that, the Seward family had intermarried with the Coopers, early settlers in the village, so there was even more history there,” she said with determination. “So, I did some digging along with Kathy Murphy, our grants writer, and put togethcontinued on page 20

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Notable Places in Mount Olive...

1977, to serve as a home for its popular Theater for Children.

In 1990, Pax Amicus acquired the beach property and merged adjacent properties to guarantee that the Castle and its surrounding land would remain accessible to the general public.

For six years, both Theaters - the Church Theater in Flanders, and the new Castle Theater - functioned full time, but in 1983, all productions moved to the Castle, and the old Church was sold to a private family.

The South Branch Preserve The South Branch Preserve which totals 405 acres in Mount Olive Township is owned and managed for water quality protection and watershed management by The Land Conservancy of New Jersey. In 2011 The Land Conservancy preserved 208 acres for organic farming at the corner of Wolfe Road and Route 46.

“The management plan had a three-pronged approach to land stewardship,” said David Epstein, president of the Land Conservancy. “We wanted to transition to organic farming, establish a community garden for residents, and restore the forest in the most sensitive riparian areas of the river to safeguard permanence to the watershed and its ecosystem.

“It serves as an example of how public and private organizations, with different interests and resources, can preserve and manage lands of regional and statewide significance.”

The Preserve is a demonstration project for restoring a damaged ecosystem to a productive forested watershed protecting the water supply source for almost two million people. Located near the headwaters of the South Branch of

continued from page 19 er what we thought were compelling reasons to keep the building.”

“We met with the town council in 2003 and presented our case. There was a reporter from the Star Ledger there, and he wrote an article on the meeting. The next night the council approved the measure to save the building.”

Turkey Brook Park now offers significant amenities from its 2003 opening. It is now on 267-rolling acres in the northern New Jersey Highlands. There are enough activities to keep the youngsters, and the adults busy.

Among the amenities are, six natural grass soccer fields, one artificial turf soccer field with lights, four baseball fields, two infields for softball play. One lacrosse field, two tennis courts, two volleyball courts, two basketball courts, a 32foot octagonal outdoor pavilion, a two-acre Dog Park, and Mt. Playmore for children.

Pax Amicus The actual structure of what would become Pax Amicus Castle Theater began as a simple cinder-block building built in the 1940s. To the summer residents who vacationed on Budd Lake, in the 1940s and 1950s, it was a synagogue and Jewish Community Center that stood on the shore of Budd Lake. Then, in the 70s, it was sold to the local Knights of Columbus and served as a fraternal meeting house.

In 1970, local educators Stan Barber and Bob Findlay founded Pax Amicus, as a community art center which they originally housed in a historic, (built in the 1850s) former Presbyterian church in Flanders. Within a year of remodeling, the show resumed.

Pax Amicus purchased the former Presbyterian church in

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In 1990, Pax Amicus acquired the beach property and merged adjacent properties to guarantee that the Castle and its surrounding land would remain accessible to the general public. (Courtesy Mount Olive Township)

the Raritan River, at Budd Lake, this is the largest river basin located entirely within the state of New Jersey and is one of its most critical water supply sources. continued on page 21

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Congratulates Mount Olive on its

Notable Places in Mount Olive...

150 Anniversary!!

Anniversary th

In 2011 The Land Conservancy preserved 208 acres for organic farming. The fields had been used for corn and slowly the soil was stripped of its nutrients. The fields were replanted with organic clover and oats in hope of ongoing organic farming operations. (Courtesy: The Land Conservancy)

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continued from page 20 “Twelve agricultural fields dot the landscape,” said Epstein. “The South Branch of the Raritan River passes through the property, and forested land anchored the property.

The fields had been used for corn and slowly the soil was stripped of its nutrients.

“We received funding to begin the process of transitioning to organic farming on eight of the fields,” said Epstein. “In the spring of 2012, the fields were tilled and replanted with organic clover and oats in hope

of ongoing organic farming operations.

These plants restored the nutritive value of the soils and prepared the land for organic farming, all to be conducted in river-friendly practices,” said Epstein.

“In one set of four farm fields, we planted more than 7,000 native trees and bushes to create a forest buffer next to the river. We wanted to protect the quality of the water flowing down into the river. In another we have the wildflowers blooming every year attracting butterflies and other pollinators.”

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Learn More about YOUR Mount Olive Village Historic District

Mount Olive Baptist Church.

T

By Steve Sears he quiet, the stillness, the desolation, the emptiness on a cold, dayafter-a-snowstorm morning is so apropos here.

The corner of Mount Olive Road and Flanders-Drakestown Road, heading down to the Flanders section of Mount Olive, is a part of the Mount Olive Village Historic District. It is here where Mount Olive had its beginnings.

What stands here now, separated by a tiny cemetery, parking lot and an empty plot of land once home to a Presbyterian Church, are a tiny, one-room schoolhouse known as the Mount Olive Academy, and the Mount Olive Baptist Church.

At one time, children attended classes here, church services were celebrated.

The school is now long closed, the church abandoned in 1970 as the congregation moved to a newer facility up the road, both buildings having been shuttered (especially due to age of the buildings) to new generations.

You can stand here and take it all in, try to envision the past, and wonder what’s to be done with the structures. The answer?

Something positive.

Kathy Murphy, Vice-President of the Mount Olive Historical Society, says while pointing, “This is part of it, the cemetery up here. This is where the Presbyterian Church was,” she says, indicating a snowcovered plot of land next to a parking lot, an empty cement set of stairs ascending slightly the empty spot. “It burned down.

Now, here’s the schoolhouse, and then the old Baptist Church.” The latter sits at

the corner, down a slight hill. It is the third building on the site, the first being a log cabin, the second a wood frame building at the beginning of the 19th century.

The third structure was built beginning in 1853. Murphy believes it is the eighth Baptist church in New Jersey.

“This whole area makes up the Mount Olive Village,” she says.

Murphy and others have secured both structures and are working on prepping both to be reopened to the public.

Murphy talks about the cemetery adjacent to the church, which was originally called Schooley’s Mountain Church. “The earliest stone here is Elizabeth Cozad.”

On this cold morning, Cozad’s stone is snow-covered. “She died in her 80s in 1812. She lived here during the (American) Revolution, and her father had established the (iron) mines and everything. It goes back, and of course there’s more than half a dozen Civil War, and at least three or four Revolutionary War (soldiers buried here) that we know of – and there may be more. And, of course, there’s a bunch of headstones missing.”

The whole corner, per Murphy, was all part of the absolute earliest settlement in the area. “All the little village clusters were after this.”

Exiting your car and trying to walk either towards the schoolhouse or church, you sense the hardship that folks had in inclement weather in earlier days. Young kids trudging to school maybe had fun among the flakes on the way to their studies, while congregants carefully stepped in ankle-deep snow, on their way to per-

Mount Olive Academy.

form their Sunday constitution of studying God’s Word.

Back then, the churches and mines prevailed, and all the founding families of the area are buried here.

The Baptist Church remained for a period after the congregation moved, using it for their youth group for a period before leaving the building entirely. The building had no bathroom but just an outhouse, and parking was in a not-so-spacious gravel lot.

When Murphy moved to Mount Olive, as a volunteer she was able to get grants for the town. She then was hired part-time and transitioned to full-time, a job she loved. And there was the history aspect, which she loved and majored in during college.

While in the township’s employ, the Baptist Church (labeled “Meeting House” on the front of the building) roof was discovered to have a leak. Murphy, thenMount Olive Township Clerk, Lisa Lashway, Mount Olive Historical Society President Thea Dunkel, and high school History teacher Noreen Risko (she and her group instrumental in getting a roof put on the schoolhouse in 1980), sought a way to buy the building for the town. A deal was worked out, a purchase price was secured from Morris County, and the group now owned the few acres that belonged to the Baptist Church across from Town Hall, the old church itself, and the schoolhouse.

“You have to be creative; you have to make it work,” says Murphy when asked what her feelings were when the buildings were acquired. “We had done some research and we knew that this was important for the town.” Also, when the church was abandoned, the building reverted back to a clause in the original deed from the 1700s that said if the church fails to use it as church property, it goes back to the family.” Murphy then looks at the cemetery downhill. “Colonel (Peter) Salmon (Captain of the Western Battalion of Morris County, New Jersey) is buried here in the cemetery, and there is a family association that still meets, and it was going to revert to them! We had to have – I can’t tell you how many people had to sign off on that!”

The town gave its okay, and the powersthat-were at the church were approached and approved of the idea, and the county at via its Preservation Trust expanded past open space and included historic preservation. “The timing was right,” says Murphy.

“2004 was when we acquired it. We did an application to the Preservation Trust to purchase the property as open space, which we got the money for, but then right after that we went back to the Preservation trust for the historical component, and what you needed to do was start getting it on the National Register (of Historic Places).” The first step was the exterior, continued on page 23

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 23

Mount Olive Village Historic District... continued from page 22 where the steeple was falling off, that was rotted, and a new roof. Certain criteria have to be followed to remain on the National Register. “It has been a real learning experience for us, too,” says Murphy.

The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in the summer of 2015.

The ultimate goal with both properties is to open both to the public; unveil a window to the past. It was hoped that the church could be opened to the public

in 2020. It will be used to see what it was like to have a church experience therein, but also to be used for small meeting and conferences. “It would make a lovely wedding chapel,” says Murphy. “We want the community to appreciate it. We want the public to be able to use it. And at the same time, it would be nice to raise enough funds to cover the operating costs.”

“We’ve done some terrific things.”

One very interesting tidbit was the uncovering of a painted canvas ceiling in the

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church, which Historian Dunkel had researched and discovered was done back in 1870. Because the roof leak had damaged artwork, rather than rip the ceiling down, in 1890 a then-installed tin ceiling covered up the canvas…to an extent. “They covered up the painted ceiling, which had lavenders and blues,” says Murphy, a touch of pain in her voice. “Yellows and everything – real color. No realized that it had this paining until the tin ceiling got the bad roof leak, and you can see where the tin was damaged, little bits of fabric were hanging out there.” The tin ceiling has now been removed, and the worst damage revealed is over the choir loft.

It will remain in its current condition for now. There is beauty there, even in its poor condition.

As for the 1837 one room schoolhouse, Murphy has a few of the old desks now inside the building. In the future there will be “History of Mount Olive” displays, but obviously returning it to its 19th century classroom setting would be ultimate. “We can get kids to try and sit down and experience it.”

The stained-glass windows in the church have been removed (“They were

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from the 1940s, they didn’t match the church, and they weren’t in the best shape anyway,” says Murphy), and have been returned to the original glass windows that appeared in a 1930s newspaper article about the church that showed a picture of the side of the building. “There were shutters at that time, covering the windows.

But one of the shutters was broken and you could see the frame of the window inside. From that, they were able to determine how many panes of glass were in it.”

The roof on the school must be replaced.

“When the old Presbyterian Church (originally built in 1857) – which at the time was turned over to a private resident – burned to the ground ten years ago, the heat curled up some of the roofing tiles.

We want to get a new roof on there.”

“Historical” to Murphy means the following. “Once you get people in, I think they’ll make a little more of a connection.

That’s why we want to see buildings like this preserved, otherwise every town just becomes this nameless blur of strip malls and chain stores. People don’t have that connection to their community unless there’s something unique about it. I hope this helps provide more of that.”

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 25

The Faith History of Mt. Olive Township

Presbyterian Church

Methodist Church

T

By Elsie Walker he history of faith in the Mt. Olive area actually dates back to before it was even a township. The oldest church, the United Methodist Church of Flanders was founded in 1789. The 18th century also saw people of other denominations, who had been travelling to Chester for church services, decide to have a building for worship closer to home. First, a log building seating 40 was used, which Mt. Olive Township Historian Thea Dunkle shared was like “a community center, used for pretty much everything” and later another structure was built on the same site which could seat 75, with the welcomed addition of a stove for heat.

There, the roots of what today are the Mt. Olive Community Bible Church and the United Presbyterian Church, Flanders worshipped, with a preacher coming there on a periodic basis. While over the past 150 years, some houses of worship have disappeared from the Mt. Olive landscape, others have come to call it “home”. Many have come for the same reasons the early churches were started: to be in a more easily accessible location for worshippers. Using information supplied by church members and previously published church profiles, plus information supplied by the Mt. Olive Township Historian, this is a historical look at those houses of worship which make up the spiritual landscape of Mt. Olive Township today.

Flanders United Methodist Church can boast many historical significances. The church was founded 1789, the same year that the first governor of New Jersey was elected; however, that’s not the only first the church has witnessed. In an interview for a profile on the church, the church’s pastor, Rev. Meekyung Choi Kim, noted that the church is considered the “mother church” of its denomination in this region, as it was the first Methodist Church in the northern New Jersey area.

Although its current building is not the original one, Dunkle noted that the current building is the oldest church building that is still standing and used as a church in Mt. Olive Township. The pastor noted that the current building “was built in 1857 at a cost of approximately $4,000. The fellowship room was added in 1898 and the classroom wing was constructed in 1959.”

In addition to the United Methodist Church, two other

Mt. Olive Church

Flanders UMC Church

churches with early roots are The Mt. Olive Community Bible Church and the United Presbyterian Church, Flanders. Both have the same origin: sharing early community structures for worship. According to Dunkle’s records, the first structure, a log church, was built on land given for its use in 1768, and served four denominations (Anabaptists, the Church of England, the Congregationalist and the Presbyterians). The records also share that “This log church served the local residents for 40 years. In 1808 began building a better place of worship on the same site. This second church was built in 1809 but not totally completed until 1818.” At that point, it was primarily the Baptists and Presbyterians worshipping there. In a profile of Mt. Olive Community Bible Church (former Mt. Olive Baptist Church), its pastor, Rev. Neil Lines noted for those first two early shared structures, the church name denoted a location rather than a denomination: the Roxbury Church for the first and the Schooley Mountain Church for the second.

In the 1850s, the Baptist and Presbyterian congregations decided to build their own houses of worship. Dunkle said that they dismantled the building they were sharing and materials from it were sold off and the proceeds were split between the two denominations.

In a profile of his church, Lines notes that in 1855, the then Baptist congregation built a structure all its own. The new structure was built of stone drawn from the mountains by oxen on sledge and was located on Drakestown Road.

In the late 1800s, the church changed its name from the Schooley Mountain Church to the Mt. Olive Baptist Church.

That building is no longer used by the church, as a new one was built in the 20th century.

“In reference to our present church, it was built in the mid 70’s by our church as a Sunday School building. We allowed the public schools to use it during the week in the late 70’s. In the early 80’s, the town no longer needed the space.

We subsequently renovated the inside to accommodate our need for a larger body of parishioners and moved in, making it our new and present church. We continued to use our old church until it was donated to the town,” Lines shared.

In 2003, the church changed its name to The Mount Olcontinued on page 26

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Faith History... continued from page 25 ive Community Bible Church. “The reason the congregation chose a new name was to avoid being labeled as a certain denomination and to appeal to a wider spectrum of church seekers who may come from a variety of religious backgrounds,” said Lines.

Like the Mt. Olive Community Bible Church, the United Presbyterian Church – Flanders can trace its origins back to the early community structures, the second of which was dismantled with the Baptists and Presbyterians then each building its own house of worship. Dunkle shared the following information, “Prior to the agreement to separate, the Presbyterian services were still organized by the Chester Church and services were only held every two weeks or sometimes only once a month by the pastor coming from Chester for services.

Earlier in 1834, 48 members of the Chester Church were granted certificates of membership and dismissed to form the Presbyterian Church of Mt. Olive. On September 30, 1852 the cornerstone was laid for this new church. The Presbyterians entered their new house of worship in 1854. Various ministers served this church until 1856, when the Mt Olive and Flanders Presbyterian Church united with one pastor for the next 10 years.

From then until 1930, the church thrived

and was very active. By 1930 enrollment had dropped, people moved away and economy was on the decline. The church was closed for two and a half years. Discussion began in 1957 to possibly merge the Mt Olive Church and the First Presbyterian Church of Flanders.”

In a profile of the church, Church Historian, Faithe Ludlow of Chester Township, had shared that the churches merged in 1959, becoming the United Presbyterian Church, Flanders. Ludlow noted 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 on Drakesdale Road, which the church moved into in 1983.

There’s one church which can trace its beginnings to the same year as the start of the township: the Budd Lake Chapel (once known as Budd Lake Union Chapel) at 54 Sandshore Road. Dunkle shared the history of this congregation and its church: “In 1871, Mrs. John Chipps helped to organize a Sunday School at the residence of John Budd.

Mrs. Budd was delighted as they were accustomed to walking to and from Chester to attend the Chester Church. On August 14, 1872, John Budd deeded the land on which the Union Chapel stands to the trustees of

Mount Olive Community Bible Church

the church. There were some stipulations in the deed. [The] Church was to be interdenominational. If the church abandoned the land, it reverted back to the Budd Family. The church had to build within two years.

Groundbreaking was on October 15, 1873.

The church was completed on August 7, 1874 and cost $3,500. The dedication was in August 1875. All requirements were met.

Sunday School continued, and continued to

grow in attendance. A small building was added to the chapel in 1960 and is known as Faith Hall.” Later, the church purchased some nearby property for church gatherings and events. The church refers to it as “the Lord’s oasis”.

While some churches can boast ties back to the 18th and 19th century, other churches are “youngsters” in comparison, making continued on page 27

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 27

St. Jude Church

Cavalry Chapel

Faith History... continued from page 26 their appearance in Mt. Olive Township in the 20th century.

One of those is St. Jude Parish, which began as a mission of St Michael’s Roman Catholic Church in Netcong. Dunkle shared information that “mass [was given] at the Budd Lake Pavilion for the summer residents’ convenience. Mass was then held at the Budd Lake Inn, which has changed owners and names through the years but is next to the Budd Lake Post. Later, members contributed money and services and

fundraising events were held to build their own church. The church was constructed and completed before the end of 1946. Later, a parish hall and rectory were added. In November 1986, a decision was made to build a new parish church because of the growth of the parish. The new church was completed in May 1990.”

Coming onto the spiritual landscape at the end of the 1960s was The Mount Olive Jewish Center (Temple Hatikvah). Larry Leibowitz, President of Temple Hatikvah said,

“The goal was to establish a Jewish Conservative congregation. The nearest Conservative temple was in Dover; the nearest temple (Temple Shalom) was, and [still] is Reform.

Neither met the needs of the ‘founders’, who were younger under 40, for the most part, and wanted to establish our own presence.” In 1969, the temple’s incorporation papers established it as The Mount Olive Jewish Center, congregationally named Hatikvah. Leibowitz explained that “Hatikvah” is the continued on page 28

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Faith History...

continued from page 27 Hebrew word for “Hope” and is also the national anthem of the State of Israel. “The names were used interchangeably over the first few years, with Hatikvah winning out. The building was constructed in 1977, with an addition in 1990.

Between 1973 and 1977, we had been meeting in rented space in the Village Shopping Center,” said Leibowitz.

The migration of Scandinavian descendants into Mt. Olive Township, many of them Lutheran, prompted the start of one church in the 1970s. According to a church profile of Abiding Peace Lutheran Church in Budd Lake, the Division for Mission in North America, Lutheran Church in America, had started planning for a new congregation in the Morris, Sussex, and Warren area in the late 1960’s. The profile notes that “One of the reasons the Budd Lake site was selected was the growing number of Scandinavian descendants then moving to Vasa Park.” The congregation was formally organized on May 9, 1971 and met at a local school and in members’ homes until it had its own building, which was dedicated in June 1978.

In the 1980s, St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, Calvary Bible Chapel, and Mountaintop Church were added to Mt. Olive’s growing faith community. Calvary Bible Chapel, as shared in a church profile, began in 1983 when some Christians wanted to establish a church in Mt. Olive. For a little over a year, they met at the Tinc Elementary School, then they purchased the old Presbyterian church building on Main Street in Flanders, where Calvary Chapel is still located. As for the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Dunkle shared that for many years, many Catholics in the Flanders area traveled to surrounding parishes to attend mass. In 1974, when the population grew in the Clover Hill area, St. Lawrence Church of Chester began Mass-

es and Religious Education classes at Mt. View School. The seeds for a new parish were sown in those masses. On June 24, 1985, it became St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. The other house of worship to come on the scene is Mountaintop Church on Naughright Road. As noted in its church profile, “Mountaintop Church was founded in the 1980’s by Pastor Ken Young, a quadriplegic, and originally named Bethesda Christian Church. Young’s goal was to offer hope to the handicapped. However, by the 1990’s, the church’s name had been changed to Mountaintop Church and Young had developed health complications and could no longer pastor.”

Pastor Matt Jones came to the church. When Jones arrived, the congregation only numbered about a dozen people and Jones thought he was coming to close the church. Instead, working with the determined congregation, the church grew.

It is an Assemblies of God church.

The 1990s saw an Episcopal church come to Mt. Olive Township. In a church profile, church member, Raymond Bonker, of Byram, shared that, “Christ Episcopal Church was originally formed in 1865 and located in Stanhope. It served as a mission church within the Diocese of Newark until 1981, when it was upgraded to parish status, meaning that the church was self-supporting in terms of finances and clergy.

The Stanhope church was sold and the congregation moved to its present location at the corner of Sandshore and Smithtown Roads in the Budd Lake section of Mt. Olive in 1993.”

The 21st century, has continued to see growth in Mt. Olive Township’s faith community. As a profile notes, “Around 1999, a group of seven – eight Muslim families came together in the Budd Lake area to worship and built ties. The Islamic Society of North Jersey (ISNJ) was formally established

in 2006 with 75 members and now has over 200. Another house of worship, New Beginning Bible Church, in Flanders began in June 2007. First meeting in a member’s backyard, the church met a variety of places before finding a home at 104 Bartley Flanders Road.

The latest houses of worship to be added to Mt. Olive’s faith history are St. Thomas Orthodox Church and The Chabad Jewish Center; both came to Mt. Olive Township in 2019. After a 2018 fire made the St. Thomas Orthodox Church in Dover unusable, its congregation looked for another home. In what it has called “God’s divine intervention”, the congregation found that five days after the fire, the building of the Hope Baptist Church in Flanders went up for sale. St. Thomas Orthodox Church decided to buy the Flanders church and joined the Mt. Olive faith community. As for The Chabad Jewish Center, it was started in 2004 by Rabbi Yaacov and Fraida Shusterman. Serving the Jewish community in Chester, Mt. Olive, Washington, and Warren County, the Chabad, a Hasidic group, rented various spaces for high holy day services and other events. That changed on February 3, 2019 when the Chabad got a permanent home for its various offerings at 11 Deerfield Place, Flanders.

Mt. Olive Township has a rich faith history. It is home to a diverse religious population which has found Mt. Olive Township a convenient location for worshippers. From the early days of just a few churches, the number of Mt. Olive’s houses of worship has rapidly multiplied, especially in the past 50 years. No one can be sure what will happen in the future, but many will agree that Mt. Olive is a great place to live and a great place to worship.

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The Township of Mount Olive Fire Department: Service Impacting a Lot of People

T

By Steve Sears he late Fred Detoro, who was a third generation Fire Chief and served as the Township of Mount Olive’s Fire Marshal, and for a period as the first Director of Fire & EMS, states, “The fire service is who people call when they don’t know who to call, so you have to be ready for anything.”

An appropriate statement, for the Township of Mount Olive Fire Prevention Bureau, which is located at 204 Flanders-Drakestown Road, and includes Flanders Fire Company No. 1 & Rescue and Budd Lake Fire Company No. 1, is always ready when called upon.

Fighting fires and rescue are all part of a firefighter’s day.

“At the end of the day, I’m very fortunate where we have fire and EMS under one roof, so we work simultaneously with each other,” says Tyler Wargo, Fire Chief in Flanders. “But at the end of the day, it’s a job, it’s the whole job from point A to point B to the finish line.”

Yes, a job, but a volunteer one. Former Budd Lake Fire Chief Mike Dorlon explains. “The most important thing I would like everyone to know is that the Budd Lake Fire Department is 100% volunteer, 24/7, 365 days a year. I have been to many incidents where the residents thought the fire departments in town were paid and are pretty shocked when we let them know that we are all volunteer. The members of this department are on call all day every day, leave their homes on holidays and in the middle of the night to respond on their own time without expecting anything in return except their own satisfaction that they helped someone on their worst day and hopefully changed the outcome.”

Wargo, who is an assistant store manager for Lowes, agrees. “Yeah, the biggest thing is the volunteerism. We go to calls and people think that were a paid department, and we’re not a paid department at all, including the Fire Chief. I am not paid, and just really getting the word out that when we come to their house or come to their need, it’s a 100% volunteer organization, and a lot of the guys and ladies responding have full-time jobs, and we do it for the love of our community.”

The Flanders Fire Department was established in 1923, and Budd Lake followed in 1929. Flanders celebrated a 97th anniversary in 2020, and Budd Lake turns 92 in 2021. Both departments also celebrated in 2018 the 85th anniversary of

the Mount Olive Township Committee passing an ordinance, officially establishing on May 8, 1933 the Mount Olive Township Fire Department, with both the Budd Lake and Flanders departments under one umbrella.

This is the story of a Fire Prevention Bureau, the fascinating histories in brief of both departments, and their continued dedication to the Mount Olive community and beyond.

“The fire department first started in a chicken coop up the street…”

Flanders Fire Company No. 1 & Rescue was founded first.

Detoro, who passed away suddenly in June 2019, grew up in town, right on Main Street, nearby the Flanders firehouse.

“It was the original road (Main Street) in Flanders, one of them,” he said in a January interview that year. “That’s where the firehouse was started, in various locations, two different locations. The fire department first started in a chicken coop up the street and then when the school moved up the street, I think the fire dept bought it from them in ’23, and it’s been housed there, it’s gone through many renovations, many additions, as the town did. As the town grew, the fire department grew.”

Marc Muccione took over as Fire Marshal after Detoro’s death, was born and raised in town.

“My parents moved here in 1969. I became a volunteer in 1988, with the Flanders Fire department and Rescue Squad.

Fred and my older brother were also very good friends going back to their childhoods. When I joined the fire department, Fred and I became friends and he suggested I obtain my Fire Inspector and Fire Official licenses. Fred was the first full-time Fire Inspector for Mt. Olive Township. When the Township approved a hiring of a second full-time Fire Inspector, I applied for the position. I’ve been employed with the Fire Marshal’s Office since January 1, 2001. After Fred passed away, I was appointed Fire Marshal on July 29th, 2019 to succeed him.” Muccione admired Detoro’s skills. “Fred was very knowledgeable in firefighting. He was an incredible mentor.”

And, then the time came for him to assume the top chair, Muccione benefitted from Detoro’s tutelage and was ready.

Going back to the very beginning, we always talked about how we wanted to mold the future of the Fire Marshal’s Office. We had a common vision. So not only was he a boss, but he was also a close friend.”

From the Flanders Fire Company No. 1 and Rescue website: The Flanders Fire Company No. 1 has the responsibility to respond to fire and EMS emergencies within Mt. Olive Township, Flanders, and the surrounding communities.

The Company has the duty to maintain all the emergency vehicles and all the equipment used to protect the lives, the property of Flanders residents, those passing through as well as those who live in surrounding towns. The Fire Company is also responsible for attaining the best possible equipment and the continuous training of our volunteer members– both for their safety and the safety of all whom we protect.

The first discussion regarding establishing a fire company was in 1922, when residents chatted while picking up mail at the local post office. On June 8, 1923, seven residents, Howard and Ed McLaughlin, William Marvin, E.C. Ted Ashley, George Erickson, Watson McPeek, and Augustus Stark – established Flanders Fire Co. #1, and McLaughlin was named Chief. Meetings were held in Ed’s chicken coop, and McLaughlin’s barn was used to store the company’s equipment, and his house served as fire company headquarters. In October of that year, the township’s first fire truck, a Brockway Torpedo, was converted from a chemical car into a water carrier. Still stationed in 1928 in McLaughlin’s chicken coop, the completion of a new school at 26 Main Street enabled the former old schoolhouse to become the new fire house, and it was remodeled to house all the fire company’s equipment.

With the expanded space, the company operated with two bays and a meeting hall upstairs. In 1936, a Dodge pumper was purchased to replace the old “Torpedo” fire engine, and in 1938, a Ladies Auxiliary was formed to aid the firemen.

Hazel Tinc was elected Chairwomen, Mrs. Erickson as her assistant, Ruth Gray served as Secretary and Ruth Clawson was the first Treasurer. In 1940, a new rescue squad joined forces with the fire company in order to serve the residents of Flanders, furthering service to the township. As of 1942, Flanders Fire Company #1 operated two engines and a rescue truck, and in 1950 the Rescue Squad was added to the company’s name. Randolph Township shortly thereafter donated an ambulance, which in 1951 was replaced by a 1949 Studebaker, which was then replaced by a Cadillac in 1958.

As time progressed, methods of fighting fires improved aidcontinued on page 31

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Fire Department... continued from page 30 ed by technology. In the early 2000s, an addition housed a 2003 E-One 95 Tower, as well as included offices and lockers for storage and management. Sadly, in 2011, Assistant Chief Thomas Shields suddenly passed after a mid-day call. A memorial plaque is placed between the bay doors of Engine 95 and Tower 96. “…to provide the safest and quickest outcome of any emergency or non-emergency incident that is confronted…

The mission of the Budd Lake Fire Company No. 1 is “to provide the safest Fire Protection, Emergency Medical Assistance and Education to both its members and the general public. The manner in which we will provide these services shall be systematically approached and in accordance with the safest practices and procedures of the Budd Lake Fire Department (Fire Division). Above all, it is the intent of the Budd Lake Fire Department (Fire Division) to provide the safest and quickest outcome of any emergency or non -emergency incident that is confronted by the Budd Lake Fire Department (Fire Division).”

Budd Lake Fire Co. # 1 has a fine history as well. In 1929, a discussion over coffee at Tichners Store on Route 46 centered on creating a Budd Lake Fire Department. Edward Brown acquired a Model T Ford, and he and Ray E. DeGraw fashioned it into Budd Lake Fire Department’s initial fire truck. Department meetings were held in the basement of Mockler’s Tavern on Route 46. A Baby Grand Chevrolet was purchased and delivered from North Carolina, and it was used as a chemical truck. In July 1931, the Fire Department was reorganized, and elected to office were President Robert Fennimore, Vice President John Kelley, Secretary Roscoe Reimel, and Treasure William Moekler. Incorporation papers were secured under the name Budd Lake Vol. Fire Company No. 1 of Mt. Olive

Township. Charter members were Andrew A. Brown, Edward Moelker, Roscoe Reimel, John Hunt, Robert Fennimore, T.J. Romer, Edward Trinner Sr., George Todd Sr., Charles Garneau, Frank Stephany, Robert Wittenberg, John B. Freudenberger, Ray E. DeGraw, Fred Klenke, Lois P. Petrie, Dallas Batson, Leonard D. Sylvester and John Kelley. On May 8, 1933, the Township Committee passed its Ordinance, naming both the Flanders and Budd Lake departments as the Mount Olive Township Fire Departments. In 1934, the fire department joined both the Police Department and Post Office, moving into the township municipal building. In 1935 the Township Committee bought the Fire Department their first pumper, a 1935 Ford with a 500 gpm Barton Centrifugal pump v-40 mounted in front of the truck. In 1941, the Township purchased the old Municipal Building, and the Budd Lake Fire Department was housed there until 1968, when the present firehouse on Route 46 became their new home. A second fire truck (a 1946 International) was purchased in 1946, and in 1956 the Fire Department held its 25th Anniversary. In 1968, construction on the Route 46 firehouse was completed, and in 1972 an addition to the firehouse was completed.

In 1981, the Budd Lake Fire Company No. 1 had a grand 50th Anniversary party, and a huge parade, which included 119 fire companies, 74 rescue squads, 259 pieces of apparatus, and 23 bands. In 1987, added to the firehouse were two more engine bays, a radio room, Chief’s Office, engineers’ work room, a storage room, and a conference room, and in 1994 a picnic pavilion was built in the rear.

“For me, it was a family thing” Detoro was a 3rd generation Fire Chief in Mount Olive. His dad and grandfather were first and second Chiefs, respectively. Detoro started out as a volunteer firefighter and fire Chief. He eventually became a Fire Marshall, which includes

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“My father,” said Detoro, “was the first Fire Marshall from 1972 to 2001. They thought it was easier to just keep the same business card and name tag on the door,” said Detoro with a laugh. Detoro grew up in a house listening to the fire department alert radio sounding. As a child, due to safety precautions, he never ventured out on runs with his elders, but the want was there to be a fireman. “For me it was a family thing. My grandfather, my father, my mother. My mom was the first female captain of EMS. It’s in the blood.”

The Mount Olive Township Office of the Fire Marshal was established in 1972. The primary responsibility of the Fire Marshal’s Office is the enforcement of the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code and other local fire safety regulations. Major activities within the scope of this office include Inspections of Life Hazard Uses, Inspections of Non-Life Hazard Uses (except owner-occupied one- and two-family dwellings), Fire Safety Complaints, Fire Permit Control, Fire Lane Enforcement, Smoke detector / Carbon monoxide / Fire extinguisher compliance for the resale of residential properties, and Fire investigations to determine origin and cause.

Joe Compano took over as Budd Lake Fire Chief in January 2021. Dorlon is now Assistant. “I have been a member of the Budd Lake Fire Department since 2011,” says Compano. “I have held numerous positions during this time that have included: Vice President, President, Captain, Lieutenant, Engineer, three Years as 2nd Assistant Chief, and as of January 1, 2021 I became the Chief. I have been responsible for numerous committees such as Bingo Hall Rental.” Compano started as a volunteer firefighter at the age of 18 in 1987 with the Roxbury Fire Department #2, and in 2001 joined Budd Lake. continued on page 34

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International Trade Zone

I

By Jeff Stadelman n 1979 a charter was approved by the federal government creating the Foreign Trade Zone #44 in Mount Olive.

It was the brainchild of local visionary Leslie Smith of Mount Olive. Mr. Smith entered into a partnership with the Rockefeller Group, a real estate company related to New York’s Rockefeller Center.

The 684-acre site was planned in three sections. An office park of 300 acres, industrial park of about 80 acres and the NJ Foreign Trade Zone consisting of 300 acres, would be developed along intersecting highways of Interstate 80, US 46, and State Highway 206 in Mount Olive.

A foreign trade zone allows companies to import goods and components to a facility within a designated zone deferring the payment of import duties, enabling goods and components to be warehoused, assembled, manufactured, packaged, tested, graded, cleaned, mixed, processed or exhibited until it reships those items to markets within the United States. If the products are instead

shipped out of the country, no duties are assessed or collected. Jobs would be created within the park as well as at amenities and support businesses in the area.

Initially faced with many opposition forces, ground was broken when the Hattori Corporation of Japan (Seiko watch) became the first tenant in 1984 with BMW (Bavarian Motor Works) the following year. Also in 1985, Mars’ Information Services Group, Mars’ analytical and computer services arm, broke ground and remained a tenant until 2020 when it relocated to Newark in a reorganization at Mars. Construction of ramps giving direct access to Interstate 80 immediately followed and additional corporations began to populate the property putting Mount Olive on the map from a commercial perspective.

Undoubtedly, the Trade Zone added much to the aspects of township life including growth in local jobs, housing, schools, businesses, roads, sewers and other services.

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Fire Department... continued from page 31 He credits Dorlon with his aid during the recent transition. “Mike was the Chief for three years, and I worked closely with him during this time as I was the 2nd Assistant Chief. These are big shoes to fill and a lot of responsibility. Mike has been sharing his tricks of the trade with me throughout this time and I feel confident that Mike is the 2nd Assistant Chief.” He then talks about the passing of Detoro. “The passing of Fred was devastating news to all of us. Fred worked very closely with the fire department as the Fire Director/Fire Marshall. Not only did Fred fill that position, we worked closely with Flanders Fire Department, and are all part of Mount Olive.” He envisions the same stellar department leadership with Muccione. “I have worked with Marc when he was Fire Official and look forward to working with him as the Fire Marshall.”

Wargo has been Chief of the Flanders unit since 2016 and has been a volunteer firefighter for 18 years. Wargo was recently the recipient of the NJSP Appreciation Award for Valor and will be starting his 5th appointment as Chief in the 2021 year. Wargo’s team in Flanders includes 26-year veteran and 1st Assistant Chief Frank Zeller, and 2nd Assistant Chief (and 33-year firefighter veteran) Mike McDermott, who has served 21 years in Flanders. The Chief states, “I love to help out my community and the residents

who live within the township of Mount Olive. Also, I love to teach our youth the importance of fire safety and seeing that big smile on their faces when they get to see our equipment and interact with my men and women who put their lives on the line daily.” He leans back and describes the busy 2020 year. “We have seen something that we have never been faced with and had to quickly adapt to and that being the pandemic Covid-19. It was the first time I could ever recall having to essentially shut the doors to the fire department from the public, and this was very challenging for all my men and women who look forward to the public interaction and events we hold at our Firehouse.”

Wargo also commends his EMS division, led

by Captain Todd Summer, 1st Lieutenant Megan Pfefferkorn, 2nd Lieutenant Josh Heyman, and 2nd Lieutenant Alec Staszak who managed not only the response for Covid-19 calls but also assisted with the implementation and roll out of our Covid-19 protocol and safety standards in conjunction with CDC requirements. “By doing such, we have not had to take Flanders Fire & Rescue offline during the entire pandemic so we can continue to serve our residents in Mount Olive Township.”

Speaking of the coronavirus, Compano details the Budd Lake side of things. “We were affected by all members being required to wear proper (PPE) Personal Protective

Equipment while responding to all incidents/ calls in the Mount Olive Township. The firehouse was closed to social gatherings and members were only permitted there to respond to fire calls.”

Dorlon adds, “I have actually joked that I would have rather dealt with Hurricane Irene and Hurricane Sandy than deal with the pandemic. That’s my current comment to everybody when they ask.” Dorlon and Budd Lake Fire thought that call volume would

go up during the pandemic, because everybody was home, and there would be more cooking fires. “The call volume dropped off.

It was very interesting. You know, we would have maybe one or two calls a week where we normally have one or two a day once in a while.” When things opened back up again, the call volume ascended. “Right now,” Dorlon said in December, “we’re at 502 fire calls.” The Budd Lake Fire Department has a continued on page 35

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Fire Department... continued from page 34 usual call volume of 650 to 700 calls a year, and the number increases every year due to the town growing substantially. “We finished 2018 at 725 calls,” Dorlon recalls. “If I remember correctly, when I joined the department back in 1999, we had about 400 calls a year.”

For Muccione, COVID19 was very difficult. “As far as the employees and the Fire Inspectors, we’re still operating at full staff.

The issues that confront us, we are responsible for the building safety inspections.

We need to enter office buildings, nursing homes, and hospitals to perform our duty.

The Fire Inspectors are very concerned about that. The State DCA allows us to do a “modified inspection”, so to speak. It’s very difficult for the guys when you go there and cite violation. But you work closely with businesses. When a house goes up for sale and changes of ownership occurs, we have to go

in and inspect the house. The State allows us now to do an affidavit, putting Inspectors at increased risk. It’s very difficult when you do paperwork versus in person inspection, there’s that chance of not accurate reporting.”

“The challenges that I foresee is that with the numbers fluctuating in positive cases, we need to ensure the safety of our members and the community,” says Compano. “The members are still required to mask up and follow safety protocols. Some of our calls have consisted of decontaminating Mount Olive Police Officers that have entered houses while wearing their own PPE and we need to decon the officers after exiting the house.”

Mount Olive is a key location in Morris County, which Routes 46, 206, and 80 enveloping the area, 183 running nearby, and a railway running through it. “It’s the one township in the state,” alludes Wargo, “that has all the major hearts of our transportation going through it.”

All of the fire departments have mutual aid agreements throughout the county and any nearby areas. Budd Lake and Flanders both have mutual aid agreements, sending them to Chester, Roxbury, Netcong, and even outside the county, if needed. Budd Lake itself covers approximately 23 square miles of Mount Olive Township and borders other towns such as Hackettstown, Allamuchy and Byram Townships, Stanhope, Netcong and

Roxbury, and Washington Township.

The life of a firefighter – from the Chiefs and the Director When a person joins the Mount Olive Fire Department, they are required to attend Firefighter One training, which is basic firefighting at Morris County Public Safety Training Academy. Basic Firefighter 1 Certification is needed, and Fire 2 for any fire department officers. The classes are about 180 hours.

“You never stop learning,” says Wargo.

“Every second Thursday of the month we (Flanders) have fire drills, and then quarterly we go to the (Morris County or Somerset County) academy and do live burns or some sort of live scenario.”

In addition to the turn out gear that is worn at every call (which has a life span of 10 years), in 2019 Budd Lake Fire currently has 3 engines, 1 ladder truck, 1 tender (which is used to supply water in areas of town that do not have fire hydrants) 2 support trucks, 3 Chief’s vehicles and 1 military surplus truck. In 2020, there was a fleet change.

Replaced were a rescue engine and a small support truck with heavy rescue truck. Call types change as the town evolves into a different type of population and infrastructure.

“We’re building 50 townhouses on Route 46 right now, and there’s talk of a new development over off the (International) Trade Zone of 700 and something homes as well. continued on page 36

Happy 150th to Mt Olive Township!

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Fire Department... continued from page 35 So, as our population is changing, the infrastructure changes, there’s new warehouses going up, factories - it’s an evolving town and things have to change.”

“Flanders has a rescue, engine, tower, brush truck, three ambulances, and MCI unit with an ICE rescue unit all in one and will also be receiving a new mid-mount state of the art Pierce Ladder Truck. Budd Lake has three engines, a ladder, a rescue, a tanker…we have a ton of resources, and going back to the county level, they see how integrated we are with what we have and how professional we are and how we are evolving and developing, and it goes a long way. So, we’re heavily relied on in that aspect across the board,” adds Wargo.

When firefighters enter a burning building, they do so carrying a lot of necessary weight. “So, along with firefighting depending on the call, if a member (of the FD) is fully dressed, you’re looking at 110 lbs. of equipment that they have to carry, and that includes their SCBA (breathing apparatus), their turnout gear, any tools they’re carrying…in some instances it can be even greater than 110 lbs. It varies on the call, but on average you’re looking at anywhere from 88 to 100 pounds,” says Wargo. The Mount Olive Fire Department uses state of the art of equipment. “The township is very proactive and takes care of their firefighters and medical responders very well. From our personal breathing apparatus to our actual fleet, and we have thermal energy cameras – which help firefighting and finding victims inside a smoke-filled structure or fire structure – different kinds of gas meters, Jaws of Life, an ample number of tools to stabilize cars, different types of power tools – we have everything.”

In addition to the physical aspect of firefighting, there is

also the mental and emotional side.

“Each one,” adds Wargo, “has its own different twist to it. I would say the biggest ones that really touch the general membership would be anything involving kids. Being a father, kids are the worst. But going back to the township, the amount of support we get from a social media standpoint regarding a job well done or , ‘Hey, you guys did something amazing,’ or just a thank you, I mean it really goes a long way to the membership when they see that. They see that the town folks are really supporting and backing what we do day in and day out. That in itself, just a thank you goes a long way.”

“Sometimes it can be a stressful position,” says Dorlon.

“Obviously, the past few years, like with structure fires, and there was a pandemic to deal with. We had the school bus accident, and there was a couple of serious incidents that we had on the interstate a couple years ago. That stresses you.

And then, as well as everything else, along with just running the department can be a little stressful at times. But in the end, you know, it’s definitely something I took a lot of pride in, and I was very proud of the department and to serve it.”

Mount Olive has a population of 33,000 residents, and new developments are going in throughout the town. That means more people having to educate those people about fire safety via the fire department website.

A handshake or hug, between the fire fighter and the community “I typically put in 60 hours per week there (at his job) and then in my free time I’m answering calls,” says Wargo, “and it can be all hours of the night. We’re not getting any sleep; we’re working our full-time jobs. Being fire chief is like a second job, but we love doing it. We do it for love, not for pay.

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Seeing the service, seeing how we impact the lives of others, just getting a handshake or hug, it speaks a thousand times.”

“Some of them,” added Detoro, “have brought people to tears. It’s very emotional.”

Wargo recalls the 2018 Fenmore call. “The whole family was essentially overcome by carbon monoxide, and then seeing the whole family come to the firehouse and how grateful they were. They invited the whole township to their home for a pool party and barbeque. Just being able to see the end results of everybody putting their hard work together for a positive outcome and being thanked – you can’t put words to that.”

“Hands down we live in an awesome community and we do this all for the same reason: it’s for our community.”

As a chief, Wargo knows that calls will come in that pull on your heartstrings. “It’s tough wearing that white helmet because you have to be the support function for all your men and women.”

Wargo also adds that each call doesn’t end when the call ends. “Once a call is ended, the call is evaluated and reevaluated, seeing if things could’ve been done better, or what we can change to make the next outcome of a same call better, so we’re always planning, always thinking outside the box, always trying to improve, to be the best we can be. Knowing your area, things are constantly changing as Fred said, we’re a growing township, just knowing your surroundings and pushing everything as a whole is what we do.” “…the (Town) Council has been more than generous seeing that and helping us out” Detoro explained the uniqueness of Mount Olive and how it pertains to firefighting. “You can have single family continued on page 39

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Fire Department... continued from page 36 homes, and then hotels, and then industry, you have industries that have chemicals…the makeup of Mount Olive Township dictates what the fire departments have, what type of apparatus, and the (Town) Council has been more than generous seeing that and helping us out.”

Wargo delivers a good example. “If there’s a serious call, the Mayor’s at that call. He’s coming out seeing what the men and women are doing, as a support function to all Mount Olive services, whether it be police, fire, EMS. He’s there, he’s thanking everybody…I mean, that’s how above and beyond our Town Council goes for us. You don’t find that in other townships; I can tell you hands down that doesn’t happen at all. So, the township, the Mayor, the Council, they’re more than 100% behind our back. We might not get something we request immediately, but they find a way to make it happen. They are constantly praising us, doing things for us all the time, and its appreciated.”

More training, and volunteers are needed More training is something Muccione plans on for 2021. “The more services you do, the more training you’re going to need.

There are a lot of classes we would like to attend that are offered, but we’re not sure yet with the COVID-19 pandemic how these classes will be given. Will they be done on-

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line, or in person, or a combination of? But that is probably the highest priority, getting these guys more trained in different areas.”

Both Budd Lake and Flanders are seeking new members. Candidates should stop by any firehouse, and every year the department puts out quarterly or year-end videos on all publications (Facebook, Twitter) which details specifics. Every Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. in Flanders you can come down and fill out an application, and there is also contact information on the website.

“Budd Lake Fire Department is always looking for new members to join the team,” says Compano. “We are a volunteer organization that meets every Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at the Budd Lake Fire House. Members are accepted at the age of 16 as Junior members. As the new Chief, I am looking forward to working with the Mayor, Council, Business Administrator, Police Chief and working together. I would like to thank all the firefighters for their dedication as well as their families for the time that we are away from them.”

A more detailed explanation of what the Township of Mount Olive Township Fire Prevention Bureau does can be found at www. mountolivetownship.com/fire_prevention and by calling 973-691-0900. For information on the separate fire houses, visit www. buddlakefire.org and www.flandersfire.org.

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Mount Olive Proud of Its Veterans

M

By Steve Sears ount Olive is proud of its war veterans.

The township always has been, and always will be.

“It was in front of the old municipal building where they put up a wooden memorial,” says Historical Society President, Thea Dunkle. “I have all the names. I tried to research some of the names, a lot of them have moved away. And those were everybody that just served.”

Dunkle speaks of the original World War II Honor Roll erected by the Budd Lake Civic Association in 1944, shortly after the end of World War II. Listed were the names of veterans who had served in World War I and World War II. For 44 years it stood, but then started to decay.

In 1968, John C. Planker, President of the Budd Lake Civic Association, chaired a committee called the War Memorial Association, who wanted to replace it, this time listing those who had lost their lives at war. The Civic Association themselves pledged $1000 towards the project, and the group also asked for donations. Locals stepped up; dances were held as were bake sales, local scouts also got involved, and township committees supplied monument footing. The huge, granite monument was then built for $3,400. Initially listed were 12 names: one World War I veteran, seven World War II vets, and two Vietnam Veterans. The Mount Olive Township War Veterans Memorial Monument was built and then dedicated on July 4, 1968. The inscription on the monument reads, “Erected

Photos courtesy of the Mount Olive Township Historical Society.

in grateful tribute to the men and women of Mount Olive who have faithfully served in the armed forces of our country.” And, above the branches of service, “Those Who Had Made The Supreme Sacrifice.”

Dunkle reflects on some of those lost. “Only one man, George Swackhammer from Flanders, ended up dying in World War I. Captain Arthur C. Brock, he served in World War I – who was actually from Canada but married someone from Mount Olive - he went back to World

War II because he was an expert in submarines.” Brock died of a heart attack during World War II, the only man who served in both wars who is listed on the monument. “(Stanley Dennis) Pfrommer was born and raised here. His sister gave me a lot of information,” says Dunkle. “He was killed by friendly fire. That was kind of sad. He graduated from West Morris High School.”

Sometime later, 18 Civil War veterans were added, and continued on page 41

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Proud of Its Veterans... continued from page 40 the Mount Olive Township War Veterans Memorial Monument was rededicated on May 29, 2000 and was eventually moved in 2007 to Turkey Brook Park as part of the All Veterans Memorial, site which was founded by resident Charlie Uhrmann. Sperry Brothers of Dover moved the monument to the All Veterans Memorial site in November 2007, and Lt. Michael McGreevy and Spc. Ronald Ray Harrison, who died in Iraq and Afghanistan respectively, are the latest names to be added. There are now 32 names on the monument.

Not wanting to limit the memory to within park borders, the town was approached and asked, with so many new developments being built, why not name some of these streets after the veterans (on the monument)? “We had to be careful,” says Dunkle, “because we already had some street names. We already have a Johnson Avenue, we already had a Robert Street.” Everything was checked

through the police department to make sure there were no duplicate names. Also, Dunkle feels that all who served deserve a flag. “I also documented in my cemetery research, and I pulled all the names of anybody that served in the military. Not everybody gets a military stone, but I do think they deserve a flag. So, I’ve given the American Legion in Mount Olive the name of the boys that are in the cemeteries that need to get a flag.”

Whether it was the original wooden World War II Honor Roll memorial which listed all those from Mount Olive who served in battle, or the current Mount Olive Township War Veterans Memorial Monument, chiseled with the names of those from the township who died in battle, or the flags which are placed next to the graves of those who fought so valiantly, there is a message: You are not, and will never be, forgotten.

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Pax Amicus: Where Everyone Can Shine on Stage

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By Evan Wechman he words Pax Amicus in Latin translates to peace, friend. The unique theater in Budd Lake embodies this meaning. Since 1970, the Pax Amicus Castle Theatre has played the host of a variety of significant artistic performances.

According to co-founder Stanley Barber, “every human being has something valuable and precious to offer-to theatre, to each other, to the arts and to life.” It is this underlying belief that the venue has been both a haven for the community of Mount Olive and for performers across the country.

This local arts center has produced many big theatrical events since its inception. Their first production was a tribute to Jacques Brel, a famous French performer. This event assisted in defining Barber’s hope that his small town venue would be “a welcoming, joyous theatre of the arts seeking to explore the joys and pains, comedies and tragedies of human existence.”

There have also been wonderful renditions of The Miracle Worker, To Kill a Mockingbird, and even Falsettos which ended with a tapestry of Morris County residents who died from AIDS. The fabric is now part of the International AIDS Quilt and audiences were touched by the show’s genuine honesty.

It might surprise some in the community, but back in 1979 aspiring actor Kevin Bacon made an appearance. Barber recalls that this was before Bacon was a household name, prior to acting in such acclaimed films as Diner or Footloose. The young actor was the escort of the talented Guest of Honor continued on page 44

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Pax Amicus...

continued from page 42 Margaret Hamilton whose fame came from her portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz. Barber spoke highly of Hamilton and Bacon, mentioning that “both were gracious and generous in every way.”

When asked which performance was his personal favorite, the co-founder stated, “choosing a personal favorite is like asking a dad which kid he loves the most; it just isn’t possible.” Barber is a fan of the arts and despite the theatre’s great success, he remains humbled by it all. “I believe whatever success Pax Amicus has had is due to the enormous contributions of every single person who wanted and need-

ed to be a part of what we do,” from the actors to the ushers, and even the audience.

The onset of the coronavirus has caused the theatre to temporarily cease operations. Barber though remains optimistic, maintaining “that when the pandemic subsides and we can safely open our doors, we will continue to bring the very best if live theatre to our community at a reasonable cost, accessible to all.”

He is hopeful that he will be able to celebrate their 50th anniversary weekend shortly as originally planned which will feature the premiere of a new musical, Merlin, the Warrior Wizard and even a reunion at Waterloo Village. When

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schools fully reopen, the decades long tradition of class trips will continue as Pax Amicus Castle will make their professional productions of Romeo and Juliet and The Life and Tales of Edgar Allan Poe open to children. The actors performing for the children are classically trained actors wearing authentic period costumes who also engage in a question and answer format after the show.

The theatre survives solely on ticket sales and donations.

In the future, the theatre will keep its doors open to adults, school-aged children, and to all lovers of the arts. For more information on Pax Amicus, visit www.paxamicus.com.

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Airports of Mount Olive

The single paved runway and approximately 40 aircraft show a busy airport . (Credit Dick Krentz)

By Henry M. Holden Budd Lake Airfield he end of World War II spurred an interest in civilian aviation. In 1946, the beginning of Budd Lake Airfield appeared south of the intersection of Drakestown Road and Church Road. Although technically in Washington Township, it served pilots from nearby Mt. Olive, until Flanders Valley Airport opened in 1956.

Eileen Stokes, of the Washington Township Historic Preservation Society said, “This airport operated for about a decade, starting in 1946.”

The country was transitioning from military to civilian life and not surprisingly, the airfield did not appear on the August 1946 New York Terminal Aeronautical Chart or the 1947 United States Geological Survey Topographic Map. The first representation of Budd Lake Airfield was on the July 1949 New York Sectional Chart.

An early aerial photo shows the field with two intersecting grass runways, each 1,800 feet long and a row of 10 T-hangars along the southwest side, with one light aircraft parked.

There was a row of tin-roofed open-front hangars that could have room for 20 aircraft. The airport offered flying lessons, tie downs, hangars, fuel, repairs and a snack bar.

On July 28, 1952, a sky diving accident took the life of a 20-year-old mother of a four-month-old when her chute failed to open. This was the only recorded fatality related to the airfield.

One pilot said, “The airfield had never been ideal. There was a tree line too close to the runways, making landings awkward.”

According to Tom Beemer, “The runway had wires at one end, and trees at the other end. It was a different era, accidents were expected.”

And so, the expected happened. On August 7, 1954, The

T

The NJ Department of Transportation 1982 License for Flanders Valley Airport. Soon after the expiration of the license the airport ceased operations. (Credit NJ Department of Transportation)

Paterson News headline read, Plane Damaged Near Budd Lake. “A small plane overshot Budd Lake Airfield on August 6, and had a wing crushed by a fence post as the pilot tried to land in a nearby cornfield. Its two occupants Frederic J. Stickle, of Burnt Mill Rd., Somerville, the pilot, and Charles Trimmer, 14, of North Branch, a passenger were not hurt.

Police said the pilot admitted he did not see the fencepost and he came down in a cornfield. Then, the tree line too close to the runway may have made the landing problematic for the pilot and had been a factor in the accident.

The Federal Aviation Agency and the National Transportation Safety Bureau (NTSB) should have investigated the accident but there is no record of the accident in the NTSB records.

The airfield ceased operations in 1957. According to the New Jersey General Aviation Study Commission’s Subcommittee on Airport Closings, said Budd Lake Airfield closed because the owner, who lived about 500 feet from the runway, did not like the noise and refused to renew the lease.

Other factors contributing to the closing may have been the memory of the young woman killed in the sky diving accident probably lingered.

Today, the land sits vacant. “Nothing ever has been built on this land,” said Stokes, “but township officials said that the owner has made applications that indicate he’s planning some sort of development.

Stokes reported in 2003 that the former Budd Lake Airfield “will soon be built upon for a new elementary school.”

The Cucinella School was built on adjoining property, not on the airfield. The school opened in 2008, adjacent to the southwest side of the Budd Lake Airfield property.

“So, it was being built for a few years before that,” said Stokes. “It was originally reported to me that the school would be on the airfield lot. There was an attempt to place housing on the property but to my knowledge nothing has

even been constructed or approved.”

Flanders Valley Airport Some aviation experts say a few New Jersey airports were victims of high taxes, soaring real estate prices, and developers looking to build houses. Flanders Valley Airport was one of those victims.

John Boyce, a World War II pilot, and retired Eastern Airlines pilot lived on Ironia Road and owned a private landing strip, licensed as a “private aviation facility,” (later called Flanders Valley Airport). He opened the field for his continued on page 47

The earliest photo known of Budd Lake Airfield was a circa 195054 aerial view. It shows the field having two grass runways, and a row of 10 T-hangars along the southwest side, in front of which is one light aircraft. (Courtesy Tom Beamer).

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 47

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personal use and for private pilots in 1956, around the time that Budd Lake Airfield closed, and opened it to commercial use in 1966. He hoped to make it into an airport for the executive flying industry and would include airplane servicing and fuel facilities.

The field he planned would need 38-acres in Roxbury Township, and in Mount Olive Township, but both were zoned for residential with minimum of oneacre lots. A variance was needed, and after months of discussions it was granted.

Flanders Valley Airport appears to have begun construction in 1956 when an aerial photo shows a long cut (for a runway) between two tree lines.

On December 27, 1976, Alan Rosenzweig, 54, suffered injuries when his single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza crashed on takeoff about 8:30 a.m. There were no passengers aboard.

A pilot at the scene said Rosenzweig seemingly was unable, to develop enough power to reach flying speed. The plane attained an altitude of about 30- feet before crashing into a line of trees about 400 feet west of the airport. The craft passed between two trees, shearing off both wings, while a third tree ripped off the left tail stabilizer. Police said the fuselage traveled 138 feet after hitting the ground, leaving a trail of debris. The Flanders First Aid Squad worked for nearly half an hour to free the pilot because the door was wedged shut by

the impact. They finally succeeded with the help of “the jaws of life.” Rosenzweig had a serious head wound and was put in the intensive care unit.

According to the NTSB report, Rosenzweig was an experienced pilot with 834 hours flying time with an instrument rating.

They listed the cause of the accident as, “Premature Lift Off and Failing to Obtain/ Maintain Flying Speed.”

“There were several inches of snow on the runway at the time, which is normally plowed, but had not yet been removed because of the early hour,” said one pilot.

“Nobody is usually out flying that early in the morning.”

The weather at the time was cloudy with approximately 4-inches of snow on the ground, and some fog, but within the Visual Flight Rules (VFR). There was no evidence the snow contributed to the crash. The report states the pilot died from his injuries on December 29.

Eight months later, in August 1977, the Flanders Valley Airport was put up for sale.

A realty company had placed an ad but withdrew it because the airport operator, indicated he was negotiating with the airport owner. The realtor said the “negotiation was not getting anyplace.”

In October, the airport went back on the market. The realtor said there had been quite a few inquiries, but none has yet resulted in anyone touring the airport.

The advertisement listed the airport sellcontinued on page 48

Page 48 • March 2021 • Mt. Olive Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Airports of Mount Olive... continued from page 47 ing price as $995,000. Facilities described included 91-acres, two hangar bays, an office building, restaurant and lounge, two office suites, and a lighted asphalt runway 2,200 feet long.

On June 30, 1978, the airport was sold to West German investor, Emil Silberstein.

The sale included 82-acres in Mount Olive Township for $875,000.

Following its sale there were hints from Silberstein that he may expand the runway or turn the property into an industrial park and heliport.

By the time of the sale, about 50 small private planes were based there.

Subsequently, Silberstein purchased another 20-acres of residentially zoned property on the west side of the airport in Roxbury Township, and negotiated to buy another nine acres on the east side in Mount Olive Township.

The airport had been a source of controversy for years. Opponents contended most of the runway is in Roxbury, while the buildings are in Mount Olive.

On December 11, 1982, the Daily Record reported the owner asked the township to

rezone his land so 275 multiple-dwelling units could be built there. Silberstein, was asking that the township’s land at the airport be changed from its 1-acre residential zone to a zone that permits five housing units to an acre. Silberstein indicated that he wants the land to be economically viable.

Advantages in granting the zone change would benefit the surrounding residential neighborhood. If the zone change was not granted, Silberstein was considering expanding the airport to encourage more air traffic or expanding the hangars to increase the value of the industrial property.

The airport closed in 1984, and a housing development now occupies the site.

According to the 1996 New Jersey General Aviation Study Commission’s Subcommittee on Airport Closings, Flanders Valley Airport closed “when the developers encroached on the runway, building homes very close to the approach end of the runway.”

All that remains today to hint that an airport ever existed are a few street names (Earhart Dr., Wright Court, and Lindbergh Lane) bearing testimony to what had previously occupied the area.

A circa 1950-54 photo of the “Control Tower” at Budd Lake Airfield was a little pilot humor. (courtesy of Tom Beamer).

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 49

ICASTRO H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H

HC O U N C I L M A NH

What I Stand For

4 Stable Taxes 4 Fiscal Responsibility 4 Energy Efficient Green Community

4 Safe Communities 4 Transparency 4 Sustainable Energy

4 Senior Citizens 4 Responsible Growth 4 Open Space

Who is Joe Nicastro?

I moved to Mount Olive in 2004 with my wife Mary Lalama and our family of 5 children.

Along with my wife we publish Mt Olive Life Newspapers as well as other newspapers in areas of North Jersey.

In 2011 I ran for council to serve the residents of Mt Olive. I am currently the Town Council President and have that privilege of serving for the past 7 years.

When you serve in a local community it is about keeping residents safe, providing the services as well as representing all residents that live in our great township.

I want to keep Mt Olive the great community it is by working on bringing green and renewable energy programs to the community as well as keeping and improving on our open space and parks for our residents to continue to enjoy.

Questions or concerns?

Contact me at 973-809-4784 Cell • jnicastro@mtolivetwp.org

Join us on Zoom for our council meetings in 2021 • 7PM

March 23 • April 6, 20 • May 4, 18 • June 1, 15, 29 • July 6, 20 • August 3, 17 September 14, 28 • October 12, 26 • November 9, 23 • December 7, 21

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VASA Park: A Scandinavian Gem in Mt. Olive

I

By Elsie Walker came here from Sweden and have been here 40 years. I’ve been a [VASA] member for [22] years.

[Vasa Park] is a community. Many of the people here now are third and fourth generation; people have met and married here. I think everyone [here] sees it as a big family,” said Inger Hanright, of Mt. Olive, more specifically of VASA Park in Mt .Olive.

What was to originally be an “old people’s” home for VASA lodge members, became a place where members could come and socialize and eventually live. It is a place where the Scandinavian heritage is celebrated and passed on to new generations and shared with the public through events during the year. Known as VASA Park, its official

“

name is New Jersey VASA Home. Located on Wolfe Road in Budd Lake, it is the cultural center for the VASA lodges in New Jersey.

In April 2019, three members of VASA Park, Hanright and Helen and Arthur Haumacher of Tranquility, sat down in the park’s archive room and shared the past and present of the park. What was shared that day follows below.

Recently, Hanright added, “we had to cancel many events last year due to COVID-19, but …we will be back on schedule this coming year and we will in fact be celebrating our 85th anniversary in 2021.”

The VASA Order of America is a Swedish Fraternal organization; VASA orders are also found in Sweden and Canada.

The VASA Order of America was started in

1897 as Swedish immigrants looked for others like themselves, with the same language and culture. Men’s working groups developed. Within New Jersey, the number of such groups grew, with lodges in various parts of the state. In the 1920’s the lodges got to thinking about what would happen to them in old age. In 1929, lodges in NJ District #6 had a meeting. Helen Haumacher explained that it was decided that an old people’s home would be built and in 1936 someone found a farm in Mt. Olive for the lodges to purchase. The cost of the 126-acre farm was approximately $5,400. That included a couple of cabins, chicken coops and the white farmhouse that still stands today and is over 250 years old.

Men from the different VASA lodges would come to continued on page 51

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 51

VASA Park... continued from page 50 the site after work or when they had free time to volunteer in building on the site. The women would come and support them by cooking meals. The first thing built was a dance floor. From there, building continued to include washrooms and a temporary kitchen and bar and eventually much more. As for the “old people’s home”, it never got built.

“They were too busy having fun,” said Helen Haumacher a 64-year member of VASA park. After the long trip many made to get to the park from various areas of New Jersey, people just wanted to relax and that was the reason the dance pavilion was the first thing built. People would have fun and pitch tents and camp overnight.

In 1937, a big picnic was held as a fundraiser with over 1000 people attending. It was through the efforts and financial support of lodge members that VASA park grew and still continues to do so. Over the years, things were added to the VASA Park location, such as a pool, a children’s play area (today with a children’s size “ship” in which to play), horseshoe pits, and more. The attractiveness of the area moved some members to want to have summer homes there. Lots were created which could be leased and on which members could build summer homes. Helen Hanmacher noted that the place “quickly became attractive” and known for its “comradery and fun”. Eventually, some members decided they want to make VASA Park their permanent home, and in 1952 the first year-round house came to be. As time went on, more summer homes became permanent homes, as members of various lodges now called VASA Park “home”.

In 1980 disaster stuck, as a fire, the result of arson,

ravaged the dining room and dance floor. However, the community came together and decided to rebuild, making the new building the cultural center of the park. The new building, dedicated in 1983, has a meeting room, complete bar, kitchen, rest rooms, and an archives room of the park’s history.

Another thing that changed over time was that the population was no longer just Swedish; Hanright noted that today its approximately 1000 membership represents those of Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Finland, and Estonia heritage. VASA Park became the cultural center for lodges in this NJ District.

VASA Park keeps the Scandinavian heritage alive through various members only events and passing on traditions to new generations. There is a children’s club where folk dancing is taught, cultural programs given, and children are taught Scandinavian Christmas songs. Each year, there is a Lucia’s program. “It is a very Scandinavian thing,” said Hanright. The program is done on December13th, the darkest day in Sweden, the winter solstice. A Lucia pageant includes a procession headed by a girl with a headdress of candles personifying light and warmth, and other children follow in various costumes.

VASA Park not only keeps Scandinavian traditions alive for its membership, but shares them with non-members through events offered to the public.

In June, there is summer solstice event with dancing around the Maypole, children performing, and food.

Each September, the biggest event of the year is held: Scandinavian Fest. Held on the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend, the event celebrates and shares the Scandinavian heritage. About 4000-7000 people attend the fest

which involves a good deal of Scandinavian fun, food, music and dance. Most of the VASA lodges do fundraisers, such as selling dishes like Swedish pea soup. There are vendors selling goods. There are various events, one of which has drawn quite a crowd in the past. Arthur Haumacher shared that in the wife-carrying contest, a man will carry his wife through an obstacle course. “The prize [for the winner] is the woman’s weight in beer,” he said.

That weight is determined by putting the woman on one side of a seesaw and beer on the other.

A holiday shopping event is held in the fall: the Jul Bazaar. This Christmas bazaar features items from Scandinavia and handiwork of those with Scandinavian heritage.

On sale are packaged good and baking items specific to Scandinavian cooking and baking. In addition, there are baked goods such as limpa (ryebread) and there’s traditional lingonberry jam. In addition to the shopping, there is a Swedish meatball lunch.

In addition to Scandinavian events, VASA Park is the site of a Vet’s Summer Festival to benefit Operation Chillout (an organization which helps homeless veterans). The event has live music, crafts, food, a car show, and a kids’ zone. As part of its outreach, the park does not charge the veteran’s organization for the use of the park for its festival.

New Jersey VASA Home is truly about community and sharing a heritage, not only with those who are part of it, but those who want to be a part of its culture, if just for a day.

For more information on VASA Park, see its website at www.vasaparknj.com/. For information on the VASA Order of America, see www.vasaorder.com.

Page 52 • March 2021 • Mt. Olive Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

For a Mount Olive Mayoral History and Leadership Lessons, Visit the Wall of Mayors

H

By Steve Sears anging in the Mount Olive Township municipal building, just outside the administration office, is the “Wall of Mayors” project, courtesy of the township Historical Society and its President, Thea Dunkle.

The “Wall of Mayors” is a historic display of bios and photos of men that have served the township from the lead seat. Dunkle started the ambitious undertaking in 2006. “There are 28 mayors on the wall,” she says, “and I have three more photos that need to be framed.”

Dunkle recalls the day 15 years ago when she was in Budd Lake’s Vasa Park and the idea came to her. As she toured the history room, listed on the wall were names and photos of past Presidents of Vasa Park. “They had pictures of different people and I said, ‘That might be interesting to do with the (Mount Olive) mayors.’”

Dunkle initially contacted township clerk Lisa Lashway and asked her if she could visit the municipal building and find a list of names, which Lashway provided. “And then I just started looking for obits,” Dunkle says, “trying to find out where they were buried, and I got death certificates.” She also researched and tried to find out about election returns, and that’s where there was a challenge. “Before 1972,” she explains, “there was only three men that would serve on the council. They would call them, I think, ‘committeemen’; they didn’t call them Councilmen. And one of those three would serve as the mayor.” Some individuals served more than one year as mayor. “1972 is when they changed the way of the governing board of the town, and that’s when they had the mayor and councilmen. Charles Spangler

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was the first mayor under that new governing body.”

Dunkle also put out feelers via newspapers and through the Historical Society, trying to get a hold of family members of former mayors. For a couple of them, she could only find a newspaper article.

“You’re doing spy work,” she describes it. “I got hold of a few different people from out of state, they mailed me pictures.” She has also been able to get photos and information from Ancestry.com. “And then there’s a couple I just couldn’t find anything on. It was kind of weird that I wouldn’t find anything on them. Some of these mayors were born here and lived here their whole life – the early ones. Later on, some of them lived here for a while, and then their families moved away.”

Dunkle has used the same process for each, including the framing. “I wanted them to all look uniform,” she says. “I print out the date when they served, and they (a local gallery) do all the cutting and the matting. And then when I bring the frames in, the poor guys have to put them in order, they have to move all the pictures. And if I find somebody way back, they’ve got to take all the pictures down and move everything.

It’s amazing, all of the sudden somebody will come up with a picture all these years later. You just never know how it’s going to pop up. It’s been interesting.”

The “Wall of Mayors” and all it entails, as with all of her work with the Historical Society, is therapeutic for Dunkle. “I go to the library, or I go to the archive. Some people just have a hobby, and this is kind of mine, the Historical Society and doing genealogy, family history.

That’s just my thing.”

For more information, please visit www.mtolivehistory.com.

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 53

Waterloo Village Worth a Visit – For Many Reasons

Photo credit New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

L

By Steve Sears ocated beside the Morris Canal and Musconetcong River in Byram Township, Waterloo Village Historic Site is a restored canal town located in Allamuchy Mountain State Park.

Waterloo Village is a cornucopia of many different things. Yes, the 70-acre site, which was founded in 1820 and was named to both the National and New Jersey Register of Historic Places in 1977, has a lot of history. But it’s much more than that.

The coldest day of the young new year has arrived. So frigid is the air, in fact, that the water in the canal behind old Smith’s Store is partly frozen, while behind it the waters of the Musconetcong flow rapidly, a tiny waterfall sending gushing water downward to the lower level with continuous, resounding thuds.

Except for the occasional car or SUV entering the historic village via Waterloo Valley Road, the before-mentioned rapids are the only noise heard, it echoing throughout the park.

“Waterloo Village Historic Site is a popular school field trip destination,” says Andrea Proctor, whose official title is Resource Interpretive Specialist 2, Historic Resources, Waterloo Village Historic Site, New Jersey State Park Service.

She focuses much on education, and there’s a lot here to learn about. “Teachers can choose to reserve guided programs of either the Morris Canal Village of Waterloo or Winakung, the re-created Lenape Village. A third option is to book a field trip on Free Choice Fridays where all the exhibits available are open in the Canal Village as well as the Lenape Village. This program allows groups to guide themselves through the site for the day and customize the visit to their liking.”

A brief history. The original owners of the property, the Smith family, first purchased land in the Musconetcong Valley in the early 1800s. “They were farming the area we know today as Waterloo Village,” says Proctor. As you look around at the area, you can close your eyes and envision farming activity on the open fields two centuries ago as boats pulled halted in the canal area. It was an advantageous location, about halfway along the 100-mile canal,

The burial site of General John Smith, the first to be buried in the church graveyard. Photo credit Steve Sears

which opened in 1831 and stretched across the state from Jersey City to Phillipsburg. Waterloo Village had at that time what was necessary for a canal village operation and was the perfect rest stop during the trip along the waterway.

Canal traffic peaked at the end of the 1860s, when the nearby Sussex Branch and Morris and Essex Lines of the nearby Lackawanna Railroads, were found to be faster and, especially in the winter, easier than the frozen canal waters to travel in. Waterloo then saw a decline, and by the Great Depression, the property was abandoned. It was slightly inhabited in the 1940s and 1950s, and in the 1960s had a rebirth. By the 1980s, Waterloo had become a performing arts venue (the tent for this has since been closed), and in 2014, through an agreement with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Parks and Forestry, group tours and programs are now available.

Walking along Waterloo Valley Road from the parking area, you come upon the Waterloo Village United Methodist Church. A privately-owned-church, it has a tiny congregation that continues worship to this day. From the road it is a somewhat majestic, it sitting prominently, peering out over the Musconetcong, almost as if to say, “I mean so much to this area and village.” It does. Peter Smith owned the general store, and he donated $500 and land for a church to be built and cemetery to adjoin it. The total cost to build the church was $2,993.22, and in that price was included an 800-pound bell. The church cornerstone was set on August 9, 1859, the building dedicated on February 9, 1860, although the first service held was on December 22, 1859. The bell rang for the first time during General John Smith’s funeral service, he the first to be buried in the churchyard cemetery. After climbing the front steps and being at ground level with the church, a walk around the right side will lead you to the General’s burial spot. The monument at his plot stands chest-height.

“There are approximately 25 buildings, not including Native American homes, smaller structures and outbuildings,” says Proctor of the property. “In the Morris Canal Village of Waterloo there are 19 buildings including a church, store, blacksmith, gristmill, sawmill, Hotel Tavern, 9 residential buildings of varied sizes and architectural styles and

Waterloo Village United Methodist Church. Photo credit Steve Sears

Smith’s Store at Waterloo Village. Photo credit Steve Sears

4 carriage houses. There is a log cabin built circa 1790 that was moved to the site in 1980 from the Branchville area.

There is also a horse stable and several outbuildings near the cabin. Additionally, there is a large barn near the picnic area, which is used as a facility support space for programming, staff training, meetings, and indoor lunches for field trips during inclement weather. There is a large comfort station with approximately 10 stalls on each side and two banquet style buildings that are leased to Jeffrey Miller Catering for Weddings and other special events.”

Proctor describes much activity above, but Waterloo Vilcontinued on page 54

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Waterloo Village...

continued from page 53 lage is also about peace and basking in nature, and a stroll anywhere in the village opens one to serenity in spots. It all starts with the drive to the location along Route 604, trees on your right, while forest and ponds of the Waterloo Lakes area populate the area to the left. It all builds the anticipation of where you are headed. Easily accessible from Route 46, but even better from Routes 80 and 206, Waterloo is located nearby the International Trade Zone. Follow the signs and you will soon reach the destination. Walking along the currently quiet, dirt roads of Waterloo yields occasional flora, the kind that only survives in the harshness of winter, like red berries. Even though they are very tiny, the contrast between the deep red color of the berries, and the brown, leafless branches that populates the atmosphere, is very noticeable – and welcoming.

Proctor agrees. “Waterloo Village means something to everyone who visits. It holds a special place in the hearts of many. Some remember fondly their class trip, others remember festivals or concerts they attended, some come to walk daily for exercise or enjoy nature. Some are fascinated by the Morris Canal History, others by learning about New Jersey’s original people, the Lenape.”

Proctor encourages those interested in visiting Waterloo Village to check out the official state park service sponsored Facebook page (Waterloo Village Historic Site) for information on upcoming events including hikes, tours, programming, trips, concerts, festivals and more.

Waterloo Village is located at 525 Waterloo Road in Byram Township. The grounds are open daily, dawn to dusk. For Visitor Center hours and more information, call 973-347-1835.

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Congratulations to Mount Olive on their 150th Anniversary and the strong business community!

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 55

The Gem on the Hill

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By Jeff Stadelman he office park boon during the 1970’s and 1980’s found a westward migration of companies and their workforce into suburban environments. This in return created a rapid rise of residential construction in towns such as Mount Olive.

After lengthy preliminary parcel development including a controversial land swap, construction of the first phase was completed and the facility populated in 1994. A second phase expanded the building in 1998 to its present size of 1,000,885

square feet of prime Class A office space.

At the time it was hailed as one of the premier office complexes on the east coast. It became the North American Headquarters of German chemical giant BASF Corporation and its data center world headquarters.

The complex included the 97-acre parcel housing the facility and the adjacent 57 acres for future development of a 700,000 square foot office building to house their Knoll Pharmaceutical subsidiary. The estimated cost of site development was $200 million plus another $50 million to equip

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the building. The inter-connected cluster of five buildings possess numerous amenities included an 800-seat cafeteria, 10,000 square foot fitness center with locker rooms, 100 conference areas, 20,000 square foot data center, and two parking garages with a 2350 car capacity.

Advantages that drew BASF to the site included its direct access to Interstate 80, a local professional work force, access to major technical and research universities as well as a highly appreciated reverse commute for its employees.

At its prime the facility housed a reported 2960 of potential 3400 employees. By the early 2000’s a series of events caused BASF to decentralize and eventually downsized to its current 350,000 square foot Florham Park site. Knoll Pharmaceutical was sold which lowered the building’s occupancy by 1000 employees. BASF vacated in 2004, marketed the property but the North Jersey overpopulated office building inventory did not allow for an interested buyer.

With a Morris County office vacancy rate of 29%, James Hughes, longtime Dean of Rutgers University School of Planning and Public Policy, proposed that 25% of the regions office building space be demolished.

In 2006 BPG Properties, a private equity

real estate fund manager, purchased the 97acre facility site renaming it Morris Crossroads Corporate Campus, adding amenities for better positioning its resale. After little success for a resell they turned the facility over to Wells Fargo Bank in 2010. With multiple options to repurpose the site, Wells Fargo, in 2014, commissioned the Urban Land Institute to implement a strategic study to reposition it for adaptive reuse given market conditions. 2017 found the sale to Matrix Development Group who are currently exploring redevelopment options.

The township has been involved in discussions on how it can best serve the community but the ultimate decision is with the property owner.

Todays corporate movement has been toward downtown urban areas with the many state and local grants and tax incentives extended them, leaving many suburban municipalities with the task of repurposing properties including Morris Crossroads Corporate Campus.

Today, this once the flagship of BASF, remains unoccupied. The infrastructure is there, now instilling a little innovation and magic into it will create the transformation into a new life for this very strategic asset property. Stay tuned.

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 57

Celebrating a Few Highlights from Mount Olive High School Sports History

S

By Steve Sears ince it opened in 1972, Mount Olive High School has had its share of great female and male teams, coaches, and athletes.

Dan Grzywacz, who has coached numerous boys soccer and tennis conference champions, is the sports historian for Mount Olive High School. He started a spreadsheet project in 2012, compiling won-loss records for teams and individual coaches, initially just for soccer and tennis. From there, however, the project grew. “I went through all the files for every program that was in the athletic office,” he says, “and I compiled any stats that were there. It really was kind of an obsession of mine once I got going with it. I tried to get as much as I possibly could.”

Aided by some of the coaches, his effort is a stellar one.

It helped significantly with this article.

Consider Bridgette Geiger, who coached girls field hockey for 27 seasons, her 328 wins tops among Mount Olive High School coaches. And then there’s George Ottavinia, girls softball Coach, second all-time with wins at 325, the softball field at the high school named in his honor. Both coaches during their terms had teams that won state titles.

Mount Olive Life reached out and communicated with those who we were able to contact regarding their success.

Dave Sulley coached both boys and girls cross country.

His girls teams went undefeated thirteen times, the boys three times, and his teams won a total of 410 meets.

“The 1989 team won everything - conference, county, sectionals, groups, and overall title. In cross country and track, it’s called the Meet of Champs,” says Sulley. “The girls were highly successful because they bought into the work required to win. After a while, the tradition fed on itself.

There was an expectation connected to our name.”

Christine Engel led the 1989 team, and her success was followed by Jackie Coscia, who won the most individual titles. On the boys side, Sulley says that Steve Slattery was arguably the most successful high school male athlete to come out of the high school (“Keturah Orji is the most famous female graduate and the greatest athlete Mount Olive has ever produced,” he says.) “Steve was a two-time state xc champ, four-time county and sectional champ. He made it to the nationals his junior and senior year. It was a great experience coaching him and then watching him succeed in college and then as a professional athlete on the United Sates and world stage.”

The 2002 football team finished with an all-time best 11 -1 record and won the North II Group III State Championship with a 14–13 victory against Jefferson Township.

Jim Kramer was in his fourth season as head coach. “It was cold. I think it was 11 degrees. We actually played at home. The night before, it snowed about six to eight inches of snow. All the state games in New Jersey got canceled that night, but our AD, our principal, and the mayor at the time said, ‘We’re going to play tonight, we’re going to get ready,’ and miraculously, they cleared the field and cleared the streets. The mayor brought people off the town roads to help get the field ready. And we were the only state championship game that night.”

Sirajj Ziyad, a running back and captain on the 2002 team, recalls that Kramer, “planted the seeds for us to grow

Coach Jim Kramer and his Mount Olive HS 2002 State Champs.

The Marauder wrestling community celebrates Coach Sean Smyth’s 300th win.

and sophomores and juniors,” but that his most profound coaching moment came after the Marauders lost game number one that title season, a one-point loss to West Morris Mendham. “So, he (Kramer) didn’t say anything else besides this at the end of the game: ‘We’re not losing a game for the rest of the season.’ Almost verbatim. And then he said, ‘Get on the bus.’ That’s the only thing he said to us after the game.”

The team then won eleven straight games, including the tight championship battle. The Jefferson High School kicker, who hadn’t missed an extra point all season, in the last minute missed his first and only PAT of the season.

Nineteen years later, Ziyad now coaches wide receivers and cornerbacks. “Often,” he responds when asked if, when on the sidelines, he thinks of that night 18 years ago.

“I don’t know if there’s time that I don’t think about it (the title game), that it doesn’t come into my mind at least for a

moment. You’re told not to live in the past - that’s the hardest thing about it - but you don’t want to forget a moment like that. I feel like, you know, as a coach, all I want is to have a repeat of that, to have that feeling for those kids to live it on the other side.”

Head wrestling coach Sean Smyth won match number 300 in the last match of the 2019-20 season.

It was doubly special: that win cemented the North I Group IV title for his team.

His top clubs have been his 2002 team, which finished 16 – 4 and won the North I Group II championship, and the past two seasons, when the Marauders won 18 and 19 matches, respectively.

“I view it as a gift that I can still do this coach at a high level and be around the kids and make a difference,” he says. “As long as I am the head coach and I’m still passioncontinued on page 58

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MOHS Sports History... continued from page 57 ate about it, I still love being around the kids and my coaching staff. That’s the favorite part for me.”

He takes extra pride in the success of his female wrestlers. “Now the girls have their own state tournament, and they have all their own individual tournaments which we’ve been attending. We had Nyla Greer and Carley Anderson really take off this year, and they both went deep into the regions, Carley actually winning her region. The first one in Mount Olive school history, Carley Anderson. She went out to the state tournament with the girls’ team, and she placed in the top five and we’re still very excited about that to this day. She’s actually back - her and Nyla are both back – and they should hopefully make some more noise this year.”

Kevin Moore had a stellar 96 - 36 record in just six seasons as head coach of boys basketball. “We won the Hopatcong Tournament once and won our bracket of the Boardwalk Classic in Wildwood twice.

We had a great staff and players that all bought into three key components: Create an identity, establish a winning culture through standards and expectations, and maintain a focus on team chemistry.”

Back-to-back county championship wins - the first against Chatham, because it was the first in school history, and the second against Morristown because of the way in which it was won – are tops. “Rashaan Spencer scored with no time left on the clock to win the game,” he says of the Morristown clash. “It was

just a fantastic high school basketball game.”

Zack Heeman, Rashaan Spencer (both 1000-point scorers), and Ryan Traub were three of Moore’s top players. And then, there was the “sixth man.” “There was such a home court advantage for us, we could have 1,500 people in the gym on any given Friday night to support the team. It was truly a special time and a great run. I look back on it very fondly.”

Dave Falleni served as Athletic Director from 200708 through 2019-2020. During his tenure, Mount Olive coaches and kids won 52 championships, whether it be conference, county, sectional, or holiday tournaments.

“Over 90% qualified for state tournament play,” Falleni says proudly. “I was able to bring in a bunch of new coaches, and they kind of bought into what I was about commitment and pride and really building from the ground up. The recreation departments and going there - I think that was the biggest turnaround, is that more and more coaches were getting involved, not coaching down there, but getting involved, showing their face, talking to the parents, and it eventually got up into the high school. You saw that matriculation into success with programs.”

Jim Kramer, looking back, sums up his time with Mount Olive High School sports. “I have great memories about it. I’ve met so many and had the chance to be with so many great kids.”

And Sean Smyth says of his 21 seasons as wrestling coach, “It’s been unbelievable. It’s been a great ride.” It’s a Morris County title for Coach Kevin Moore and his Marauders.

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 59

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Small Town Feel, Big City Innovations:

Mount Olive Township School District Has It All

Susan Breton

T

Brad Halien

By Sahil D’Souza he Mount Olive School District is one of the best school districts in New Jersey and takes pride in putting students first and in being an innovative district. Mt. Olive serves as an exemplar district which surrounding towns respect and look to take guidance from. In order to maintain this excellence, Mt. Olive employs a talented group of Directors who lead the different departments and work to ensure that our standards are met and exceeded. While each administrator has had a unique experience that led to their current position, they share many similar views and backgrounds which have

Deborah Huffman

brought them to their current position.

Many of the administrators have been drawn to the district because of their personal attachments to the school. Matthew Robinson, Director of Elementary Education, and Deborah Huffman, Director of Elementary Inclusion and Special Education PK-5, are former students who attended Mt. Olive from elementary to high school.

Glenn Miller, Director of Facilities, Maintenance and Custodial Services, had children who rose through the grades of Mt. Olive schools. Miller says, “I have always loved the district and wanted to repay the district for the wonderful experience and education my children received.”

Kimberley Markus

Glenn Miller

Matthew Robinson

Robert Zywicki

Lisa Schleer

Sharon Staszak

Others came to Mt. Olive because of the reputation that the school has set. Kimberly Markus, Executive Director of Innovation and Personnel, joined the district last

year because of, “its excellent reputation and its student-first focus.” Similarly, Sharon Staszak, Director of Special Services continued on page 61

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 61

School District Has It All...

continued from page 60 for grades 6-12, joined the district because of the many programs that are either being built upon or created in order to help students with disabilities. It is not only the district’s reputation for prioritizing students, but also its investment in the school districts and setting an image of integrity, innovation, and prioritizing all students.

For example, the district has built fantastic facilities and offers many programs for students, such as MILL for Engineering to the TV and Music productions. Dr. Susan Breton, Director of Social Emotional Learning

and College Career Readiness, notes that one of her favorite aspects of the district is, “the plays, music programs and rich culture of our school community.”

Although district administrators have differing reasons for loving their district, there is one commonality that they all share: the people. Like others, Dr. Brad Halien, Director of Student Achievement and Reporting, rose through the ranks from teacher to administrator over the past 26 years. He says, “All the years I’ve worked directly with the students - either as a teacher or a supervisor. They never

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ceased to amaze me at what they were able to accomplish, and how they were able to make me smile.” The students are one of the most important aspects of the school: their willingness to learn and adapt helps motivate everyone involved to do their best. With the responsive students population, teachers and administrators are more than happy to put in more time and effort to help get the best out of their students. The teachers are also something the administrators have been proud about.

The teachers are the ones who facilitate the education of students and work hard to ensure they can get the most of their students in their time together. Staszak finds that the teachers “go above and beyond each day to support our students.”

Lisa Schleer, Executive Director of Personalized Learning, echoed Dr. Halien’s praise of the Mt. Olive District students, faculty, and staff. She moved from Connecticut in order to be close to her father and brother and ultimately joined the district because, “I felt drawn to the community. I know I made the right choice, and I feel fortunate to be here.” Mt. Olive has certainly grown over the years as more people have moved here and the town continues to expand.

The administrators also praised the community surrounding the district. They enjoy spending their time in Mt. Olive,

whether from visiting the local businesses to going to Turkey Brook Park. Yet, even as the town continues to grow, Robinson notes, “We don’t have a true Main Street or downtown area, but we still have a small-town feel. While the community has changed so much since I was a kid, it still feels the same.”

Overall, the administration works hard to ensure that they are able to provide the best education to the students even during the rapid changes of 2020. For example, Dr. Halien facilitated the transfer to a new Student Information System called Realtime and worked to have the district transfer over to the new system with current and historical data for the students.

The global pandemic has further disrupted the status-quo and the administration has had to quickly adapt. Dr. Breton has played a key role in the school’s response.

“I spend a great deal of my time working on COVID matters and run the COVID testing clinic for the district.” This has been a difficult task, but Dr. Breton and her fellow administrators have worked hard to ensure that students are kept safe and are kept healthy. Yet, just like Mt. Olive as a town has evolved over the years (and will continue to do so), the school district will continue to get better.

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Flanders Office

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carolannborman1@gmail.com gstampf@comcast.net carolannborman1@gmail.com gstampf@comcast.net Carol Borman Grace Stampf

SILVER LEVEL

SILVER LEVEL

Flanders Office

Flanders Office

lwiley@lizawiley.com lwiley@lizawiley.com Liza Wiley

KK

SILVER LEVEL

Carol Borman Grace Stampf Liza Wiley Carol Borman Carol Borman Grace Stampf Grace Stampf Liza Wiley Wiley BB Grace Stampf Chester Office Flanders Office Flanders OffiLiza ce Liza Wiley Carol Borman Carol Borman Grace Stampf Liza Wiley Carol Carol Borman Borman Grace Grace Stampf Stampf Liza Liza Wiley Wiley SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL Cell: 908-581-9205 Cell: 917-716-4813 Cell: 503-530-6166 SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL SILVER SILVER LEVEL LEVEL SILVER SILVER LEVEL LEVEL SILVER SILVER LEVEL LEVEL Carol Carol Borman Borman Grace Grace Stampf Stampf Liza Liza Wiley Wiley Alyssa Abrusci Christopher Cleffi Cindy Graham Dulce Ruivo Chester Offi ce Flanders Offi ce Flanders Offi ce Chester Offi ce Chester Offi ce Flanders Offi Flanders ce Offi ce Flanders Offi Flanders ce Office Carol Borman Grace Stampf Liza Wiley Carol Borman Grace Stampf Liza Wiley carolannborman1@gmail.com gstampf@comcast.net lwiley@lizawiley.com CC Chester Offi ce Flanders Office Flanders Office Chester Chester Offi Offi ce ceLEVEL Flanders Flanders Offi Offi cece Flanders Flanders Offi Offi cece REMAX CLUB REMAX CLUB REMAX CLUB SILVER SILVER LEVEL SILVER SILVER LEVEL LEVEL SILVER SILVER LEVEL LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL Cell:Cell: 908-581-9205 Cell:Cell: 917-716-4813 Cell:Cell: 503-530-6166 Cell:LEVEL 908-581-9205 908-581-9205 SILVER Cell:LEVEL 917-716-4813 917-716-4813 SILVER Cell:LEVEL 503-530-6166 503-530-6166 SILVER kathlee kathlee kathle Cell: 908-581-9205 Cell: 917-716-4813 Cell: 503-530-6166 Chester Chester Offi ce Offi Flanders Office Office Flanders Flanders Office Offi ce Office Cell: Cell: 908-581-9205 908-581-9205 Cell: Cell: 917-716-4813 917-716-4813 Cell: Cell: 503-530-6166 503-530-6166 Flanders Offi cece Chester Offi ceFlanders Flanders Office Chester Flanders Office Flanders Office Chester Offi ce Flanders Offi ce Flanders Offi ce 2 Chester Office Chester Offi ce Flanders Offi ce Flanders Offi ce carolannborman1@gmail.com gstampf@comcast.net lwiley@lizawiley.com carolannborman1@gmail.com carolannborman1@gmail.com gstampf@comcast.net gstampf@comcast.net lwiley@lizawiley.com lwiley@lizawiley.com carolannborman1@gmail.com gstampf@comcast.net lwiley@lizawiley.com Cell: 917-716-4813 Cell: 503-530-6166 carolannborman1@gmail.com carolannborman1@gmail.com gstampf@comcast.net gstampf@comcast.net lwiley@lizawiley.com lwiley@lizawiley.com Cell: 908-581-9205 Cell: Cell: 908-581-9205 908-581-9205 Cell: Cell: 917-716-4813 917-716-4813 Cell: Cell: 503-530-6166 503-530-6166 Cell: 973-229-1462 Cell: 973-714-9005 Cell: 201-841-4747 Cell: 201-993-0683 Cell:Cell: 908-581-9205 Cell:Cell: 917-716-4813 Cell:Cell: 503-530-6166 O 908-581-9205 917-716-4813 503-530-6166

carolannborman1@gmail.com carolannborman1@gmail.com carolannborman1@gmail.com amabrusci@gmail.com carolannborman1@gmail.com carolannborman1@gmail.com

grace.stampf@gmail.com lwiley@lizawiley.com gstampf@comcast.net gstampf@comcast.net lwiley@lizawiley.com lwiley@lizawiley.com chris.a.cleffi @gmail.com ctgraham878@gmail.com druivo@live.com gstampf@comcast.net lwiley@lizawiley.com gstampf@comcast.net lwiley@lizawiley.com

Martine Arndt Meghan Mooney Meghan MooneyMelissa Robertiello Melissa RobertielloTara Lauterbach Tara Lauterbach Martine Arndt SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL

SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL

SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL

SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL

Cell: 732-801-7995 Cell: 732-801-7995

Cell: 862-432-2572 Cell: 862-432-2572

Cell: 973-725-7175 Cell: 973-725-7175

Cell: 973-219-8490 Cell: 973-219-8490

Flanders Office

Flanders Office

Flanders Office

Flanders Office

Flanders Office

Flanders Office

Flanders Office

Flanders Office

martinehomesales@gmail.com meghanmooney.nj@gmail.com melissarobertiello@gmail.com taral@remax.net martinehomesales@gmail.com taral@remax.net Martine Arndt meghanmooney.nj@gmail.com Meghan Mooney melissarobertiello@gmail.com Melissa Robertiello Tara Lauterbach

SILVER LEVEL

SILVER LEVEL

SILVER LEVEL

SILVER LEVEL

Cell: 732-801-7995

Cell: 862-432-2572

Cell: 973-725-7175

Cell: 973-219-8490

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Flanders Office

Flanders Office

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SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL SILVER SILVER LEVEL LEVEL SILVER SILVER LEVEL LEVEL SILVER SILVER LEVEL LEVEL SILVER SILVER LEVEL LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL SILVER BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL SILVER LEVEL LEVEL SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL Cell: 732-801-7995 Cell: 862-432-2572 Cell: 973-725-7175 Cell: 973-219-8490 Cell: 732-801-7995 Cell: 732-801-7995 Cell: 862-432-2572 Cell: 862-432-2572 Cell: 973-725-7175 Cell: 973-725-7175 Cell: 973-219-8490 Cell: 973-219-8490 SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL Cell: 732-801-7995 Cell: 862-432-2572 Cell: 973-725-7175 Cell: 973-219-8490 Flanders Flanders Office Offi ce Flanders Flanders Offi ce Offi Flanders Office Offi ce Flanders Flanders Office Offi ceCLUB Cell: Cell: 732-801-7995 732-801-7995 Cell: Cell: 862-432-2572 862-432-2572 Cell: Cell: 973-725-7175 973-725-7175 Cell: Cell: 973-219-8490 973-219-8490 Flanders Office Flanders Offi cece Chester Offi ceFlanders Flanders Office Flanders Office REMAX CLUB Flanders Offi ce Flanders Offi ce Flanders Offi ce Flanders Offi ce REMAX CLUB REMAX REMAX CLUB Flanders Offi ce Flanders Offi ce Flanders Offi ce Flanders Offi ce martinehomesales@gmail.com meghanmooney.nj@gmail.com melissarobertiello@gmail.com taral@remax.net martinehomesales@gmail.com martinehomesales@gmail.com meghanmooney.nj@gmail.com meghanmooney.nj@gmail.com melissarobertiello@gmail.com melissarobertiello@gmail.com taral@remax.net taral@remax.net martinehomesales@gmail.com meghanmooney.nj@gmail.com melissarobertiello@gmail.com taral@remax.net martinehomesales@gmail.com martinehomesales@gmail.com meghanmooney.nj@gmail.com melissarobertiello@gmail.com melissarobertiello@gmail.com taral@remax.net taral@remax.net Cell: 908-803-4523 Cell: Cell: 732-801-7995 732-801-7995 Cell: Cell: 862-432-2572 862-432-2572 Cell: Cell: 973-725-7175 973-725-7175 Cell: Cell: 973-219-8490 973-219-8490 Cell: 973-219-6256 meghanmooney.nj@gmail.com Cell: 973-489-0655 Cell: 973-713-1690 Cell:Office 908-246-8753 Flanders Office Flanders Office Flanders Cell: 732-801-7995 Cell: 862-432-2572 Cell: 973-725-7175 Cell: 973-219-8490 Flanders Office Cell: 732-801-7995 Cell: 862-432-2572 Cell: 973-725-7175 Cell: 973-219-8490 Alyssa Abrusci Cleffimarygrant@gmail.com Cindy Graham Alyssa Abrusci ChristopherChristopher Cleffi Cindy Graham Dulce RuivoDulce Ruivo Jessica SohlJessica Sohl

Cell: 862-432-2572 martinehomesales@gmail.com martinehomesales@gmail.com meghanmooney.nj@gmail.com meghanmooney.nj@gmail.com melissarobertiello@gmail.com melissarobertiello@gmail.com taral@remax.net taral@remax.net Cell: 973-725-7175 Cell: 973-219-8490 kathleenhillrealtor@gmail.com lsmith2100@gmail.com rebekahkalis@gmail.com uster@ptd.net Cell: 732-801-7995 martinehomesales@gmail.com meghanmooney.nj@gmail.com melissarobertiello@gmail.com taral@remax.net martinehomesales@gmail.com meghanmooney.nj@gmail.com melissarobertiello@gmail.com taral@remax.net BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL meghanmooney.nj@gmail.com melissarobertiello@gmail.com taralauterbachrealtor@gmail.com Office Chester Office Chester Office Flanders Offi Flanders Office Chester Office Chester Office Flanders Flanders Office ce Office martinehomesales@gmail.comFlanders Office Flanders Cell: 973-906-6572Cell: 973-906-6572 Cell: 973-229-1462 Cell: 973-714-9005 Cell: 201-841-4747 Cell: 201-993-0683 Cell: 973-229-1462 Cell: 973-714-9005 Cell: 201-841-4747 Cell: 201-993-0683

Mount Olive Office

jessicasohlrealtor@gmail.com jessicasohlrealtor@gmail.com amabrusci@gmail.com chris.a.cleffi@gmail.com ctgraham878@gmail.com druivo@live.com amabrusci@gmail.com chris.a.cleffiChristopher @gmail.com ctgraham878@gmail.com Cleffi Cindy Graham druivo@live.com Dulce Ruivo Jessica Sohl

Abrusci MountAlyssa Olive BRONZE LEVEL OffiCell: ce973-229-1462 Flanders Office

BRONZE LEVEL

BRONZE LEVEL

BRONZE LEVEL

Cell: 973-714-9005

Cell: 201-841-4747

Cell: 201-993-0683

chris.a.cleffi@gmail.com

ctgraham878@gmail.com

druivo@live.com

Chester Office

Flanders Office

Chester Office

BRONZE LEVEL Flanders Office

Cell: 973-906-6572 Ask for one of our jessicasohlrealtor@gmail.com

Sales Associates.

293 Route 206 North, Flanders, NJ Heritage P Ofce: 973-598-1700 O “We Hold the Key to Real Estate Excellence.”

Alyssa Abrusci Christopher Cleffi Cindy Graham Dulce Ruivo Jessica Sohl Alyssa Abrusci Alyssa Abrusci Christopher Christopher Cleffi Cleffi Cindy Graham Cindy Graham Dulce Ruivo Dulce Ruivo Jessica Jessica Sohl Sohl Alyssa Abrusci Christopher Cleffi Cindy Graham Dulce Ruivo Jessica Sohl Alyssa Alyssa Abrusci Abrusci Christopher Christopher Cleffi Cleffi Cindy Cindy Graham Graham Dulce Dulce Ruivo Ruivo Jessica Jessica Sohl “WeSohl Hold the Key to R 973-598-1700 Office: BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE BRONZE LEVEL LEVEL BRONZE BRONZE LEVEL LEVEL BRONZE BRONZE LEVEL LEVEL BRONZE BRONZE LEVEL LEVEL BRONZE BRONZE LEVEL LEVEL www.heritagepropertiesrealestate.com BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE BRONZE LEVEL LEVEL BRONZE BRONZE LEVEL LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL LEVEL BRONZE BRONZE LEVEL LEVEL Alyssa Alyssa Abrusci Abrusci Christopher Christopher Cleffi Cleffi BRONZE Cindy Cindy Graham Graham BRONZE Dulce Dulce Ruivo Ruivo Jessica Jessica Sohl Sohl amabrusci@gmail.com

293 Route 206 North, Flanders, NJ

Each Office is Independently Owned & Operated.

Offi ceOffice Chester Offi ce Flanders Office Chester Offi ce Flanders ceOffice FlandersFlanders Offi Flanders ce Christopher Chester Offi ce Chester Offi ceOwned Offi Flanders ce OffiDulce ce Chester Office Chester OffiJessica ce Flanders OffiFlanders ce Offi Alyssa Abrusci Cleffi Cindy Graham Dulce Ruivo Jessica Sohl Alyssa Abrusci Christopher Cleffi Cindy Graham Ruivo Sohl www.heritageprope Kathleen Hill Linda Smith Mary Grant Rebekah Kalis Sydney Uster Tammy O’Brien Kathleen Hill Linda Smith Mary Grant Rebekah Kalis Sydney Uster O’Brien Roselle Each Office is Independently &Flanders Operated Flanders ce Chester Offi ce Flanders ce Chester ceTammy Flanders ce Roselle Flanders Flanders Offi Offi ceceOffi Chester Chester Offi Offi cece Flanders Flanders Offi Offi ceceOffi Chester Chester Offi Offi ceceOffi Flanders Flanders Offi Offi ceceOffi BRONZE BRONZE LEVEL LEVEL BRONZE BRONZE LEVEL LEVEL BRONZE BRONZE LEVEL LEVEL BRONZE BRONZE LEVEL LEVEL BRONZE BRONZE LEVEL LEVEL Cell: 973-906-6572 Cell:LEVEL 973-906-6572 Cell: 973-906-6572 BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL Cell: 973-229-1462 Cell:Cell: 973-714-9005 Cell:LEVEL 201-841-4747 Cell: 201-993-0683 Cell: 973-229-1462 Cell: 973-229-1462 Cell: 973-714-9005 973-714-9005 Cell: 201-841-4747 Cell: 201-841-4747 Cell: 201-993-0683 Cell: 201-993-0683 BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE Cell: 973-906-6572 Cell: Cell: 973-906-6572 973-906-6572 Cell: 973-229-1462 Cell: 973-714-9005 Cell: 201-841-4747 Cell: 201-993-0683 Flanders Office ce Flanders Flanders Offi ce Chester Offi ce Flanders Offi ce Flanders OfficeFlanders Flanders Flanders Flanders Offi Offi ce Chester Chester Offi ce OfficeOffice Flanders OffiOffi ce Offi Chester Chester Offi Offi ce Flanders Flanders Office OffiOffi ce ce Flanders Offi ce 973-229-1462 Office Chester Flanders cece FlandersChester Flanders Offi ce ce Flanders Offi cece Cell: Cell: 973-229-1462 Cell: Cell: 973-714-9005 973-714-9005 Cell: Cell: 201-841-4747 201-841-4747 Cell: Cell: 201-993-0683 201-993-0683 Flanders Offi ce Chester Offi ce Flanders Offi ce Offi ce Offi Flanders Offi ce Chester Offi ce Flanders Offi ce Chester Offi ce Flanders Offi ce jessicasohlrealtor@gmail.com jessicasohlrealtor@gmail.com jessicasohlrealtor@gmail.co amabrusci@gmail.com chris.a.cleffi @gmail.com ctgraham878@gmail.com druivo@live.com amabrusci@gmail.com amabrusci@gmail.com chris.a.cleffi chris.a.cleffi @gmail.com @gmail.com ctgraham878@gmail.com ctgraham878@gmail.com druivo@live.com druivo@live.com 908-803-4523 Cell: 973-445-0443 Cell: 908-803-4523Cell: Cell:jessicasohlrealtor@gmail.com 973-445-0443 Cell: 973-219-6256 Cell: 973-489-0655 Cell: 973-713-1690 Cell: 908-246-8753 jessicasohlrealtor@gmail.com jessicasohlrealtor@gmail.com Cell: 973-219-6256 Cell: 973-489-0655 Cell: 973-713-1690 Cell: 908-246-8753 amabrusci@gmail.com chris.a.cleffi @gmail.com ctgraham878@gmail.com druivo@live.com Cell:Cell: 973-906-6572 973-906-6572 amabrusci@gmail.com amabrusci@gmail.com chris.a.cleffi chris.a.cleffi @gmail.com @gmail.com ctgraham878@gmail.com ctgraham878@gmail.com druivo@live.com druivo@live.com Cell: 973-906-6572 Cell: Cell: 973-229-1462 973-229-1462 Cell: Cell: 973-714-9005 973-714-9005 Cell: Cell: 201-841-4747 201-841-4747 Cell: Cell: 201-993-0683 201-993-0683

rs Our NJAR Circle of Excellence Recipients

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 63

Martine Meghan MooneyMooney Tara LauterbachTara Martine MartineArndt Arndt Arndt Meghan Meghan Mooney Melissa Robertiello Melissa Melissa Robertiello Robertiello Tara Lauterbach Lauterbach SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL SILVER LEVEL SILVER SILVER LEVEL LEVEL SILVER SILVER LEVEL LEVEL SILVER SILVER LEVEL LEVEL SILVER SILVERTara LEVEL LEVEL Martine Martine Arndt Arndt Meghan Meghan Mooney Mooney Melissa Melissa Robertiello Tara Tara Lau Martine Martine Arndt Arndt Meghan Meghan Mooney Melissa Robertiello Melissa Robertiello Tara Laute Ta Arndt Meghan Mooney Melissa Robertiello Lauterbac Flanders OffiMartine ce Flanders Office Flanders Offi ceMooney Flanders Office Robertiello Flanders Flanders FlandersOffi Offi Office ce ce Flanders Flanders FlandersOffi Offi Office ce ce Flanders Flanders FlandersOffi Offi Office ce ce Flanders Flanders FlandersOffi Offi Office ce ce

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SILVER LEVELmartinehomesales@gmail.com martinehomesales@gmail.com martinehomesales@gmail.com meghanmooney.nj@gmail.com meghanmooney.nj@gmail.com meghanmooney.nj@gmail.com melissarobertiello@gmail.com melissarobertiello@gmail.com melissarobertiello@gmail.com taral@remax.net taral@remax.net taral@remax.net d Winners for 2020 Flanders Flanders Office Offi ce ce Flanders Flanders Office Offi ce ce Flanders ce Flanders Offi Flanders ce Flanders Offi Flanders Offi ce Offi Flanders Offi ce Offi martinehomesales@gmail.com meghanmooney.nj@gmail.com melissarobertiello@gmail.com

732-801-7995 Cell: Cell:Cell: 732-801-7995 Cell:732-801-7995 732-801-7995 Cell: 732-801-7995

Flanders Office

Flanders Flanders Office Offi ce ce Flanders ce Flanders Offi Flanders Offi ce Offi taral@remax.net

862-432-2572 Cell: Cell:Cell: 862-432-2572 Cell:862-432-2572 862-432-2572 Cell: 862-432-2572

973-725-7175 Cell: Cell:Cell: 973-725-7175 Cell:973-725-7175 973-725-7175 Cell: 973-725-7175

Flander Flanders Flanders Offi ce OfF

973 Cel Cell:Cell: 973-219 C Cell: 973-219-8490

martinehomesales@gmail.com martinehomesales@gmail.com meghanmooney.nj@gmail.com meghanmooney.nj@gmail.com melissarobertiello@gmail.com melissarobertiello@gmail.com taral@re ta martinehomesales@gmail.com martinehomesales@gmail.com meghanmooney.nj@gmail.com meghanmooney.nj@gmail.com melissarobertiello@gmail.com melissarobertiello@gmail.com taral@remax.net taral@remax martinehomesales@gmail.com meghanmooney.nj@gmail.com melissarobertiello@gmail.com

Cell: 503-530-6166 lwiley@lizawiley.com

Alyssa Abrusci

Christopher Cleffi

Cindy Graham

Flanders Office

Chester Office

Flanders Office

BRONZE LEVEL

BRONZE LEVEL

BRONZE LEVEL

Dulce Ruivo

Jessica Sohl

BRONZE LEVEL

BRONZE LEVEL

Chester Office

Flanders Office

Alyssa Abrusci Christopher CindyGraham Graham Dulce Ruivo Jessica Sohl Cell: 973-906-6572 Cell: 973-229-1462 973-714-9005 Cleffi Cell: 201-841-4747 Cell: 201-993-0683Dulce Alyssa Alyssa Abrusci Abrusci Cell: Christopher Christopher Cleffi Cleffi Cindy Cindy Graham Dulce Ruivo Ruivo Jessica Jessica Sohl Sohl jessicasohlrealtor@gmail.com amabrusci@gmail.com chris.a.cleffi @gmail.com ctgraham878@gmail.com druivo@live.com BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE BRONZELEVEL LEVEL BRONZE BRONZE LEVEL LEVEL BRONZE BRONZE LEVEL LEVEL BRONZE BRONZE LEVEL LEVEL BRONZE BRONZE LEVEL LEVEL Alyssa Alyssa Abrusci Abrusci Christopher Christopher Cleffi Cleffi Cindy Cindy Graham Graham Dulce Dulce Ruivo Ruivo Jessic Alyssa Abrusci Alyssa Abrusci Christopher Christopher Cleffi Cleffi Cindy Graham Cindy Graham Dulce Ruivo Dulce Ruivo Jessica SJ Alyssa Abrusci Christopher Cleffi Cindy Graham Dulce Ruivo Jessica SohlJe Tara Lauterbach Flanders Flanders FlandersOffi Offi Office ce ce Chester Chester ChesterOffi Offi Office ce ce Flanders Flanders FlandersOffi Offi Office ce ce Chester Chester ChesterOffi Offi Office ce ce Flanders Flanders FlandersOffi Offi Office ce ce

REMAX CLUB REMAX CLUB REMAX CLUB REMAX CLUB REMAX CLUB BRONZE BRONZE LEVEL LEVEL BRONZE BRONZE LEVEL LEVEL BRONZE BRONZE LEVEL LEVEL BRONZE BRONZE LEVEL LEVEL BRONZE BR BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LE B BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL Cell: Cell: Cell: 973-906-6572 973-906-6572 973-906-6572 Cell: Cell: 973-229-1462 973-229-1462 Cell: Cell: 973-714-9005 973-714-9005 Cell: Cell: 201-841-4747 201-841-4747 Cell: Cell: 201-993-0683 201-993-0683 Flanders Flanders Offi ce Offi ce Chester Chester Offi ce Offi ce Flanders Flanders Offi ce Offi ce Chester Chester Offi ce Offi ce Flander F Flanders Office Chester Office Flanders Office Chester Office Flanders Office Flanders Offi ce Flanders Offi ce Chester Offi ce Chester Offi ce Flanders Offi ce Flanders Offi ce Chester Offi ce Chester Offi ce Flanders Of Flanders Offi ce Chester Offi ce Flanders Offi ce Chester Offi ce Flanders Offi ce Flanders Office jessicasohlrealtor@gmail.com jessicasohlrealtor@gmail.com jessicasohlrealtor@gmail.com amabrusci@gmail.com amabrusci@gmail.com amabrusci@gmail.com chris.a.cleffi chris.a.cleffi chris.a.cleffi @gmail.com @gmail.com @gmail.com ctgraham878@gmail.com ctgraham878@gmail.com ctgraham878@gmail.com druivo@live.com druivo@live.com druivo@live.com Cell: 973-229-1462 Cell: 973-714-9005 Cell: 201-841-4747 Cell:201-841-4747 201-993-0683 Cell: 973-906-6572 973 CeC Cell:Cell: 973-906 Cell: 973-906-6572 973-229-1462 Cell: 973-229-1462 973-714-9005 Cell: 973-714-9005 201-841-4747 Cell: 201-993-0683 Cell: Cell:Cell: 973-229-1462 Cell: 973-229-1462 Cell:Cell: 973-714-9005 Cell: 973-714-9005 Cell:Cell: 201-841-4747 Cell: 201-841-4747 Cell:Cell: 201-993-0683 Cell:201-993-0683 201-993-0683 Cell: 973-229-1462 Cell: 973-714-9005 Cell: 201-841-4747 Cell: 201-993-0683 Cell: 973-219-8490 SILVER LEVEL taral@remax.net

Kathleen Hill

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Page 64 • March 2021 • Mt. Olive Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

That’s One Great Box of Toys You Have There

I

By Jeff Stadleman n 1992 the then Paramus based Toys-R-Us toy company came before the township for a proposed distribution center on 243 acres in the Flanders section of the township just off Route 206.

The proposal was for an 800,000 square foot facility covering 18 acres or about the size of 13 football fields.

However, it was not the first attempt to build a large distribution center at this site. In 1974, Sears, Roebuck & Company announced their proposal to construct a $40 million distribution center and realigned Bartley-Chester Road along their property line out to Route 206. Sears eventually withdrew their application to the township and placed the property back on the real estate market.

In July, 1992, a community action group was formed to oppose the construction

of a distribution center on the same site by Toys-RUs as it was near the 1000 home Sutton Park housing neighborhood. The group, labeled themselves MUSCLE (Mount Olive United for a Safe Clean Living Environment), had concerns of the added highway traffic and potential community disruption of tranquil local living.

The group filed court challenges but in time withdrew

their filings. The project moved forward resulting in added jobs and much appreciated tax dollar to the township coffers.

Construction began during August, 1994 on a tight timetable and the stateof-the-art facility opened in July, 1995 with a workforce expected between 200-450, depending on the season.

The facility contained a hightech rack storage system and

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By Elsie Walker offers. Expires 8/31/20 ost people take are caps, t-shirts having clean water , and bottled water. for granted. They to Since just turn on a faucet drink gregate where other homeless do, Chillou veterans conhomes and out in their to non-ve comes the water. t gives the items terans as well. if a person is homel However, what In the past, ess? Where does Founder and Directo he or she get water? were donations of items receive the supplies it shared r of Operation Chillou d from drives groups or from ki, recalled that done by individuals. The t, Ray Chimilesa homeless vetera summe Memorial Day – n, who had sepsis, while waiting for Labor Day. Howev r collection is done died COVID19, an er, this year, becaus Operation Chillou ication with pollute operation because he took his e of t can’t take donati med- cal items, d river water. ons of physibut is taking monet Chimileski noted, from the organi ary donations to zation’ that mer items. buy the sumPeople can donate from the New Jersey s own experience and inform ation throug Department of operationchillout.org h its website at Affairs, “one in Military and Vetera www. /. every five homel n Chimileski shared ess people is a In addition to the that Operation Chillou veteran”. the homeless are to t goes to where problems of staying need for water, there are also distrib ute items (soup the ters, etc.) Seeing cool in the summe kitchens, shelwinter, how does a homeless vetera one do that when r and warm in the tion Chillou t will give this “peace n, a member of Operathe streets? he or she is living on winter items, offering”; the summe and the Helping solve the r or the items “a peace organization’s card. Chimileski ing homeless vetera problems of homelessness and calls offering” becaus help- may have ns receive the service e homeless vetera had bad experie are the two focuse ns nces in the past s of Operation Chillou s they qualify for the service in trying to get s they need; they out is New Jersey’ t. Operation Chillmay have becom s oldest all volunt and given up. They e frustrated eer mobile outrea veterans and homel may be wary of ch for out wants ess men and wome help. Operation these homeless its membership n.

ChillStarted in vetera is made up of both 2000, their advoca ns to know that veterans and civilian te in helping to get serves all of New it will be Jersey, northeast them the service s. It they qualify Pennsylvania, and s for which and also help them al Rhode Island. coastChimileski shared with other needs.

Chimileski noted that Operation was “selected that this year’s Chillout will be to be the statew distribution of different due to ide special projec 2021 of the New items COVID t 2020- ters are Jersey Federation closed. Also, Operati 19 restrictions. Some shelof Women’s Clubs.”

New Jersey State on (The to put up Federation of Wome its table and speak Chillout won’t be allowed est volunteer wome n’s Clubs is the one-on -one with larg- veterans. n’s service organi Operation Chillou homel a member of the zation in the state ess Ken Steffan, of Operati t will be deliver General Federation and usually gives ing the items it be given out to the on Chillout, gathers some of the out (and its cards of Women’s Clubs.)

Operating out of supplies to homeless. for Long Valley, just homeless vetera the organizations Operation Chillou one of the many ns) to distribute, like ways for Vetera t helps is throug the Supportive Serviceto to be. n Families (of the h giving out certain during the summe s Cathol items diocese of r and winter; in Chimileski noted the summer, those Newark), soup kitchen ic Charities of the Archthat COVID-19 restric items will also ed the organization s, etc. Operation tions have affectgo to other places Chillout in another way, where the homel too. has Operati cancel led its annua on Chillout ess are known benefits the organi l August Vet Fest fundraiser Putting our client which zation’s Rapid Respon s first for over and veterans rescue se Team Hotline 30 years Certified Publi Team runs 24/7/3 housing costs. “Our Rapid Respon c Accountant 65. We receive calls daily at our se mated hotline Personal Finan (609-619-0861) autocial Specialist from veterans. Referra ls come from many or about homeless agencies, first respon Peter G. Neuberg, sources: individ uals, CPA/PFS VA itself. We provid ders, family members and often Peter.Neuberg@hend the e tel stays and whatev no cost transportation and brief www.hendersonne ersonneuberg.com moer incidental items uberg.com cue the veteran are needed to resfrom the homel ess crisis. While safe, we arrang secure and e or provide access 245 Main Street ing solutions. In to longer term Suite 201 hous2019, we rescue d an average of homel ess vetera Phone one Chester, NJ 07930 n per day - over new : 908-879-7624 300 individuals.”

Chimileski said Offer good thru Securities offered Fax: 908-879-2830 that those who 8/31/20 through BCG Securities, Inc. would like to suppor those efforts can Member FINRA & SIPC 856-393-19 visit t 50 nate to its vetera the Operation Chillout website to dons’ found at the bottom outreach effort. The donation link is of this page: www.o org/who-we-are/. perationchillout.

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conveyor belts to store and move merchandise and to unload and load trailers and rail cars in its daily routine of receiving and shipping.

An expansion completed in 2001 brought the total square footage to 1,427,979 with total acreage under roof reaching 32 acres.

During the initial construction of 1994 a new, stronger raised railroad trestle was constructed over Route 206 to accommodate heavier rail and taller truck trailer traffic.

2011 saw a 5.38-megawatt, 37,000 photovoltaic solar panel roof mounted

system installed. At the time it was heralded as the largest roof top solar power system installed in all of North America.

Unfortunately, Toys-R-Us entered bankruptcy in 2018 and the facility was closed.

However, a new chapter for the facility begins in 2021.

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 65

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Page 66 • March 2021 • Mt. Olive Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Through Any Challenge: Mount Olive Lions Answer COVID Crisis Call to Service

C

By Jillian Risberg oming to the aid of their fellow neighbor is what the Mount Olive Lions Club is all about. So when our world turned upside down, they went into high gear — rising to the immense challenges facing humankind.

“We supported ourselves by doing what we have always done and try to help people who are less fortunate than ourselves,” says Club President Joe Gentile. “No matter how bad times were for us in 2020 someone out there was less fortunate than our members.”

And things did get bad — they lost one of their own and Gentile’s good friend to COVID in December 2020.

“His name was Lion John J. Cutrone, who was in the club close to 40 years. He was also my sponsor who helped me come into the club almost 35 years ago. We will all miss him. His wife Lion Joan Cutrone is still a great member,” says the club president.

According to Gentile, this pandemic couldn’t care less about age, religious faith or economic position in life.

“We all had to be aware of getting sick and possibly dying,” he says.

With Cutrone in their hearts, they made sure to keep the lines of communication open among members by speaking regularly on the phone, and emailing to ensure everyone was staying safe.

Lion Drew Van Dam was able to put together a few fundraisers to benefit the club’s treasury and keep members active, including their annual golf outing in September (delayed from June due to COVID) and a successful Charity Auction, donating more than $400 to Toys for Tots.

“In addition we donated gift cards to Mount Olive Social Services (needy families) of $1,000 and another $1,000 at Christmas,” Van Dam says. “And we sponsored three graduating students with scholarship awards, that will be going on to a college/ vocational education.”

According to the Club President, all the money they accrue stays in the town and the area.

“We do not collect any money through our fundraisers that is used for any club dues, dinners or anything,” he says. “The money we take in goes out 100 percent to the different activities.”

For 50 years they have looked for ways to answer the call to service — and the Mount Olive Lions Club has been a force for good right here at home by offering everything from free eye screenings for the township’s school children, to scholarship

funds, to senior support and so many have benefited from their altruism.

“A lot of times we find out someone is on hard times,” Gentile says. “We work very closely with the senior and health department in Mount Olive.”

Take the ten to 15 percent who have serious eye problems most parents were not even aware of because when you take your child to the pediatrician, they only perform a simple eye exam.

“You’d be surprised how many children as early as first grade had a wandering eye, poor vision or even worse — that we caught because of this eye screening and they’re able to get treated,” says the Club President.

It translated to more than 18,000 children screened over the past 20 years, thanks to Lion member and licensed optician Dr. Jeanine Labrada, who connects other Lions with the nurses at each one of the schools to assist.

“Mountain View, Tinc Road School, Sandshore and Chester Stephens School (CMS),” Gentile says. “We’re there every year around October/November and Dr. Labrada brings her equipment.”

The Lions Club is an international non-political service organization founded in 1917 in Chicago by insurance salesman, Melvin Jones.

Jones had a successful career when he and others got together with the purpose of giving back to the community and to those who needed financial help.

“They really didn’t have a goal at the time of what they were all about until Hellen Keller approached them at one of their conventions (1925),” says the Club President.

“Eye diseases leading to blindness were rampant in the 1920s so the author and activist challenged the Lions to become “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness.”

Ever since, their work has included sight programs aimed at preventable blindness.

Globally, the Lions Club serves over 200 countries and geographic areas. Their 48,000 clubs and more than 1.4 million members are on the frontlines — from food delivery for healthcare workers to providing medical supplies where they’re needed most. They are actively showing how kindness matters.

“I would like to thank all our members in the Mount Olive Lions Club for their hard work, dedication and sacrifice every year,” Gentile says.

According to Van Dam, he’s become heavily involved over the past 20 years

serving the community with local, state and international projects.

The Lions often get approached by the town or the Police Department or the Board of Health about a problem or issue.

“They’ll ask if there’s any way we can do it and we will tell them we’ll make a commitment and how much money we have to contribute to the cause,” Gentile says.

One of those causes was providing the first bullet proof vests for the Mount Olive Police.

“It now costs almost $1,000 per vest and over our 50 years experience, we’ve donated to buy over 70 police vests,” says the Club President. “The second vest is paid for by the FOP (Fraternal Order of Police) or the PBA (Policemen’s Benevolent Association).”

Gentile says it gives him and all the Lions members a sense of accomplishment knowing they’ve helped out a fellow resident.

“We’ve paid for eyeglasses, we’ve paid for eye exams, we’ve paid for eye opera-

tions where somebody could not afford it and needed it,” he says. “We were able to raise some of the money or all of the money to do what had to be done.”

Van Dam has committed himself to service by holding all the officers positions, as well as being a trustee on the New Jersey Lions Charitable Foundation and is currently the club’s treasurer.

“When people donate, a lot of them say, ‘my father, my uncle, so and so I know was in the Lions Club or was helped by the Lions Club,’ that’s a good feeling,” he says.

According to Gentile, for years they have been a proud part of Rockaway’s Camp Marcella, a residential summer campground designed for children and teens with blindness, visual-impairments and special needs.

“Camp Marcella is funded and sponsored by over 25/30 Lions Clubs throughout New Jersey, from Bergen County, all the way out towards the Delaware Water Gap,” he says, adding that those are the kinds of continued on page 67

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 67

Mount Olive Lions... continued from page 66 things that they undertake.

The camp is a State Project of New Jersey Lions Multiple District-16.

“They have the chance to go to camp for a whole week free of charge,” Gentile says. “It’s a sleepover camp with bathrooms and beds — we have a nurses station; a full lunchroom/ cafeteria where they’ll cook meals for the kids.

And for recreation, in the last 10 years we installed a brand new in-ground pool (with) a ramp and lift for those in a wheelchair.”

There’s also a baseball field and playground, a two-lane bowling alley that the blind and visually impaired children can actually bowl, a yearly Lions arts and crafts building that supplies the camp with whatever they need.

For all the good they do and countless people they help, the Mount Olive Lions Club is hurting for members.

“It has always been difficult getting members to join our club and any service club in the past few years but this year was the worst,” says the Club President, of the fallout from the pandemic and a sign of the times in general.

Often husband and wife are working, there are many single parent families, and family values and traditions are not what they were decades ago.

“In terms of donating time, they say, ‘I would love to but I work and when I don’t I’m watching the children and the grandchildren,’” Gentile says. “This generation, the Baby Boomers — we’re also taking care of our parents.”

They do try to get the word out by approaching friends, neighbors and anyone they feel would be a good fit, according to the Club President.

“We’ve had as many as 30 members in good times, some years we got down to only like 12,” he says. “We’re back up to 22, so it does fluctuate.”

Besides members, donations are always appreciated and having local support also makes a difference.

“Whether we are hosting our Golf Outing, standing in front of ShopRite in Mount Olive or Succasunna or Walmart — as well as our annual Casino Night that we were not able to have last year,” Gentile says. “By attending or donating to these events helps us to help other residents in the area that are less fortunate.”

The club’s dedication to the people of Mount Olive, celebrating its sesquicentennial in 2021 — has never waned.

“Mount Olive Township having its 150th Anniversary is a milestone and our club is very proud of what Mount Olive has accomplished,” says Gentile. “Our prior and current leaders have done a great job with our parks and green acres, sports and recreation, education and giving us a great town to live in.”

For Club President and Van Dam, being a Lion is very rewarding.

“I am always looking to add projects and new members,” says Van Dam. “No Lion relieves any remuneration, only self satisfaction of helping others less fortunate.”

Echoing that sentiment, Gentile says it makes the entire club feel better that they are able to lend a hand on a regular basis... and especially now to restore well-being to Mount Olive.

“Our club and other service clubs, healthcare professionals — along with our police, firemen and first responders are trying to shine a light at the end of this dark tunnel so we can all have better and safe times in the future,” he says.

For more information about how to become a Lions Club member www.e-clubhouse. org/sites/mountolivenj

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Hey Mount Olive, Remember That Tornado?

S

By Steve Sears ome residents on the Flanders side of town said it sounded ‘like an express train’ had entered the town.

Then Mayor Charles Spangler sought both federal and state aid for the destructed area. Walter Nicklesberg, a Trenton-based meteorologist for the U.S. Weather Bureau, confirmed it indeed was a tornado, as eyewitnesses reported seeing a two-funnel cloud touch down on the western side of Route 206.

Yes, it happened, as hard as it might be to believe. In 1973, a twister made an unwelcome visit to Mount Olive.

There have been other major weather events.

With its high elevations, the township has through the years of course seen significant snowstorms. For example, in January 2016, when a major blizzard was forecast and estimates of snowfall ranging anywhere from 12” – 30” were predicted, 19” fell to earth in town, and a March 2017 storm left 20” ready for shoveling.

No doubt, however, the Sunday, January 31 into Tuesday, February 2, 2021 storm may qualify as perhaps the highest snowfall total in modern history. A reported amount of up to 30” of snow blanketed various parts of Mount Olive’s 33 square miles.

“I think this last storm is probably the one with the most (snow),” says township historian and Historical Society President, Thea Dunkle. “I mean, we did have that Halloween storm,” she says, referring back to an early snowstorm preceding October’s last day some time back.

There were so many leaves still on the trees, and weight from the snow accompanied by winds caused the trees to pull a lot of wires down. “So that storm wrecked more havoc than this one did,” she says.

The area also was hit by a few major snowstorms in 1996, and of course hurricanes like Floyd, Irene, and Superstorm Sandy have challenged the township with high winds and flood-

ing. Dunkle also recalls when an east coast earthquake from Washington, DC stretched up north and “moved” the area. “We felt it all in this area and that was down in Washington, DC. So, that was kind of interesting.”

“We’ve had a couple of bad ones (weather events), but that tornado was probably the worst, in ’73.”

Indeed, however catastrophic and serious the before mentioned weather systems may have been, nothing compares to the 1973 Memorial Day tornado that entered the area en route from Long Valley at around 9:00 p.m.

It was certainly different.

The tornado touched down next to Route 206, its first victim a Citgo gas station, as it knocked over a truck and tore the station’s sign from its frame, sending it flying over 500’ into the interior of a store across the highway at Sutton Park Shopping Center. The tornado then crossed the highway, roared through the center, knocking out windows, and destroying the south end roof of the complex, two newly installed air units ripped away and sent airborne in the process. The dual funnel next reached the Clover Hill housing development, severely damaging 19 houses, 12 of those eventually being condemned. The funnel traveled through Brownstone Place and Knollwood Road, destroying roofs and walls of homes, tearing wires from poles and trees from the ground, and then moved on to nearby fields. Ironia Road was its next path, the tornado passing near the Flanders Valley Airport, toppling cars, and then climbing the neighboring hill and heading out of town, always to be a memory.

A few days later, it was learned that Mount Olive was not alone in being a tornado’s victim. An estimated 160 had been reported throughout the country during that Memorial Day weekend 48 years ago.

For the Garden State, Flanders was hit the hardest.

Givaudan Braille Trail Along the Morris Canal

I

By Jeff Stadelman n a rustic setting along the former Morris Canal, a team of Givaudan employees along with interested volunteers labored together along the towpath of the once-bustling canal.

The project was to add an asset to the community and aid to individuals with visual impairment.

This mile-long stretch, known as the Givaudan Braille Trail, is today a passive stroll into the past on a corner of the International Trade Center.

The project was funded largely by the Givaudan Fragrance Corporation, located on Waterloo Valley Road in the trade center, along with National Recreational Trail grants to both Mount Olive and Stanhope and in-kind contributions.

Scores of 4” by 4” wooden bollards were embedded into the earth with guide ropes strung between for

the visually impaired to safely navigate. This milelong segment of the former canal can be accessed from the foot of Plane Street in Stanhope, continuing along the water-filled canal bed, past the remnants of the canal lock tender’s house continuing out to Continental Drive in the trade center.

The project’s length is ADA accessible.

The Morris Canal was

a driving economic force from 1829 until 1924 when it primarily transported coal from Pennsylvania and limestone, iron ore and building products from western New Jersey to towns along its course to its journey’s end at Newark. In its later years, the shift to more efficient railroads caused its demise.

The state is working to create passive redevelopment along the remaining seg-

ments, known as the Morris Canal Greenway, once the 107-mile canal. The Morris Canal is located along the northern border of Mount Olive Township, where it travels through the historic Waterloo Village, and closely follows the path of the Musconetcong River.

The Braille Trail is another example of our local businesses bringing people together while giving back

to the Mount Olive community. If you enjoy walking do not miss the opportuni-

ty to take a relaxing stroll through local history.

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 69

Celebrating 150 Years of Artistry and Expression in Mount Olive

T

By Jillian Risberg hey want it, chase it, crave it — the explosive creativity of the authors and artists who call Mount Olive home gives them life.

“Mount Olive is a part of who I am. Our kids go to school here. We’ve made friends here. We’ve experienced loss here and gone through personal growth here.

We love Mount Olive, and look forward to when we can all get together as a community again,” says Christopher Nevoso, of Mr. Chris Entertainment (formerly known as Archie Cobblespot).

According to the ‘professional balloon artist, physical comedian and nincompoop,’ balloons make everything seem more whimsical.

“How can you be in a bad mood when you’re surrounded by balloons,” Nevoso says, adding that he decided early on not to be the guy twisting easy one-balloon dogs and swords, so he dove deeply into what was possible.

“Crazy thing is, anything is possible. I enjoy working with balloons so much they’ve become the cornerstone of my business. It’s a balancing act to stay true to your clown character while essentially being a living balloon factory, but I think I’m able to tie them both together pretty nicely.”

In these pandemic times, though — the artist says performances are scarce.

“I know plenty of people who have gotten into Zoom performances, but it’s just not for me,” says Nevoso. “It’s very hard to feel a connection through a camera, and for me the connection is absolutely vital. The audience is my

Braydon Adkins

Martina Palladino

energy.”

Currently, he is accepting small, socially distanced balloon events that follow COVID protocols, making sure to talk in detail to clients before accepting the booking.

“I wear a mask, and I expect everyone else to as well,” the artist says. “I also keep hand sanitizer nearby to use in between each balloon sculpture. I want the world to get back up and running as much as the next guy, but not at the expense of anyone’s health.”

According to Nevoso, his contact-free balloon drop offs are a nice addition to any event or holiday.

“And I am in the early stages of planning some online balloon twisting classes,” he says.

When it comes to vaudeville, the artist had always heard of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, and as a young guy doing all he could to break into the industry, figured it was high time he looked into them.

“I was blown away by how someone could make you feel, react, and laugh all without words,” he says. “It was truly clowning, physical comedy, at its finest. I became hooked, and everything I thought I had figured out about continued on page 70

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Celebrating 150 Years...

continued from page 69 my clown character went right out the window.”

And he fell in love with silent comedy, moving in the embellished manor that those guys use in their movies.

“I can always tell when a clown or performer is ‘performing,’” says Nevoso. “When you believe it to be genuine, that’s when the good stuff happens. I look at a guy like Bill Irwin (Mr. Noodle on Sesame Street), who helped ring in the new era of vaudeville, and everything he does seems so effortlessly real, so honest. It’s a thing of beauty to witness.”

He had the opportunity to headline with Irwin, talk to him and get pointers, which the physical comedian says is still the greatest feeling in the world to know he performed for one of his heroes.

“And he actually thought I was funny,” Nevoso says, adding that as a young boy he figured out his life’s calling on a family trip to the circus, where he was part of the pre-show festivities.

“I quickly learned that making a group of people laugh is one of the best feelings in the world, and you immediately want to be able to do it again,” he says. “I remember watching the rest of the show from my seat and thinking, ‘that was awesome. I want to do this when I grow up.’ And many years later, I did.”

To be able to bring this form of entertainment to the masses means the world.

“Clowns get a really bad and unfair rap, and to a degree I get it,” says Nevoso. “The movies have done us no justice, and there isn’t any test or license you have to take,

David Rush

Chris Nevoso

so there can be a lot of bad or unprofessional clowns out there.”

He says all it takes is one negative experience, and a person will never look at clowns as a whole the same way again.

“But to be able to make someone laugh who may be dealing with one of life’s rough patches or give a child — dealing with bullies, a sick parent, or any one of countless problems a kid can be dealing with — an amazing balloon sculpture and make them smile; it’s really the most powerful thing I can think of,” the artist says.

According to Nevoso, clowns have the power to make people forget their problems, even for just a minute.

“It’s an incredible honor and a privilege, and one I

don’t take lightly,” he says.

Braydon Adkins’ three-legged senior dog, Mabel, inspired the 10-year-old to pen his first work — “The Adventures of Mamma Mabel – Everyone deserves to be loved,” to teach kids not to judge a book by its cover, and to look deeper.

“Sometimes, people don’t apply that to dogs because they think, ‘dogs don’t have feelings’ but what most people don’t know is, they really do,” says the first-time Mount Olive author.

After some COVID delays, Adkins now says he is hoping to go to print in March.

“We are currently waiting for a release date, but orcontinued on page 71

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inspire other kids in town to follow their dreams,” he says.

David Rush is an artist to the core of his being.

“I was always interested in something visual from the time I could pick up a pencil because that’s who I am,” Rush says.

“There’s nothing I’d rather do more than draw, paint, create; a means of expression that flows with a sub conscious drive.”

Mount Olive has been an anchor, allowing interaction between fellow artists and students.

“I am grateful for that,” says the international artist, who started teaching at the Mount Olive Adult School 44 years ago to fill in a class or two and the next thing he knew was doing five classes a week.

Rush is always evolving, searching creative avenues, cultivating ideas, reflecting and continually growing.

“My main objective is to create beauty as long as I am able,” he says.

“I enjoy working in oil paint mostly; the feel, texture, look, the way it can be manipulated — all that cannot be found in other materials. Have experimented with most every medium there is and then eventually go back to oil.”

He studied at the Famous Artists school

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continued from page 70 dered our first proof and it will be out soon,” he says.

The fifth-grader loves writing children’s stories because he says teaching them lessons early is the best way for them to succeed later in life.

And it’s important for children to develop a love of reading.

“So they don’t have to be exposed to the toxicity and hoaxes of the internet,” Adkins says.

His rescue dog has been such a source of inspiration.

“She was supposed to be a hospice foster, but has been living with us for three years now and is doing great,” says Adkins.

Channeling that affection for Mabel, going forward the young author plans to write more.

“For all of our current dogs,” he says. “I have some ideas for our beagle, Ruby. She is funny and loves everyone she meets.”

Of 150 years of history in Mount Olive, a place where Adkins is happy to grow up — he loves playing for Mount Olive Baseball and ordering the omelets at Budd Lake Diner.

“I feel as if I really contributed to the celebration from this book and hope to

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in Westport, Connecticut, attended the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Art — and upon graduating returned there to teach.

Throughout his illustrious career, Rush’s work has been shown in four museums, and galleries both nationally and internationally.

He continues to paint, and fostering the next generation of Mount Olive artists makes his day.

“Seeing a student grow; plus the joy they have while being creative, the longevity of that is a wonderful exchange of ideas between some who have no experience,” says Rush. “It’s the best because they’re free to create unencumbered by rules and regulations.”

For author Martina Palladino, who was born in the Czech Republic, lived for a time in West Germany, then came to America— a culmination of experiences in grammar school set her on a different course.

“For me, going to school and not understanding or speaking English as a child made me a target for bullying,” Palladino says. “Kids would make fun of the way I spoke, how I pronounced words, not understanding slang, and my lack of humor as I did not comprehend the play on words.”

She says if you command a language, you are viewed as intelligent and strong.

But if you have trouble communicating, that translates to inexperience and lack of knowledge.

“Yet, as I grew, things changed. Less people knew that I wasn’t ‘American,’ my accent faded and as a result, I was accepted without question,” says the author. “So, I believe that language is an immensely powerful tool.”

It may have been the catalyst that fueled her desire to master English and eventually become an author.

Discovering the wonderful community of people that is Mount Olive also helped.

“I feel grounded and at home here,” says Palladino. “I believe that if your mindset is positive and peaceful, it shows through your creativity. It not only shapes me as a writer, but as a person.”

Being able to share ‘Thru Eyes of REM’ with the public means everything to the author.

“In today’s world of uncertainty, distrust and anger, I strive to show readers that there is always hope, there is love, inclusion, tolerance, and acceptance,” she says. “I guide the story through a journey that not only displays deceit, despair, delusion and lust, but equally you follow the characters through their turmoil into loyalty, respect, empowerment, and love.”

“While fantasy fiction is entertaining, the underlying messages are real. What begins by alluding to a love story spanning centuries between two souls who dreamt of one another, continues as we follow their individual journeys and revelations.”

According to Palladino, she wants readers to realize that if fictional characters from diverse lands, backgrounds and experiences can learn to come together for a common goal, it is possible for all humanity.

“If we learn to tolerate, include and accept, as opposed to criticizing, singling out and shunning due to ignorance,” the author says, adding that the 150th anniversary is special because it solidifies that growth in the community and how far we’ve come.

The author has too, transcended time and place — and her book series is a work in progress.

“When all was shutdown last year due to COVID, I wrote book 4 in my series in less than a month, then started the publishing process for both versions of book 3,” Palladino says. “Once those two books were published, I started writing book 5.

I’m almost done with that book; so, the question is… how many hours can it take to write a chapter — as little as four hours to as much as eight.”

That led to word-building.

“This aspect of writing is crucial for a fantasy fiction series because I want the reader to visualize and connect to the characters, as well as the scene, location, country,” says the author. “The first book in my series takes the reader to six different countries. I would love to visit the places I write about, especially Sardinia, Italy.”

She also takes the reader to Prague.

“That location inspired me to bring awareness to multiple countries and bring different types of people together,” Palladino says. “So, I’d say that Prague would be the origin of my pilgrimage.”

Whether you choose the Adult or New Adult censored version of the author’s series; each subsequent book directly relates to the previous one.

“What I enjoy most about fiction is that anything and everything is possible,” says Palladino. “The world is at your fingertips, allowing you to create believable, yet otherworldly characters and scenarios.”

And the future for Mount Olive is looking tremendous.

“Because the young people growing up in this community have shown a sense of togetherness and willingness to accept one another in a way past generations have struggled,” the author says.

Page 72 • March 2021 • Mt. Olive Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Mt. Olive Knights of Columbus – Where There is a Need, There is a Knight

I

By Henry M Holden n the late 1800s, Connecticut had growing fraternal benefit societies, anti-Catholic prejudice and dangerous factory working conditions that left many families fatherless. There was no protection for the wives and the widows or children of the deceased men who back then were the only breadwinners.

In 1881, a 29-year-old assistant pastor of St. Mary’s Church, in New Haven, Conn, gathered a small group of men at his parish. His goal was to provide a service and charity to meet the needs of immigrants, refugees and families suffering from the death of the breadwinner, usually the father.

“That group of men, led by Father Michael J. McGivney, began as a small service organization on Feb. 6, 1882,” said Steven Niblett, Knights of Columbus Membership Director.

Father McGivney formed an insurance company where members dropped $.50 into a bucket each time they met. When a brother knight needed help, or a wife needed help because her husband had died the Knights would provide for her. “The founder Officers of the fledgling organization chose the name “Knights of Columbus” because they felt that, as a Catholic group, it should relate to Christopher Columbus, the Catholic discoverer of America,” said Niblett.

“This would emphasize that it was a Catholic who discovered, explored, and colonized the North American continent. At the same time “Knights” would signify that the membership embodied knightly ideals of spirituality and service to Church, country, and fellowman.

“It was not a good time to be a Catholic or Irish in America” said Niblett. “There were the NINA Laws, and signs in store windows proclaiming, No Irish Need Apply.

It was in a time when there was no Social Security and basically no social services or safety net for the poor.

“Charity is at the heart of our work and our faith — and it always has been,” said Niblett. “For the Knights of Columbus, charity means supporting a virtually boundless variety of projects.

“We are men who lead, serve, protect and defend, whether we are giving out Coats for Kids, lending a hand in disaster relief efforts, or supporting local pregnancy centers by donating ultrasound machines.”

The most effective pro-life program which the Order has undertaken is the Knights of Columbus Ultrasound Initiative which has funded 979 ultrasound machines in all 50 states and Canada, with a total value of more than $48 million.

July 18, 1968 saw the Mount Olive Knights of Columbus Council 6100 established with 85 knights. “When our former chaplain Father Joseph Cassidy passed away, we wanted a way to honor and remember him, so we renamed the council on July 26, 1998 the Father Joseph A. Cassidy Council 6100,” said Niblett.

“It was through the efforts of many of the founding Knights that the Mount Olive Squires were formed,” said Niblett. “On January 17, 1971, twenty-two young Catholic men put their signatures on the charter of the St. Jude Columbian Squires 2192.

“The Squires is a youth group that is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus. They range in age from 10 through 18,” said Niblett. “We are a faith-based organization, that serves God and our fellow man. We try and teach these boys leadership skills.

We feel the quality of the young men that come out of this program is probably better than ever because it takes so much more to make it happen.

“As the coronavirus pandemic contin-

Top left: Jim Sweeney, Steve Ciccarella, John Sanker, Steve Sammarrco, Joe D’Anna, Gerry Kaufhold and Len Martin.

Bottom left: Rich Bonanella, John Mania and Bill Nolan.

ues, our duty is to lead our families, protect our parishes, and serve our communities, remembering always that where there is a need, there is a Knight.

“Many families have already stocked their personal pantries in preparation for a quarantine. This has resulted in reduced donations to local food banks, food pantries and soup kitchens. So, now we have a need that we must fill.”

Today, the Knights of Columbus is almost 2 million members throughout the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Mexico, Europe, and the countries in the Caribbean, and South Pacific.

Their charitable activities encompass local, national and international projects.

“From international charitable partnerships with Special Olympics, the Global Wheelchair Mission, and Habitat for Humanity, to our own Food for Families and Coats for Kids projects and other local charities. The opportunity to work together with fellow Knights and their families is virtually endless.”

One hundred forty years later, the Knights are still true to their founding principles of spirituality and service to Church, country, and fellowman. “Join us to help make a difference, and enjoy the fellowship of your brother knights,” said Niblett.

For more information see www.kofc.org or call Steve Niblett (201) 874-2007.

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Meet a Few “Other” Mount Olives

M

By Steve Sears y Life Publications loves to celebrate and learn more about “Sister Cities” that share like names with our publishing communities.

Mount Olive, you’re not alone in having such a great township. In fact, 20 other states are home to a “Mount Olive” and are every bit as unique.

Mount Olive Life reached out to a number of these communities across the country, and two were receptive to our invitation to be part of this article. And here’s the coincidence: both are over a century old as well.

Mount Olive, Mississippi celebrated 120 years in 2020. “We had great plans for doing a lot this past year, but with corona(virus) it did not work out,” says Sandra Boyd, town historian.

The Covington County “sister” is just 3 ½ square miles and has only 1,000 residents, a far cry from our 32 square miles and has almost 30,000 residents.

“You would find a main street that we call our boulevard,” says Boyd when asked about the town layout. “The town had the four-lane highway between Jackson and the coast, and that was designed in the

plan of the town in 1900, when the town was founded.” The road was eventually designated Route 49, which now travels near the border of town. “In about 1968, the design of the highway changed, and the highway moved out of the town, and of course that was a major impact in the economy. A lot of the businesses could not sustain themselves without the traffic going through. Transportation methods were changing; that was a little after the railroad (which was built in 1899 and finished in 1900) quit handling freight. So, a lot of changes in the 60s and 70s.” The town business district is about four blocks long, and many of the buildings are original from the 1930s and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are a few vacant store fronts that the town would like to see filled. “The town was centered on the railroad and although the depot was not in the middle, it sort of parallels that boulevard I was talking about.”

Accommodations are not available for visitors, but travel ten miles north to Magee or ten miles south to Collins and you’ll find a place to comfortably stay. As for dining options, Mimi’s is a breakfast and lunch spot with, per Boyd, “Good home cooking,”

Mount Olive, Mississippi. Photo credit Janet Kelley.

and she also recommends MOM’s Seafood and Steak. Mount Olive Donuts also serves breakfast and lunch and snacks, and closes at 2:00 p.m. “We have a lot of little places to shop for unique vintage items, but one of the unique places is our basket shop (The Basket Cottage). We have members of the Amish or old order of the German community. They have the basket shop where they make handmade baskets.”

School children are educated at Mount Olive Elementary School and Mount Olive

High School.

Some of the well-known folks from Mississippi’s Mount Olive you may have seen on your television screen. Miss Mississippi 2015, Hannah Roberts, was 1st runner-up in the 2016 Miss America pageant, and the late Steve McNair, who led the Tennessee Titans to their only Super Bowl appearance (they lost a close battle to the St. Louis Rams), was many times named a National Football League All-Pro. continued on page 75

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Mount Olive, North Carolina. Photo credit Julie Beck.

A Few “Other” Mount Olives... continued from page 74 Boyd also mentions that Mount Olive is one of six sites in the state to apply for and get the Smithsonian exhibit, “Crossroads: Change in Rural America,” which was on display until December 12, 2020. “That really has been our major celebration for the 120th anniversary because we have had a lot of people come and people have enjoyed it very much. We were really fortunate to get that.”

Boyd talks about Mount Olive, Mississippi’s past, and what she hopes for its future. “Mount Olive is a town where everybody pretty much knows everybody, and everybody watches out for everybody. We’re a small, little community but a good community, and some people have also described it – when they were growing up in the 50s, 60s, and the 70s – as a ‘Mayberry.’ Kids went out in the morning and played and went all over town, and nobody worried about them. It’s changed a little bit, but we’re trying to go back to that as a focus for our community, make it a good, friendly, positive place to live.”

Speaking of “Mayberry,” we head now to North Carolina, where in 2020, a 150th anniversary much like our own took place. The three-square-mile Mount Ol-

ive stretches into both Duplin and Wayne counties. 4,700 people live in the tiny community that is located between Raleigh and the Outer Banks, and about 60 miles from the South Carolina border.

Also, this Mount Olive also has a “little brother” in the same state. Mount Olive, located in Stokes County, is a tiny, unincorporated community.

Mount Olive is home to Mount Olive University, a liberal arts institution, and also the 95-year-old Mt. Olive Pickle Company, and the David Aaron John Historical Museum. Numerous structures are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. “Yes., we have a historic downtown district,” says Chamber of Commerce President, Julie Beck. “We have the university of Mount Olive in town which has about 3,000 students, including our students that are doing distant learning. Our town was started back in 1870, so in 2020 we just turned 150 years old.”

Since 1999, the town has hosted an annual Pickle Festival, which is a big draw. “It started when they built a railroad track to come through our town – it started bringing people to town - and then they started continued on page 76

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A Few “Other” Mount Olives...

continued from page 75 trading vegetables,” says Beck about the genesis of Mt. Olive Pickle Company. “And in 1926 is when they had an overabundance of cucumbers and they were about to rot, and so some local businesses decided that they should create a pickle company, and that started the Mt. Olive Pickle Company. They sell them in all 50 states,” says Beck. “They are the number one producer of pickles, peppers, and relishes in the nation – in the whole United States.”

“I’m a transplant,” says Beck, who is originally from Ohio, “but the people in this town are some of the friendliest people I have ever met. The people in our town are passionate about our community.”

It was March 1, 2020 that Mount Olive, North Carolina turned 150 years old. “We had a big celebration in town,” says Beck, “and then two weeks later the pandemic hit, and we had to cancel every other (event). Unfortunately, we had a whole year’s worth of activities planned, and it’s unfortunate that we only got to have one. It was a nice celebration in our old high school, which is no longer a high school, it is now an auditorium at the university. We brought a bunch of the relatives of some of the original founders of Mount Olive, some of the key people that helped get our town started. We went back and found some of their relatives who still live around here and came in from out of town and gave stories and shared information about it. It was really interesting. I learned a lot that day about things in this town that I never knew.”

The Sleep Inn & Suites is the only hotel in town, which Beck calls, “Very nice, actually.” She then recommends a

hot burger spot for hunger cravings. ”We have a restaurant that actually has its corporate office in Mount Olive.

It’s called Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries. It was founded

by Kenney Moore, who lives here in Mount Olive. It (the restaurant) is nationwide, although there may not be any in New Jersey and they are not in all the states, but they’re expanding more and more and more. I know there are some up in Ohio, there’s some down in Florida, there’s some out in Kentucky. I was in Montana this summer, there’s one or two in Montana. I went to one in Montana which I thought was so great. So yeah, when people come to town, we always send them to Hwy 55 because that’s just a Mount Olive tradition.” And tradition doesn’t end with Mr. Moore’s eatery. “We also have a couple little places of what I would call ‘mom and pop.’ Good old southern cooking restaurants like Rita’s Place, and The Plow house. And we only have one steakhouse in town, one really proper restaurant I guess you could say, called Ribeye’s Steakhouse.”

“Everything else is ‘mom and pop’ kind of places; small community, that’s what you get.”

Olympian handball player, Leora “Sam” Jones, who also played basketball, grew up in town. “About three weeks ago we just opened up a new high school gym, had a ribbon cutting, and she was there. That was one of the people they brought in because she would have played basketball at their high school, growing up.” Mount Olive, New Jersey may have its resident Super Bowl champion in former New York Giant, Lee Rouson, but so does Mount Olive, North Carolina. Greg Warren, who played long snapper for the

Pittsburgh Steelers, helped the club win Super Bowl championships in 2005 and 2009. “His father was the football coach at Southern Wayne High School,” says Beck, “which is our high school. Greg grew up in Mount Olive and went on to be a world champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has since retired, and he lives in in Raleigh now. And we had a guy who wrote some TV and film scripts. His name is Marian Hargrove. We have some of that stuff on display over there in the library.”

Students attend classes within the Wayne County Public Schools system. Included in town are Carver Elementary School and Mount Olive Middle School, while Southern Wayne High School is located in nearby Dudley.

Beck also sends a congratulatory message to her sister city up north. “Congratulations for such a historic moment.

When you get to 150 years - a Sesquicentennial - you’ve obviously done things right. You’re still surviving and thriving 150 years later. So, congratulations. “ To learn more about both communities, visit townofmtolivems.com or www.townofmountolivenc.org.

Here are some other Mount Olives in the United States to read up on. There are unincorporated, tiny Mount Olives located in Alabama (numerous), Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.

Mount Olive, Illinois is a city in Macoupin County, Illinois, United States, where the is population roughly 2,100 and Route 66 is a big drew, while Mount Olive, Oklahoma is a community where a few people reside, the Mount Olive Baptist Church the landmark where locals gather.

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Mount Olive Recreation Helps Community Thrive

R

By Evan Wechman ecreation departments often go unappreciated. The Mount Olive recreational facilities are superb and are frequently praised by members of the community.

This department has often had to transition, improvise, and serve their community during challenging times.

At the heart of the Mount Olive Recreation Department is Jill Daggon and Liz Meininger. Both have been actively promoting healthy events and learning opportunities for about two decades. Daggon has been the Recreation Supervisor since 2002. Previously, she occupied many other roles including being the Budd Lake Beach Director. She has a genuine passion for both water programs and children. “I really enjoy seeing children overcome challenges-whether in aquatics, camp programs or new activities,” she states.

Likewise, Meininger also worked her way up the ladder in the department. Though she is currently the Marketing Director, she started in 2002 doing a little bit of everything.

Her affinity for creating events blossomed and the department now offers approximately 15 events a year. She states there is “something for everyone.”

Both Daggon and Meininger mentioned the challenges that faced them during the pandemic. According to Daggon, “when our March 2020 event was canceled two days before event day, we immediately started researching ideas.”

They collaborated with the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association to help come up with novel ideas. One great program occurred when Meininger turned the Cinco de Mayo events into virtual celebrations. The two also created a drive-in movie night in July 2020 featuring the family friendly film, “The Sandlot.” This was widely attended as well as the various virtual learning programs created for children.

With such special leaders, it is no surprise the team is coming up with a variety of events to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Mount Olive. They are working on everything from virtual photo albums to scavenger hunts. The theme of the celebration is “Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.” To assist in the festivities, the department has creat-

ed an online store selling many commemorative items.

Though the programs have changed through the years, the history of the department is rich in creating positive change in the community. In 1975, Eric Schulte became the first Director of Recreation, Parks, Buildings and Grounds for Mount Olive. At one point in the 1980’s he even had the department operate from a trailer in the parking lot when space was tight in the original municipal building.

Flyers were typed up and given out at the schools by the employees. Even then, the children loved the gymnastics, ceramics, and other offerings. When Schulte retired in 2002, the department was reorganized as the Parks, Buildings and Grounds joined the Department of Public Works.

The Recreation Department became a division under the administration.

Another change occurred in 2004 when the Recreation Department began the process of moving from the common township budget type of funding to operating as a self-funding utility. In 2008, it became fully operational as a utility and was therefore responsible for raising money

through registration fees, donations, and business sponsorships.

Though such changes could cause distress, the employees of the department faced the challenges head-on and thrived. Daggon concludes “In 2012, Mayor Greenbaum challenged us to have more special events and encouraged us to actively provide sponsorship opportunities for area businesses. Mayor Greenbaum has been and continues to be a tremendous advocate for recreation, bringing our community together.”

Due to the persistence of both Daggon and Meininger, they have both been awarded for great service by the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association. They are also actively looking forward to setting up their two most popular events this summer. In July, there is a five day carnival complete with rides, games, and fireworks. Come August, the Food Trucks and Fireworks festival with over 25 vendors is scheduled to occur.

For more information on Mount Olive Recreation, visit www.mountolivetwpnj.org/recreation-department.

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 79

All Veterans Memorial: The People’s Memorial in Mount Olive

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By Dawn M Chiossi atriotism is much more than brass bands, flags, or parades. More than pageantry for many, patriotism is a personal feeling. Featuring an appreciation and reverence, patriotism encompasses a quiet surge of pride and gratitude for the people who battled for America’s freedom-- knowing that democracy and liberty are hard-won.

It is a feeling that encourages caring, empathy and giving back.

Founded in 2005, Mount Olive’s Turkey Brook Park’s All Veterans Memorial Park (AVM) fervently celebrates that type of patriotism. With Veteran’s Day approaching, there’s never been a better time to visit this inspiring site.

The All Veterans Memorial Park is sponsored by the Hackettstown-based Publius Organization. During the Global War on Terror, this non-profit organization was originally designed to provide goodwill opportunities to various organizations and individuals who wanted to develop their own troop-support campaign.

More than just a series of monuments, the All Veterans Memorial was created to honor the brave men and women who are and have been in the United States Armed Forces. Created with the empowering idea of fostering a sense of unity between civilians and the military, the AVM goes even further. Providing education, outreach programs, and events, the AVM’s mission is to promote public awareness, involvement and support for all U.S. Service Members.

Located at 30 Flanders Road in Budd Lake, next to the historic Seward Mansion at the entrance of Turkey Brook Park, the All Veterans Memorial is open to the public and is completely free. Visitors of all ages are welcome.

Expansive and pristine, a place of utter beauty and contentment, it is often said that a sense of peace comes over visitors the moment they enter. Affectionately nicknamed “The People’s Memorial,” the site was built exclusively by volunteers. Sprawling 1.3 acres, it celebrates the taste of freedom and what it takes to get there.

“Many people believe that the township built the memorial,” Developer, Charlie Uhrmann tells. “However, after they learned that ordinary people--with pure love for their country--created every facet of the park, they are always shocked.”

100% funded by private donations and volunteers, “the All Veterans Memorial has kept its promise to never accept taxpayer funding,” Uhrmann prides. “No one within our or-

ganization has ever received any compensation.”

Born and raised in Wisconsin, and first residing in Florida, Uhrmann is passionate about a variety of philanthropic causes. After moving to New Jersey, and when the casualties from the Global War on Terror increased, she turned her efforts in that direction. “I think that 9/11 fundamentally changed people on the most basic level,” she remarks candidly. “I wanted to do something to pay it forward.”

Although Uhrmann is very much the idea-person behind the park, she is eager to point out that the All Veterans Memorial is very much a team passion. She describes that the brainstorm for it was one of those rare and amazing coincidences where all elements just came together. It was a time when her son was in the final stages of his Eagle Scout community project--building a memorial of his own-- and when fellow friends and volunteers, Bill and Linda Sohl and Thea Dunkle were relocating the Mount Olive War Monument.

“I saw the location allotted in Turkey Brook Park, and immediately all of these ideas began swimming in my head,” Uhrmann relates. “I wanted an all-inclusive place that would honor absolutely everyone, and give people a place where they could peacefully reflect. I wanted the memorial to show the aspects of America’s rich history, what America as a young country has gone through...for people to learn the facts behind wars, our three branches of government, our presidents, and the price of freedom.”

To help with this awesome project she recruited five of New Jersey’s most admired hardscapers and an architect.

In particular, Uhrmann mentions Karl Meier of Meier Stone in Flanders. “He was extremely instrumental in providing engineering and much of the materials and labor. His fingerprints are all over the park. Without Karl, we would not have nearly what we have today. He truly is one of the most talented craftsmen of all time,” she enthuses.

With an artistic eye and creative plan, Uhrmann relates that she intentionally sought to have every element of the park interconnecting and flowing into each other. This not only stresses symmetry and design, but it also shows off the almost magical element to the memorial. The memorials very shape was inspired by the Congressional Medal of Honor. “If you are flying overhead in a helicopter, you can see the shape. It’s amazing,” Uhrmann enthuses.

The park holds several memorials with the All Veteran’s Memorial Ceremonial Ground being the main complex. In the center is Mt. Olive’s original war monument, The STAR

or Pentagon Platform, The Presidents Preamble Stage, Bill of Rights Wall, the Charlie Johnson Memorial Gazebo, The North Star Seating Area, the Spiritual Cenotaph, the Warrior Obelisk Monument, the POW/Remembrance Wall, and the War Dog Memorial.

Mt. Olive’s Original War Monument was donated by World War II Veteran, John Planker. Honoring Mount Olive’s local fallen heroes, the inscription reads, “Erected in Grateful Tribute to the Men and Women of Mount Olive Township Who Faithfully Served In The Armed Forces of Our Country.” Originally it had been located at Budd Lake and dedicated in 1968. The monument found a proper home at the All Veteran’s Memorial in 2000.

The STAR or Pentagon Platform is designed to resemble the U.S. Pentagon. It designates the five branches of service that are equally divided: Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marines. Pavers note the honorary military service of all who have served. The platform then flows into the Global War on Terror Memorial Bridge which honors New Jersey’s fallen.

The bridge then connects the VALOR Bar, or Presidential Preamble Stage, paying tribute to all United States Presidents and their civil service. The Bill of Rights Wall displays templates of the first ten Bill of Rights Amendments that were ratified by Congress.

The Charlie Johnson Memorial Gazebo was built to honor the memory of Mt. Olive resident and former Mayor, Charles H “Charlie” Johnson. Serving as a Sergeant in the Air Force 9th Division in World War II, Johnson was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Force Medal for his service to his country.

The NorthStar Seating Area was built by the Home Depot and Karl Meier. Dedicated to New Jersey Gold Star Mothers and those who lost a loved one during war, the comfortable area is designed to give a sense of peace.

Designed and funded by Eagle Scout Eric Wood, Uhrmann describes the Spiritual Cenotaph as something that “entombs every spiritual book of authority from every religion of our service members. It symbolizes the faiths and beliefs of all the fallen soldiers out there.”

The Warrior Obelisk Monument represents the four consequences of war: Missing in Action, Killed in Action, Wounded in Action, and Prisoner of War. it honors those who have suffered for American’s very liberty. continued on page 80

Page 80 • March 2021 • Mt. Olive Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

All Veterans Memorial... continued from page 79 The POW Remembrance Wall was designed by Uhrmann, funded and sponsored by Peter King, and painted by world-renowned artist Doron Viner.

With every element the AVM creates, Uhrmann researches it all. “I learn so much,” she asserts. “Take for example, our Presidents Preamble. It isn’t just a laundry list of all the United States Presidents, we include the events that the particular president is famous for, famous quotes, and more.”

With so much, she takes great pains to make sure that all of the information is not overwhelming to visitors and is easily understood. “If you are visiting the Bill of Rights Wall for example, each amendment is separated. That way people are not only reading, but they are also completely focused,” Uhrmann says. “One visitor told me that this was the first time she had ever read the Bill of Rights in its entirety before. I love seeing the parents and children visiting the park and seeing parents explain everything. It really opens up a conversation between them.”

Constructed in several phases, it seems that there is always another facet of the site to build and Uhrmann wouldn’t have it any other way. She discloses that upcoming plans for the park will include a prayer garden as an extension of the North Star Seating Area.

“The garden will be a complete zen area,” she remarks.

“When visitors want more privacy to reflect or honor a loved one, this place will be perfect. It is meant to be a spiritual place.” She mentions there will be a waterfall, and people will be completely surrounded by nature. They will also have the opportunity to write messages if they wish.

The Spiritual Cenotaph will be in view. The inclusive, religious spirituality is meant to give a sense of serenity and comfort to the grieving.

Uhrmann points to it as her favorite monument, because of the way it forges connections between people. As someone with a love of traveling all around the globe, she hunted various locations for just the right material for the Spiritual Cenotaph. “I learned so much researching every facet of the various religions and garnering as many books as I could. It was so rewarding to show the origins of how each of the various religions began. The project opened so many doors. I’ve met so many people.”

Touching her the most, was the gift of a Bible given to her by a man named Marcus Goch. “Upon seeing the finished center, he insisted he wanted his Bible as part of it.”

Uhrmann shares. “I didn’t want to accept it at first as it was a gift from his parents, both who are gone now. It really says something about him that he wanted to share his gift

with us.”

When asked what display attendees find most popular, Uhrmann shares that it is hands down the War Dog Memorial, sponsored by Bill Wynne, Brian and Lorriane Huster, Helen BeeBe, and Bill and Linda Sohl. Knowing that canines were as much a part of the armed forces as their human counterparts, the monument spotlights five different dogs in various wars and missions. Uhrmann, along with canine artist Ashley Bogosta, captured the real, authentic likeness of each dog. “Each lifelike dog is painted to exact detail,” Uhrmann tells. After researching each dog, visitors can see them in the exact landscape that made them famous. “Everyone has a soft spot for dogs,” Uhrmann quips.

The All Veterans Memorial hosts several notable, and often heartwarming annual events. During Armed Forces Week, (one week before Memorial Day) they provide guided tours to students. “Here they come to learn the many details and hidden secrets throughout the park,” Urhmann tells. “They learn the meaning behind each element and how it was built, as well as our rich American heritage and governments.”

On Memorial Day, the AVM comes alive. For all, it hosts a deep emotional connection. “Our Memorial Day Celebration always captivates those who are in attendance,” Uhrmann prides. “We begin with a patriotic medley performed on the bagpipes by Vietnam veteran Mark Noyes. “As Mark plays, re-enactors from every war present the period flags of the war lines to the Path to Enduring Freedom, acting as a perfect backdrop to our color guard. As each Service Flag is raised, Mark plays each branch of the service medley.”

She goes on to explain that they allow three families to set their fallen loved one’s service paver at the Path to Enduring Freedom. In the past, they have had several World War II warriors set their own stone while their family members look on. The setting of the service paver is both videoed and photographed and given to the families after the ceremony. Both the Boy and the Girl Scouts participate, and Mount Olive Girl Scouts and Brownies also place small bouquets of flowers or candles at each fallen warrior at the Purple Heart Bridge.

There are unintended consequences of war, and with utter sensitivity and caring, the All Veteran’s Memorial hosts their POW/MIA 24 Hour Vigil. Taking place every third Friday and Saturday of every September, it is co-sponsored by the Morris County American Legion. This ceremony seeks to help the families by giving them a sense of peace and closure, knowing how awful it is that a loved one has never returned home. This year, the All Veteran’s Memorial went the extra step researching the names, ranks, serial

numbers, and dates of disappearances of every New Jersey POW/MIA member out there. They then created dog tags containing that information. During the vigil they called out each name and info, securing the dog tags to the POW/ MIA/PTSD Remembrance Wall.

Always reaching out a hand, the All Veterans Memorial participates in a myriad of outreach programs to enhance the quality of life for those who need it. Among them, are the Helping Homeless Heroes and Homeless Hounds Campaigns, providing backpacks filled with necessary items for the homeless. With the cooler weather approaching, it is the perfect time to aid those who do not have warm shelter.

“There are upwards of 3,000 homeless in Essex County alone,” Uhrmann relates. They include pets in the campaign simply because “Shelters often do not accept people with pets, and owners won’t leave them behind,” Urhmann tells. Backpacks contain items such as a Bible, hats, scarves, gloves, warm blankets, socks, a comprehensive first aid kit, food, water, even things like cold pills (in case of illness) and moisturizers, hygiene items, chapstick, as well as much more. For pets, they will include a box of treats, a blanket, water, and more.

Motivating others to connect, touching hearts, offering a beautiful, inclusive, non- political place to reflect, the All Veteran’s Memorial puts 100% of their hearts into everything they do.

“I hope the All Veterans Memorial will continue to inspire others, that it will show what an amazing country we have here. That it conveys that freedom is paid by the blood of our children. It’s a reminder of the people’s pride in their country and all that we have gone through,” Uhrmann says.

“The AVM is part of me.”

For further information or details, please call 973-4794959 or visit www.allveteransmemorial.org.

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 81

Notable People from Mount Olive

Ethel Kuzma, Mount Olive Police Matron and Pioneer Shattered Female Expectations

H

By Jillian Risberg er career was chock full of barrier-breaking ‘firsts’ — including serving as the first police matron of Mount Olive Township and being the inaugural Budd Lake Postmaster. Yes, Ethel “Sis” Kuzma was a trailblazer practically from birth.

“My mom was a pioneer, let’s face it,” says Dr. Deborah Kuzma, adjunct professor of catholic school leadership at Seton Hall University. “She broke the glass ceiling long before it was called the glass ceiling.

That model of female empowerment shaped the professor’s life.

“There were many times when I would just do things and not even think, ‘well, this is something women don’t do,’ — as a paramedic early on (now there’s tons of women paramedics) and a disciplinarian at a high school,” Kuzma says. “You did a job because you were the right person for the job, it didn’t matter your gender and I can definitely thank my mother for that.”

According to the professor, her mom also helped pave the way for future female Marines to make their mark in the Corps, circa 1942/1943.

“When people find out the immediate response is, ‘oh, your mother was a Navy nurse.’ No, my mother was a Marine — and then you gotta see the face. Your mother was a what,” says Kuzma, adding that she actually still has her mother’s uniform, which the Marine Corps Museum wanted since “Sis” was in the first group of women Marines.

Ethel was stationed first in San Francisco, and then in Hawaii.

“Before she went in the Marines, she was a professional singer and sang with a lot of the big bands,” the professor says. “So you would think that they would’ve liked to put her in a USO. “No, she was stationed on a base and did whatever women Marines did.”

And working for the MOPD when they were in the old municipal building, her mom often did escorts to the county jail with another officer.

“I’m most proud of the Mount Olive Police Department, over the years they have stayed current; they have stayed active, they have stayed community related and I don’t think there’s one police officer that you can’t approach from 1950 to 2020,” says Kuzma.

She is proud that her mother was such a vital part of the community, and says we may not realize how important somebody is or the extent of their contributions until they’re gone.

The Kuzmas longstanding association with Mount Olive harks back to their 200 Route 46, Budd Lake home.

It was a bustling summer resort area from the mid-nineteenth into the twentieth century.

“But on Labor Day the mass exodus of people going back to New York,” the professor says. “Across the street (from the Pavilion) was a penny arcade called The Oasis

and a huge beach house. And how could anybody that grew up in Budd Lake not remember the merry-go-round; it was the greatest thing going.”

It was a quaint community full of farmland, including Stephens Farm and Wolf Farm near where the Village Green currently stands.

“There are so many places that are gone now,” she says. “Obviously that used to be farms and two schools, the Budd Lake School and the Flanders School. That was it.”

Superintendent (Chester) Stephens hired the professor, who subsequently held positions ranging from a music teacher to a math teacher to a computer teacher to a vice principal in the district for many years. She helped build the new Mount Olive Middle School and additions to Mount Olive High School.

She calls it especially sad that Budd House on the corner of Mount Olive Road and Route 46 was torn down.

“It’s a shame because the town was named after Colonel Budd,” Kuzma says, adding, you can’t stand in the way of progress.

“Those were different times, simpler times. Thank G-d

things have improved and progressed but you miss that down home feeling, kind of like something you still find out in Pennsylvania somewhere.”

There’s a long history in Mount Olive, where one knew almost everyone, according to the professor.

“That was nice; it’s hard to believe that the town has been established for 150 years,” she says.

Though much has changed, Kuzma has fond memories of those days.

“I had the greatest parents,” she says, of Ethel and father Walter. “They would do anything in the world to make sure my sister and I were taken care of. Mom might’ve been going out at two in the morning but dad was home.”

The family went to church every Sunday.

“That was very important and taught me a lot about morals and standards,” the professor says.

And there were endless ways in which her mother always inspired her.

“She very much was a woman of many talents and would take on anything,” says Kuzma. “She didn’t see her gender ever as a limitation.”

Page 82 • March 2021 • Mt. Olive Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Notable People from Mount Olive

Jen Ponton: Mega Talent from Mount Olive on the Big Screen and Life in General

J

By Megan Roche en Ponton has a love for the stage unlike any other. She truly just loves her craft and feels blessed every day to wake up to a job she loves. The Mount Olive resident has many exciting things going on in her career, but she never forgets where she started as a member of the speech and debate team at Phillipsburg High School.

“It came to me very young, mentally. I didn’t have the resources, opportunities really started to open up for high schoolers when Glee and High School Musical became popular. People who are 10 to 15 years younger than me have much more opportunity to act in school plays. There really wasn’t any community theater and where I took lessons didn’t really do any major productions. However, through watching TV and reading books, I knew pretty much from the start that this was what I wanted to do. I did a ton of creative writing, but had it not been for the speech and debate team, I wouldn’t have had a huge outlet. With doing speech and debate, I got to compete with doing kind of a one person play every single weekend with all my friends,” Ponton shared of her past.

The star grew up in close by Bridgewater Township and graduated from Phillipsburg High School. Her Jersey girl ways have never left her, even when she went to college.

She stayed true to the Garden State and spent her college years at Ramapo College of New Jersey.

“I’m such a hometown person. I’m never going to allow myself to get to the point of being like ‘Oh home? Forget that!’ I love home and frankly it’s why I still live here. I have big Jersey pride and big boonies pride. I’m a lifer,” Ponton laughed.

Ponton and her husband Andrew have settled in the Budd Lake section of Mount Olive and her Jersey pride is loud and proud. Ponton is truly energetic about everything

she takes on in life, but her empowerment of all women, regardless of age, race, or religion is something that is truly inspiring.

“The things that we want to address in our lives, those are the things that entertainment reflects. We, in Hollywood, need to start taking that responsibility more seriously. Real life impacts entertainment but entertainment also impacts real life and the more that we take up that responsibility of giving those marginalized people a voice, the world will be so much better,” Ponton said.

Ponton can be heard on Apple TV’s new show, The Helpsters. The Helpsters is a show coming out of Sesame Workshop that helps to teach kids how to break down a problem and solve it using easy steps. The show uses critical thinking and pre-coding concepts to help youngsters learn important life and problem-solving skills.

“Helpsters is really exciting. It’s a new show out of Sesame Workshop on Apple TV Plus. It uses a bunch of puppet monsters who help people solve problems. The child psychology and curriculum behind it is technically meant to develop kids brains toward learning about coding. It’s very foundational and at a building block level that kids can really pick it up quickly. The entire logic is to break things down into a step by step problem solving and that’s how coding works. The monsters help the guest of the week by showing them a step by step way and then it becomes a tangible skill of how to solve a problem, usually by using three big steps. It’s really geared to getting kids into coding and IT and the technological field while learning real life skills,” Ponton said.

Ponton’s episode of The Helpsters was released in 2019.

She is also currently working on another Apple TV production, along with her screenwriting adventures. She is working on developing a feature film that will be shot in the next year or two and that feature will be Ponton’s first feature movie that is made.

Ponton’s acting career has taken her to many different

shows. Her list includes Orange is the New Black, Dietland, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Law and Order SVU, 30 Rock, The Good Wife, Boardwalk Empire and more. Jen also has her own podcast that has been going strong and she has also participated in giving a TEDx Talk. Ponton recalled her time on Orange is the New Black in particular as nothing short of empowering.

“It’s a show whose leadership prioritizes female stories for sure. It’s obvious when you watch it, but they have also been very adamant about having a very diverse writers room and producers and directors. It was very much a female led set and that was my first experience where there were more women behind the camera than I was accustomed to seeing.

It was empowering and lovely and the energy shifts a lot on the set. There’s a lot less of feeling like someone is trying to muscle their way into being heard. It was a very calm and stable leadership. It really set my sights on how I want to show up in this industry and what worlds I want to be a part of. I want to be on shows that prioritize a bigger conversation and sweeping cultural change,” Ponton said.

And what does Ponton have to say to those little girls and little boys who look at her as a role model? Help someone find their best self.

“People call me an influencer, and that feels like such a silly word. I think the reality of it is that I do see myself as a role model and I’ve kind of had meaning for my whole life, just at different levels of being able to help sculpt and mold and support and guide. It’s always been there, I’ve had day jobs where I’ve been a career coach and an artistic coach for people where I hold their hands but the most important part is letting them get there on their own. It’s really become a theme of my life by helping others become their best selves and that will always be a part of me and who I am,” Ponton said.

For more information on Ponton and her latest projects, visit www.JenPonton.com or follow her on Instagram and Twitter at @JenPonton.

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 83

Notable People from Mount Olive

The NHL’s Kenny Agostino Always Yearns for Home

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By Steve Sears or Flanders native and National Hockey League forward, Kenny Agostino, there is absolutely no comparison.

“My favorite – favorite – spot is…I was obsessed with Flanders Bagels. North Jersey residents always pride ourselves on how good our bagels are, and the Taylor ham, egg and cheese sandwiches at Flanders Bagels are still the best Taylor ham, egg and cheese sandwiches I’ve ever had.”

Case closed per Agostino, who has shared in 29 of Mount Olive’s 150 years. And he has a message for the township: “Happy Birthday! Cheers to 150 more.”

Agostino has been in the NHL for six seasons since signing a two-year contract with the Calgary Flames in 2014. After initially being drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins, he has played for the Flames, St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadians, and the New Jersey Devils. He currently plays for Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, an affiliate of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs.

His memories of his childhood in town are fond. “I was a travel hockey player for the majority of my childhood, and we played out of Mennen Arena in Morristown for the most part. In terms of growing up in Mount Olive, I played Little League baseball, we played at Turkey Brook (Park), and my brothers were more into playing baseball then I was. I remember them having double headers at Turkey Brook, me throwing a softball with the brothers with some of the other kids on the team.” Agostino and his family also frequented the Flanders town pool. “My sister was a lifeguard there, so it was kind of like a whole family thing.”

Growing up, Agostino was a New York Rangers fan, and although young at the time it happened, he now watches videos of the clubs 1993-94 Stanley Cup win, and his favorite players were Mark Messier and Brian Leetch. Agostino played for the New Jersey Devils minor hockey club at the 2005 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament.

“From New Jersey, to play in that special event, was really special. I remember my mom came up with me. So, I played for them (the Devils) when I was 12 or 13, and I got to play with the real one (NHL Version) a couple of years ago, so that was pretty cool.”

Agostino and his twin brothers, Davis and Trevor, played high school hockey for Delbarton School in Morristown. After his senior season, when he scored 50 goals and tallied 83 points, Agostino was the school’s all-time leading scorer with a total of 261 points, a record he still holds. He was a three-time, First-Team All-State selection three years in a row by the Star-Ledger, who also tabbed him New Jersey High School Player of the Year as a junior and senior. “It was very humbling,” he says of the honors. “I don’t think it’s something I appreciated until later. I had a very good relationship with Bruce Shatel; he’s still the Head Coach of Delbarton hockey. And I do think I was the only hockey player to do it back-to-back years. Those years at Delbarton, we were actually a national powerhouse; we were up there with the Brick (High School) team of the ‘90s, which was supposed to be the best team of all time. I’d put my tenure there (at Delbarton) as one of the best hockey teams in history.” The club won a state title three consecutive seasons, and the third was when Agostino shared ice time with his brothers. “To win a state title with my brothers, it was

Photo credit The Toronto Marlies.

special for my whole family. When you’re a travel hockey family, and as close a family as we are, you share all these experiences together. So that was really special that year.”

The Pittsburgh Penguins recognized his talent and drafted him in the fifth round (pick # 140) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. However, he had committed to play Ivy League hockey with the Yale Bulldogs, so to New Haven, Connecticut he went.

At Yale, he had a successful four years. In January 2011 he became the third freshman in Yale hockey history to record a hat-trick and, in another contest, also scored three goals and had two assists in a 10 -3 triumph over Holy Cross.

The five total points in that game equaled a school record.

He finished with 10 goals in 2010–11, increased that to 14 goals as sophomore, and exploded in his junior year, tallying 17 goals in 37 games. During that junior season, he led the Yale Bulldogs to a 4–0 defeat over Quinnipiac for the NCAA hockey title - a first NCAA crown for the school in any sport.

However, as he and his team prepared for that 2013 Frozen Four NCAA tourney, he learned that his rights had been traded by Pittsburgh to the Calgary Flames. He considered forgoing his senior year, but instead returned to the Bulldogs. “It was really special on and off the ice my four years there. Obviously, my junior year was a very special season. Winning the first Division 1 national championship, being in the Frozen Four – growing up, everyone watched the Frozen Four – so it was a really incredible thing to be a part of.” He then further reflects. “I remember every state championship in high school, and I would put winning the national championship (with Yale) up there as my greatest

hockey memory ever. You’re playing with your best friends and living with your teammates in college is a special time in your life. You’re so close to your teammates, its really like a family. ” Agostino made his National Hockey League debut on March 21, 2014. His first professional goal came in a 2 -1 win over the Florida Panthers two weeks later. “I’m never going to forget my first NHL goal. I’ve had a lot of great memories as a pro.” His most productive campaign was in 2018-19, when he played 63 games, 36 for Montreal, 27 for New Jersey. For the home state Devils, he scored four goals and had nine assists.

And he thanks his dad, who was the one who introduced and nurtured his love for the sport he now plays professionally. “I really think – and my dad can’t even skate - that during that Ranger’s Stanley Cup run, it solidified his love for hockey. He was always a fan growing up, but I think that’s what helped him get his sons into it,” Agostino states with gratitude.

Agostino’s parents now live in Basking Ridge, but he still returns home for Sunday dinners. And, he wants all of Mount Olive to know that his family, whom he describes as “a big Italian family,” still are true foodies, and all those childhood eatery excursions in Mount Olive live well in his memory – and are not limited to just Flanders Bagels. “We would go to The After (Char-Broil Grill & Ice Cream),” he recalls, “a big summer spot. I remember my dad and mom taking us for ice cream on a cool, summer night there. Unreal grilled cheese and milk shakes, too.”

Kenny Agostino, Mount Olive has a table ready for your next visit.

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Notable People from Mount Olive

Mount Olive Olympian Going for Glory…Again

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By Megan Roche uch of Mount Olive will be watching the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games. Originally scheduled for 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the games are now taking place in 2021. One Mount Olive resident is on the path to Olympic glory for a second time. Meet Keturah Orji.

Orji, a hometown Marauder, competed in track and field at Mount Olive High School, where she graduated in 2014. Her journey of track and field wasn’t something she started as a kid. Originally a gymnast, Orji credits her gymnastics training for the success that she’s had in track and field.

“I started out doing gymnastics, which I did for several years. I was a competitive gymnast and was training as a level nine gymnast when I decided to quit in eighth grade. I was still athletic and wanted to continue in sports, so I decided to try out track. I used to race boys in recess and usually could catch them or I was faster than them. I joined the track team where I was sprinting at first but my coach decided to put me into the jumping events and I discovered I was really good,” Orji says of her humble beginnings.

The love for track and field came innocently enough. It kind of just happened for Orji. She recalls the moment that she knew track and field was meant for her.

“The moment that I realized that track and field was the sport for me was during my junior year at Mount Olive High School. I tried out for World Youth, which is a chance to compete for Team USA against other people in your age group. I ended up making the team and I went to Ukraine to

Photo courtesy of Keturah Orji

compete there and I won a silver medal in the long jump and a bronze medal in the triple jump,” Orji said.

After leaving the halls of MOHS, Orji went on to compete at the University of Georgia and graduated in 2018 with a degree in financial planning.

“The collegiate track experience was a great thing for me. I was nervous leaving New Jersey and going all the way to Georgia without any family. On my visit to UGA, I really enjoyed the team and I felt like the coach really valued me and could help me improve and get me to where I wanted to go. Just the combination of all of those things really encouraged me,” Orji said.

Orji has had quite the history when it comes to track and field. She is a three time NCAA triple jump champion and a two time World Youth Championship medalist.

She was the first woman in University of Georgia histo-

ry to win eight NCAA titles in field events. She was also named SEC Outdoor Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2016, among many other accolades.

“Once I proved to myself that I could go up and excel against the best in the world, I think that’s when I realized that this was not just something I do for fun.

I knew this was a serious thing. I think that’s when it really became obvious that this was not a fun thing anymore, this was something that could ultimately lead me to a new path in life,” In 2016, she was a member of Team USA and represented the country at the Rio Olympic Games.

“I dreamed about being an Olympian even when I was a gymnast. My family and friends always talked about how they’d love to see me at the Olympics one day. To be able to switch sports and still qualify for the Olympic team was crazy

to me. You really don’t realize what you are doing and what you are a part of until after you come back home and life calms down a little bit,” Orji said.

Although she placed just off the podium in 2016 with a fourth place finish in the triple jump, Orji is still proud of her accomplishments.

“I wasn’t disappointed by my fourth place finish at all. I remember before we left for the games, Team USA had us write letters to ourselves that we weren’t allowed to open until after the games were over. We were supposed to write down our dreams and goals for the games. Mine said, “I’ll be happy to finish in the top 8, but if I make top 5, I’ll be really pleased with myself,” and to be fourth in the world in the triple jump was incredible. So many people kept reminding me that if I had made it another 3 centimeters, I would have won an Olympic medal. I was 20

years old, I was just happy to be there at the Olympics,” Orji said.

As Orji preps for a shot at the 2021 Games, her training regimen is quite rigorous.

“I’m currently training and the pushback of the Olympic Trials has helped me immensely. I got to take a step back and rest and rehab injuries. I also transitioned to a new coach and I had a great adjusting period with the extra year to prepare for Tokyo,” Orji says.

Overall, Orji hopes to inspire kids for years to come and hopes they remember that athletics is just a small part of who they are.

“Don’t value yourself off of your athletic talents.

In our world, sports is a very big deal and people will very quickly label you by what you have accomplished. If you have gone to the Olympics, everyone knows your name. If you are doing well, you are get-

ting a lot of praise, but if you aren’t doing well or you are injured, it comes across that nobody cares about you. That shouldn’t be how our society is. You are always valued and you are always an important person whether you do well or not in a sport. What sport you do is not who you are, it’s just something that you do and it’s one aspect of you.

There are so many other talents in the world too,” Orji said.

Orji’s road to Tokyo will take her through many meets to come through the next few months. All contingent on the COVID pandemic, Orji will hopefully compete at the Team USA Track and Field Olympic Trials from June 18-27 in Eugene, Oregon. Should she make the team, Orji will head to intense training camps before heading to Tokyo for the Olympic Games, currently scheduled from July 23 to August 8.

Notable People from Mount Olive

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 85

Super Bowl Champion Lee Rouson Tackles Other Community Challenges

By Steve Sears or 58-year-old Flanders resident Cecil Lee Rouson, it’s about one primary thing.

“I have the opportunity to serve the community.”

His name may sound familiar, and here’s why. Rouson played for seven seasons in the National Football League, primarily under Head Coach Bill Parcells for the New York Giants, winning two Super Bowl titles with the club and garnering an NFL Special Teams Player of the Year honor in 1986.

The above being said, which would be quite a life for most, the Elizabeth City, North Carolina native (who grew up in Greensboro) realizes that the football victories, the championships, goals attained on the gridiron, are just a small part of his life’s path.

In addition to being a Running Back and Special Teams coach for Mount Olive High School’s first state championship football team in 2004, in 2013 he started working for Mount Olive Township School District, and did so until 2017. He served as an aide in the alternative classroom in the high school, but his main purpose was creating a pilot program for behavior modification for grades 6 – 8. “The purpose was to engage them and equip them for the positive things in life and encourage them,” he recalls.

Rouson was an 8th round draft choice by the Giants in 1985 out of the University of Colorado. He saw limited

action in his first season, but in 1986, he appeared in 14 games on special teams, and backed up popular running back, Joe Morris. His season stats read 179 yards on 54 carries and eight pass receptions for 121 yards. He scored three touchdowns that season and remained with the Giants through 1990, and then suffered a career-ending ankle injury while a member of the Cleveland Browns in 1991.

Rouson occasionally does outreach for Sports World Ministries, travelling to schools and churches around the United States, and currently serves on the Board of the northern New Jersey Chapter for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He also collaborates with local Mountaintop Church and sings often as part of worship there. “A Giant on the field has become a giant off the field for the kingdom of God!” says Pastor Matt Jones, who lauds Rouson’s lyrical voice. “It has been an honor and a blessing to work with Lee Rouson on many levels, as he has a deep genuine loving devotion to Christ and an equally genuine love and devotion for people! He’s the real deal!”

“I’m blessed, and I love to worship and praise,” says Rouson, appreciating his pastor’s compliment. “I love that, love the opportunity to be in a group of people who are worshipping God.” Rouson and his wife, Lisa, have been married for 31 years, and are the proud parents of four children. Their two daughters are Uchenna and Celisia, and their two sons, Jas

Photo credit Pastor Matt Jones, Mountaintop Church.

Lee and Jesse.

He attests, “I am serving from a platform that the world calls ‘as a role model.’ I call it a ‘positive role model.’ The question is, what kind of role model do you choose to be?

We’re role models not because of what we do and what we’re great at. We’re role models because eyes are looking at us and we model whatever role we are playing. We need to be careful and sensitive about that.”

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Notable People from Mount Olive

Mount Olive Athlete Rewrites Record Books, Mentors Others

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By Steve Sears att Kraemer’s story is one of improvement, adversity, overcoming adversity by not giving up, and success.

Kraemer, a Mount Olive High School graduate, rewrote the Rider University Track & Field hammer throw record, but his career there was much more than just this accomplishment.

Following a dissatisfying freshman year at East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania, Kraemer transferred to Randolph’s County College of Morris for a year.

Anthony SanFilippo, Assistant Coach of Men’s and Women’s Track and Field at Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, is a former high school coach who knew Kraemer well and always remembered his work ethic, positive attitude, and leadership ability while at Mount Olive High School (where he threw shotput, discus, and javelin). When he learned of Kraemer’s desire to transfer from CCM, Sanfilippo immediately sought contact. “He came to Rider the following year with three years of eligibility left,” says SanFilippo. “His impact on our team was immediate. After the first year, he became our team captain, our top hammer and weight thrower, and an All-East performer in the hammer throw.”

Kraemer’s junior year started out well, appearing to be a continuation of his sophomore season, but he was soon plagued by a herniated disk injury. “That rendered me pretty much useless,” says Kraemer. “It was right at the end of the indoor season and right into the outdoor season, and obviously anyone who does track will tell you outdoor is much better than indoor. You look forward to outdoor; they see indoor as training for outdoor. So, getting hurt like that was just terrible.”

Kraemer approached SanFilippo as to how he could help the team while nursing his injuries. SanFilippo’s advice carried much weight. “He struggled,” adds SanFilippo, “to regain form but never quit on his team and always looked for ways to help everyone else.”

As Kraemer’s senior season was on the threshold, he sought to rehab from injuries, while at the same time mentoring other throwers. “As his back got better,

his throws got longer…much longer,” says SanFilippo, who aided Kraemer by sitting with him many hours, studying his form via film and iPad, “breaking everything down, step-by-step,” per Kraemer, to better the senior’s scores and ability. “We built a really good relationship over the years,” attests Kraemer, “to be able to communicate like that.”

In 2019, the 6’4” 230 lb. Kraemer would win his first conference title in the weight throw that indoor season, from the “seat” of the 4th seed, posting a 17.59m at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Indoor Championship. In the spring, he would go on to break the Rider University hammer throw record three times, earning a medal at the 125th Penn Relays with a career-high hammer throw of 56.99m, and garnering a silver medal in the same event at the conference championships at the Metro Atlantic Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Per SanFilippo, Kraemer “graduated as an irreplaceable part of our team and culture.”

Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Head Coach Bob Hamer states, “Matt was a very accomplished athlete for us as a result of his strong commitment and dedication to his craft. I would see him in the weight room almost daily in the summer and he was always working closely with his event coach to make sure that he was doing everything that he could to be the best version of himself. It was also very admirable to see how he was such a great mentor and inspiration to the younger athletes on the team. He led by example but also took the time to reach out and assist them in any way that he could.”

“The guys at Rider will send me videos of their hammer or weight throws,” the 24-year-old Kraemer says, “and I’ll send a message to a thrower and say, ‘Just so you know, I’m going to rip your technique apart, but it’s all in love. I have to be honest. If I don’t tell you the hard truth about improving your technique, you’re not going to get better.”

“He really wanted to be great,” says Hamer, “but he also wanted this program to be great. He will always be remembered very fondly.”

Photo credit The Kraemer family.

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 87

Notable People from Mount Olive

Kicking It with Paul Vizzio

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By Steve Sears orld champion kickboxer, Paul Vizzio, explains why he chose Mount Olive as his current place to live.

“I moved here to be near my daughter who also lives in town. I like living here because the Flanders golf course is around the corner. It has always been part of my training. I’m currently a 6-handicap golfer. The extracurricular activities like the lake, the theaters, the parks are all so nice here.” He then refers back to his childhood. “I didn’t grow up like this. Even just seeing so many nice houses. I grew up in a railroad apartment. My bathtub was in the kitchen!”

Perhaps golfing in town has strengthen his game, but his childhood in the lower East Side of Manhattan fortified him for life and for the sport where his accomplishments are unprecedented. His overall record is 47 wins and just one loss, and 36 of his wins were by knockout. “I have 17 world titles in four different weight classes,” Vizzio says, “Featherweight, Jr. Featherweight, Lightweight, and Super lightweight. My weight, even now, has always remained the same. I would fight in heavier weight divisions because that’s what was offered to me. I could have gained weight if I wanted to, but I chose not to. That’s why they [the guys] were always bigger than me.”

There were only two Italian families in Vizzio’s neighborhood when he was growing up. The rest were Puerto Rican and black. “You figure it out!” he states. “In the 50’s and 60’s it was all gangs. I had to be a part of a gang to survive. That kind of lifestyle forced me to have a strong will. It helped me to prepare for the underground matches (death matches). When I moved over to kickboxing, it helped to calm me down from the no-holds barred’ fights.

I didn’t want to hurt anyone anymore.”

Vizzio started in the Thompkins Square Boys Club with Boxing and wrestling at around 7 years old. He started Kung-Fu when he was 12 years old, and also did some boxing. “I didn’t go to the PAL Boxing until I was much older in my professional career, and I used that area to train in with Phil Borgia,” he says. “I was his first World Champion. He brought me back after a 10-year hiatus to win the KICK world title. Phil trained other famous fighters like Kevin Kelley and Arturo Gatti.” He cites the benefit of the local Boys Club. “The Boys club was multi-racial and without an education, it helped to keep us off the street while it was open. None of us went to school. It was all fighting to survive with anything we could find. So, at least while it was open, we were all together. Working together.

Boxing, swimming, and wrestling. I was motivated by my role model, Peter Tom, who now is a judge and has his own courthouse in the Chelsea, New York area. He really pushed me into the ring. He was actually the first Chinese guy to win the Gold medal in the Open division of the Golden Gloves”.

Vizzio explains his Kung-Fu realm entrance. “Kung-Fu started because I wanted to be able to hurt somebody.

We saw some Kung-Fu guys breaking bricks with their hands, and I had to learn that. Once I got started in KungFu, that’s when I spent all of my time, 7 days a week, 18 hours a day, training. I even slept in the school. I didn’t have time for gangs anymore. My Sifu, Wai Hong, really became my father figure. He was so quiet, and I knew he had to be deadly because his students were. I never saw him do anything, but I knew he had to be even more deadly than the students. He is the one that not only taught you Kung-Fu but taught me to be humble, quiet, never show off.”

“I got my start in the underground matches. That’s really what got me famous in Chinatown. My record for the ‘death matches’ was 55 wins - 54 by KO - and one draw.”

From there, his career took off. “That fame is what led to my professional career. Since then, I’ve fought on ABC, NBC, CBS, Showtime, PPV, MSG, USA, ESPN, ESPN2, and probably more that I can’t remember. My best friend and blood brother, Toyotoro Miyazaki, got me into the PKA (Professional Kickboxing Association) and out of the death matches. That’s what really started my career.”

Vizzio now educates others in the sport. “I’ve taught all over the world but currently in Fairfield, New Jersey, Bayside, New York, and Hoboken, New Jersey.” He recognizes that there are differences in the training compared to when he was young. “I know that no one is going to train the way I trained. The way I teach now is I try to offer them something. We did the same thing over and over and over. No one wants to do that anymore. Everyone

wants to fight like me, but it’s hard to find anyone willing to make the sacrifices that I had to make. Life is so different now. I was alone. Now people have families, jobs, responsibilities. I had nothing. I did nothing but train.” Vizzio also finds that now there is so much scientific explanation about proper training. “We didn’t have that then. I just wanted to be deadly. Nowadays, we find out that a lot of the stuff I did to get like this was bad for you. Who knew?

I just did what I had to do.”

Vizzio, who never mentions his age, has four children and one stepchild who range in age from 28 to 46. He is also a proud grandfather of three. “All my children trained in the martial arts since they could walk. One owns her own martial arts school and currently resides in Budd Lake as well.”

His joy is his family, but also the town where he lives.

“In the golf course and my family - and the lake! I really like the lake! The golf course is so nice. My family is special. Watching all my kids and my grandkids grow up has been my greatest achievement.” He then ponders for a moment. “Everyone is so friendly and knows your name,” he says of Mount Olive. “It’s a really nice place to live.

Always clean and nice. I feel like Mount Olive should celebrate at least another 150, and I hope I’m here to see it.”

He closes with a specific wish. “I hope the lakes stay beautiful, and stop knocking down the trees! I just want to mention to leave the trees alone. I love when people come to visit and enjoy our nature. We have enough houses but never enough trees.”

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Notable People from Mount Olive

Bi-Annual Picnic Keeps Historic Family Connected In Mt. Olive

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By Katie Young oday, researching family history can be as easy as a simple Google search or mail-in DNA kit.

But for the Salmons, whose connection to Mt. Olive dates back to the 1700’s, preserving and documenting their genealogy has been a labor of love for generations, allowing them to pass down stories of the family’s long-standing commitment to patriotism and public service.

“There are some people who don’t think family history is important,” said Art Charlton, the Salmon Family Association’s official historian.

“But I think it’s important to know where you’re from to be able to look to the future.”

The long-standing connection to Mt. Olive is a source of pride for many in the family who still live here, said Sue Anderson, Salmon Family Association president.

“I love that my family was from this area, and I’m still in this area and that’s very special to me.”

Efforts by Charlton, Anderson and other relatives before them has lead to a book, “The Salmon Family Genealogy and History,” and kept an important family tradition alive - the Salmon Family Picnic.

Patriotic Past Like many original settlers, the Salmons were known as prominent farmers and mining financiers.

A historical survey from 1853 locates the original family homestead, a two-story clapboard home, on Corey Road in Flanders and may have been the boyhood home to one of the family’s most well-known ancestors, Peter Salmon.

He was a Captain in the Revolutionary War as part of the Morris County Militia, serving for five years. His patriotism has become an integral part of Salmon family oral history.

“He was still alive during 1812, and he wanted to enlist and fight the British again,” said Charlton.

Given his age-at the time he was in his 70’s, and his wife’s reportedly strong objections, he did not serve in the Army again.

But that certainly didn’t keep him from being a proud American Patriot, when every Fourth of July, he would dress in full military regalia and parade on his horse in celebration.

Sense of Service Peter Salmon had 11 children, which created a large network of descendants in the Mt. Olive area, and several went on to pursue lives in public service at the local, state and even national levels.

“It’s not that we’re a family full of politicians, but we have many people very active in communities through all different levels,” said Charlton.

Perhaps the most prominent was Josh Salmon, Charlton’s great-great-grandfather, who began his public life in the State House, was later elected as Morris County Prosecutor and then served as a Democrat in Congress in 1899 until his death in 1902.

Salmonella Gets its Name One of the most interesting claims to fame for this lo-

60th Annual Salmon Picnic, July 25, 1964

cal family is through Daniel Salmon. Born in Mt. Olive in 1850, he was educated locally and went on to Cornell University, where he was one of the first in the United States to receive a bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Science.

His rare education landed Salmon a job at the Department of Agriculture, which was the beginning of a 20-year career serving in various government roles, where he lead research in animal disease control and is credited with modernizing regulations for the livestock industry.

During his tenure in Washington he was considered the most influential veterinarian of his time, and as an honor, his colleagues named the dangerous group of bacteria he discovered, Salmonella.

“I was aware of salmonella before I was aware of the family connection to it,” admitted Charlton. “Though it’s a horrible thing, it’s interesting that the name comes from Daniel.”

Local connections While there are no local roads, schools or lakes named after the Salmons, many of them married into those more well-known founding families, including the Budds, Stephens and Wolfes—all of whom settled here in the early 1700’s.

“Back then a lot of them were farmers and had a lot of acreage, so they only traveled to the neighbors which could be miles from each other,” explained Anderson.

“So it was very common to have sisters and brothers marrying sisters and brothers from other farmers.”

In fact, Peter Salmon’s three sons married three daughters of Dolly and Richard D. Stephens, whose family owned several mills and a forge in the area. Several Stephens played important roles in Mt. Olive’s early days. According to the Mt. Olive Historical Journal, another Richard Stephens participated in the proceedings that created the township in 1871 when Mt. Olive was split from Roxbury. He became one of the first committeemen and also served as Mt. Olive’s first postmaster.

The Salmon family’s connection to the Budds and

Wolfes also goes back generations, and stories passed down suggest the members kept in contact and stuck together.

One goes back to the Revolutionary War, when several wives of these four families made the trek to Morristown to pay a visit to their husbands stationed at George Washington’s headquarters at Jockey Hollow, in the hopes of persuading them to come back to their farms and gather the crops.

They found the men working on the walls of a nearby fort, and unimpressed, called the work ‘nonsense’ leading to the fort’s eventual name.

Anderson admits it’s unclear how much of this tale has been embellished over the years, given it was never written down, but it is a popular one shared by family members.

A family who picnics together stays together Many of these stories are shared when relatives come together for the bi-annual Salmon Family Picnic. The event is often attended by roughly 100 people, all descendants of Peter Salmon with some traveling from as far away as California.

It’s at these gatherings Charlton says stories are told and precious documents are exchanged. At past picnics he was given papers written by a relative who served in the Spanish-American War and was told a story about two brothers who died while serving in the Civil War. “A lot of times people will bring pictures and someone will say ‘oh I remember that person’ or ‘I remember that party,’” said Anderson. “So it’s just a fun thing to have as part of your family heritage.”

Charlton thinks they also serve as a good motivator for future generations to live up to their family’s prominent past.

“To see where you fit into the bigger picture and contributions your family made raises the bar higher for yourself and your kids,” said Charlton.

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 89

Notable People from Mount Olive

Recalling Steve Slattery’s Historic Exploits at Mount Olive High School and Beyond

F

By Steve Sears or Steve Slattery, it was always about the love of running.

“It’s one of those things where I was always a kid who grew up and played a lot of sports and was pretty athletic.

So, you need the right combination of being able to run, being a strong miler or two-miler, and be athletic enough to hurdle or be able to jump over the water jump and be a good Steeplechaser. For me, it was something that came pretty naturally, and it was something I gravitated to.”

For the record, Slattery was a national champion in middle school, a four-time All-American during his Mount Olive High School days and was a big part of the University of Colorado winning its first national title in Cross-Country.

It all started in Mount Olive. “Yeah, it was a great place to grow up,” says Slattery. “I was really lucky to grow up in Mount Olive. I grew up in the Flanders part of Mount Olive.

We had good schools, there was a lot of stuff to do, and it was a pretty safe and quiet place.”

Slattery, who ran Steeplechase in college, was interested in another type of running in his early days. His love of running was ingrained early in his life. “I ran the mile and Cross-Country and the two-mile in high school. I really got started running in middle school. I was on the middle school cross country team, and I was the national champion for the 3,000 meter and 1,500 meters (which is the mile and twomile metric measurements). So I was the national champion in 8th grade and I went to Mount Olive High School and I was a state champion in Cross-Country (mile and two mile) and track, and then I went to the University of Colorado, where I was actually still the school record holder in the mile, but then I started getting into the Steeplechase as well. I ran both the mile in Steeplechase and also the two-mile, which were my main events as a professional.”

Slattery’s move up to the high school level was greeted happily by Dave Sulley, who was Slattery’s high school coach.

“Steve came into high school with some outstanding accomplishments already at the middle school age group level. He dominated the local league and established many records in Cross- Country and track. He also competed at the regional and national level and won several titles. Recognizing that their son was special, his parents encouraged him at this point to consider developing his talent.”

“I had already known coach Sulley for a long time,” says Slattery. “He was a great coach and having someone like him who had a lot of success at the high school – he eventually retired from Mount Olive and then coached at Delbarton and had a lot of success there — it really helped. A lot of times you need the combination of a talented athlete who is also going to work hard, but you also need the right coaches to guide them, and for me I was just lucky that all of those things came together. Growing up in Mount Olive where we had a very good coach and I had some talent, and I was willing to work hard — all of that came together for me.”

Slattery had success right away. “Steve immediately set his stamp on the high school level his freshman year,” said Sulley, who Slattery says didn’t overwork him but did enough

to help the youngster’s progress. “He won the Morris County Cross-Country championships. He went on to win all four years, which no boy has ever done. He went on to win both the county 1600 and 3200 in indoor track four years in a row and the outdoor 3200 four years in a row as well as two 1600 titles. Arguably, he was the greatest male distance runner in Morris county competition.”

What did Slattery have that perhaps other runners didn’t?

Sulley elaborates. “Steve was totally dedicated to the sport.

He set ambitious goals and followed through on training to achieve them. He never had any serious injury, other than a sprained ankle once, and I attribute that to his paying attention to detail in his training. He worked on the essential aspects of running and was focused on learning how to achieve at the highest level. He spent time learning the sport through reading and research and began to develop a strong sense of direction in doing what would make him succeed.”

Then, there was his competitive nature. “Naturally, he was and has always been extremely competitive. He was gutsy and fearless on the Cross-Country course and track. While he won so often, he took losses with grace and philosophical analysis and immediately looked ahead to how he would do better the next time. He developed many enduring friendships in the sport and was a good sportsman throughout his career. In that sense, he became a great ambassador of the sport. He was willing to help others and had a great sense of humor. He demonstrated leadership in both action and words.”

Sulley and Slattery maintain a special friendship to this day. “It’s my pleasure to say that Steve and I developed a great relationship, and it has moved beyond the coach-athlete one to lifelong friendship. I attended meets where he competed beyond high school, including the Olympic Trials. I always look forward to hearing from him and seeing him and knowing his wife Sara and their children. Through Steve’s collegiate and professional career, I was able to get a glimpse into higher levels of the sport as well as meet some of the great elite runners that he and his wife knew at the professional level.”

A top recruit in his class, Slattery received quite a few scholarship offers. He chose the University of Colorado because every year they were one of the top schools in the country, but also because he wanted to run professionally after college, and coaches there had much success in prepping for runners for that. Also, the Buffaloes had never won a national title, but with Slattery now on board, they hoped the plan would reach fruition – and it did. In his junior year, the Buffaloes won their first Cross-Country national championship.

Mark Wetmore, Slattery’s Head Coach at the University of Colorado, was ironically enough a teacher at Mount Olive High School before heading west. He also attended high school in Bernardsville with Sulley. “We are always excited when talented athletes choose us,” he says when asked about Slattery ultimately choosing to be a Colorado Buffalo.

Slattery his first semester got acclimated to both collegiate life with his classes, but also to the altitude in the state. His

second semester he ran indoor and outdoor track, and Wetmore quickly got him to compete against the best in the country.

And Slattery’s contribution was huge, especially in his junior year in the championship race. “2001 was the first year C.U. won a national title,” says Wetmore. “Steve passed about 20 opponents in the final kilometer. We won by one point I believe.”

“It was really good,” says Slattery, “to be with a great coach and a great program, but also to help the program reach its first national championship and the excitement around that.”

And excitement when he renewed a friendship with someone very special: his future wife, Sara. “We actually met briefly in high school at the high school national championships. I was two years older than her, and at the University of Colorado she ended up coming (there) as well. We knew each other from then, we were friends, started dating right away in college. She’s been probably the biggest influence on my life. She’s just a really talented, hard working person and she’s very dedicated. Having someone in your life who has similar goals and work ethic really helped me.” The couple has been married for 16 years and have two children, a 7-year old son named Steven, and 5-year-old daughter named Cali.

Both Slattery and his wife ran professionally after college, continued on page 90

Page 90 • March 2021 • Mt. Olive Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Slattery...

continued from page 89 he winning a national title at the USA Outdoor Championships in 2003, and she in 2007 won an international gold medal at the Pan American Games. “We got to compete for our country and travel all over the world.

It was a really awesome experience and we’re just really grateful that we got to experience that in our lives.

It’s not something a lot of people get to do.”

Sara is now a head coach of the Men’s Cross-Country and Assistant Track and Field coach at Grand Canyon University, and Steve is an area sales manager for Cutera.

Slattery has said many times he “worked hard” with regard to his running career.

He was asked to define that.

“Many times, when you want to be good at something, you need to be dedicated. And for running you have to run a lot, but not just run a lot but run hard.

There’s a big difference between running kind of hard and running really hard. You know that if you need to be good you need to run a lot

and run hard and push yourself – every day.”

“I was one of those people who was willing to do that.”

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 91

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 93

Mayor Rob Greenbaum: Always Helping Others

M

By Evan Wechman ayor Rob Greenbaum moved to Mount Olive in 1997 and hasn’t looked back. Though he has occupied his seat for nine years and previously served the public in other roles, he is just like the other residents of the town.

Greenbaum could not be happier with living in this area. He loves the beaches that are close to him, the town’s wonderful recreational facilities such as Turkey Brook Park, and spending time with his family. He has three adult children, two Portuguese water dogs, a law practice in the area, and feels that the rewards of living in Mount Olive are incredible.

With the 150th anniversary celebration of the town approaching, Greenbaum reflected on his time in Mount Olive. According to Greenbaum, “every community has its own vibe, but people take great pride in living here.”

Recently, in his latest State of the Township Address, he stated that “nothing gives me greater pleasure that the continued pride our residents have for this community.”

The honor which citizens feel toward their hometown is not uncommon in most of New Jersey, but it especially rings true in Mount Olive. Though the town does occupy many different areas, Greenbaum still feels it is a great place to raise a family.

However, to the surprise of some, the mayor is not a New Jersey native. Interestingly enough, he grew up in the small town of New City, New York in Rockland County. He also went on to graduate college at SUNY Oneonta and got his law degree from the Benjamin N Cardozo

School of Law, also in New York.

Though he loved his childhood, when he was looking to make a home for himself, he fell in love with Mount Olive. The town has a “good stock of houses and businesses.” He also liked that it was not too crowded with only one high school for all students. He believes this lends itself to a greater pride and kinship among the families.

The mayor is so proud of his new hometown that under his tenure, communications has increased significantly. He and his staff have utilized both social and print media to spread the word about its great residents.

Greenbaum recalls that if someone in the town has a big birthday or a job promotion, everyone knows about it.

“We (the administration) post everything Mount Olive,” he boasts.

As for the future, the mayor wants to beautify the Rt. 46 corridor and looks forward to more parks and play areas. An avid golfer, he may be found at the Flanders Golf Course. Greenbaum has a passion for improving the area because of the great satisfaction he gets from assisting his neighbors.

He admits that he puts in long hours between his two jobs. However, he has faith that the quality of life in Mount Olive will remain very high. He has no regrets about moving out of New York and previously stated that he “will continue to strive to make Mount Olive Township the best place to live, work, and raise a family. I consider every member of the community a family member.”

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Page 94 • March 2021 • Mt. Olive Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Meet Your Mount Olive Town Council President

J

By Steve Sears oe Nicastro, My Life Publications publisher, and Mount Olive Township Council President, has a fun goal.

He wants to be on stage. “I love comedy. I always wanted to do stand-up comedy.

That’s one of the things I wanted to do and actually I did one time. A comedian had invited me to do a stand-up routine at a wedding, believe it or not. I did it, but unfortunately – eh, I won’t say it was that great, but I still want to do something with it.”

He’s also always wanted to and has succeeded at being his own boss. Starting publications in 1987 ended with the sale of that group in 2003, and a decision to move to Mount Olive and start Mount Olive Weekly and Hackettstown Weekly along with his partner and wife, Mary LaLama. In 2015, the couple took over a group of 15 of papers called The Marketeer, and two years later purchased Life & Leisure Publications in the Wayne area, returning to where they first started in 1987, which evolved into the current My Life Publications group which includes Mount Olive Life and 11 other community newspapers.

Nicastro, who was born and raised with two siblings in Garfield, took after his father.

“My father was an entrepreneur most of his life. That’s where I learned to start my own businesses, I worked with him when I was young; he was actually a peddler.” When Nicastro was seven years old, the duo used to go door to door on an old school bus sell-

ing produce. It taught him about independence and how to run a business.

In 1981 at age 21, he opened his first business, a fruit and vegetable store, and sold it a couple years later. “Then I had a bar and restaurant in Garfield,” he says. “I ran the restaurant and the bar, and I actually was the cook.” Nicastro sold the bar and headed back to the produce business.

A partnership in that store did not work out and led to the selling of the store. Nicastro then secured a full-time sales job in publishing with the Wayne Today newspaper. “I became one of their top reps, I was doing a lot of stuff for them. The company had sold to a larger group of newspapers and I just didn’t like the way they were running things. It was then I decided to start my own publication in 1987, which was the Independent News.”

It was the start of a trip that led to his current destination. “We don’t deal with major businesses,” Nicastro says of his publication family. “We take care of the mom and pops. And that’s a big part of all the communities obviously: the mom-and-pop shops. And we all need them in our towns and try to support them. I enjoy communicating with them and helping them build their businesses which helps communities.”

Editorial-wise, there’s the beauty of My Life Publications which has always been its foundation. “Even though I’m in politics,” he says, “I don’t like politics in my papers.

The furthest we go is if we run an editorial,

we do it from the left and the right. We always put one in from each side to balance it out. But for me, it’s always been - for the 34 years of publishing that we’ve been in - about family friendly content. I get such pleasure out of reading the articles that we get.”

Nicastro, who has been in love with Mount Olive since his arrival, has been on the Township Council since 2011 and has served as Council President for the past 7 years. “I always wanted to get into politics, but the timing wasn’t good with the kids.

But now the kids were older, and in 2010 I ran on a team ticket (which included current Councilman John Ferrante), and there were three of us running for Council.” He lost that first election but was the top vote getter of the group. When the husband of the woman he lost to got relocated, her vacated seat went to Nicastro by county committee vote. He since has won two re-elections. “My next step is hopefully going to be Mayor. That’s my goal. I love this town and am so honored to be able to represent all residents.”

The 61-year-old Nicastro and his wife Mary will celebrate their 17th wedding anniversary this year. They have five children between them; Nicastro is a dad of two daughters, Mary the mom of two boys and a daughter. “We also have a grandson and granddaughter,” he says proudly.

Next in line is the launch of the My Life TV streaming television network. “We have

it set up; we’re just doing all of our content now,” Nicastro says excitedly. “Basically, it’s going to be the same thing that we’re doing in print but bringing it to life.” My Life TV will initially be streamed on Roku and Amazon, and will have all original, local content featuring not only the best of Mount Olive, but also from around New Jersey.

“The Mount Olive residents and businesses of our community are so generous and caring,” Nicastro says. “I love that we can highlight the people that do so much in our communities through my newspapers, and I love to represent them as their Councilman.”

Council Vice President Alex Roman: For the People of Mount Olive

M

By Melissa A. Kay ount Olive Township is fortunate to have Councilman Alex Roman representing its residents for the past 12 years. The most recent census demographic data indicates a population of 28,869 in Mount Olive, according to Town Charts. Having recently been re-elected for his fourth term last November, it is evident that the people of Mount Olive are impressed with Roman and what he has accomplished for the community as Councilman.

Roman is committed to improving the lives of those he serves, and his passion and perseverance are unwavering. With 12 years as Councilman under his belt, Roman understands better than most that having a “thick skin” is much-needed when dealing with the ins-and-outs of the everyday, but his care and compassion are just as important when dealing with the public and the many pressures the political world can bring. His well-balanced attitude gets him through the long days, and knowing he is making a difference keeps him hanging in there and holding himself up to the high

standards he has set for himself.

Along with his solid service to Mount Olive in the capacity of Councilman, Roman has owned an auto repair shop in town for more than 17 years. He is an ASE certified Master Technician. Roman is highly involved in the Mount Olive community, which comes as no surprise.

He shares, “I served on the Mount Olive Township Zoning Board of Adjustment and the Mount Olive Township Recreation Committee, I also served on the Mount Olive Jr. Marauders Football Board as well as a coach. I was also a coach with the Mount Olive Junior Marauders Softball.” Plenty of folks who live in Mount Olive have gotten to know Roman personally through such engagements and endeavors, and his constant participation has aided his efforts to connect with the community on a face-toface, person-to-person level. It is this sort of personal interaction that makes being Councilman such a connected position.

Roman values the relationships he has made over the years, and there are always new people to reach out to.

It has been a long journey for Roman,

and his upbringing, skills, smarts, and motivation have led him to where he is today. He was born in Colombia and immigrated to the United States at the tender age of five. Roman grew up in Elizabeth, New Jersey along with his brother. They were raised by their single mother who did everything she could for her sons. She worked tirelessly during the day and went to school at night to advance her education. Her commendable work-ethic and commitment to her family set the tone for Roman to take in and apply to his own life.

Roman says of his mother, “Her example showed me what hard work and perseverance can do to affect positive change in one’s life. She is my role model.” With such a strong and selfless woman teaching her sons what success means, Roman took the reins and realized his own path towards making change for the better. He attended Rutgers University-New Brunswick, and from there, eventually got into the automotive field and became a key figure in Mount Olive.

Mount Olive has been the place Roman has called home for the past 25+ years,

“because I knew that this was a better place to raise my children,” he explains.

He has four, now-grown children, three daughters and one son, ranging in age from 20-30. Two grandchildren, ages 5 and 7 make the family even brighter. Roman and his wife Lourdes, a nursing educator, continued on page 95

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 95

Alex Roman... continued from page 94 love to travel, so hopefully they are able to do so when time allows. With Roman’s busy schedule and commitments as Councilman, travel may be limited, but they’ve surely got their “bucket list” spots they would love to see one day.

Residents have plenty of reasons to love many things about Mount Olive, and Roman has pride in the area as well that stems from its close-knit community feel.

When someone is in need, friends and neighbors (even strangers) step up to the plate and make selfless sacrifices. Generosity is part of the greater good…and it’s contagious. It is part of the Mount Olive spirit. Roman enjoys working alongside Mayor Rob Greenbaum (he says he “feels lucky” to do so) as well as the “great group” of fellow Councilmembers he collaborates with on a regular basis. On a much grander, yet personal scale, Roman reveals, “I am grateful to live in a country that has provided me so many blessings and opportunities.” Roman’s life could have been far different had his family not moved to America. He must reflect on that when he takes pride in his home.

Roman’s desire to make a difference in

the Mount Olive community never slumps or slows down. He thrives on helping others and handling matters in a swift and successful fashion. When Roman is able to resolve residents’ issues, no matter the level of complexity, he finds this to be the most rewarding aspect of his role as Councilman. Big or small, when a resident is aided in some way by the efforts Roman is able to afford them, the positive outcome is applauded by all. It gives residents peace of mind knowing that someone is looking out for their best interests, especially when they’ve had hardships or hassles in the past.

“Adding various recreation improvements throughout the township is the most visible of the things I have done during my tenure, including Mount Playmore at Turkey Brook Park.” Residents who spend time in Budd Lake with their families are surely appreciative of the actions made by Roman to make such improvements. Well-maintained parks and play areas are vital for a flourishing community, and Roman makes sure he does his part in preserving them.

Roman is also interested in road improvement. Keeping roads well-main-

tained and safe for drivers is essential.

“We have increased our budget to improve our infrastructure without increasing municipal taxes.” That is certainly news the people of Mount Olive love to hear.

As expected, things do not always run smoothly or as expected. It’s part of life in general, and as Councilman. As much as Roman puts in the hours of work, there are times when things just don’t go as planned.

It can be frustrating, but he is always up for the challenge. As an example, Roman explains, “The most stressful aspect of my job is the State of New Jersey. I have tried for years to add a boardwalk to Budd Lake along Route 46 but the state has impeded every effort.” Hopefully Roman is able to win them over, along with the support of his constituents who agree with his ideas.

Roman intends to serve the residents of Mount Olive “for as long as they’ll have me.” At this rate, with 12+ years behind him, it looks like he is a keeper! Broadening his reach and impacting even more people in Mount Olive are on Roman’s mind. County and state politics are of interest to him as well, but he does realize the major commitment would take away from time with his family and his local

business. Perhaps he will reconsider his stance sometime down the road.

A go-getter and action-oriented type of person, Roman “would much rather get involved than sit on the sidelines and complain.” This is what makes him such an eager and effective Councilman for Mount Olive. His sage advice for others? “Take as many risks in life as you possibly can and always plan for the future without sacrificing the present and those around you. Life is too short and this world is too big to not enjoy as much of it as possible.” Smart and solid statements, and ones that Roman takes to heart.

Roman enjoys meeting the friendly people of Mount Olive, so if you see him around, do say hello. Talk to him about your concerns for the community or just chit-chat. He would be more than happy to share his experiences with the residents and get your take on what can be done to improve Mount Olive even more. Benefiting the area is a collective community effort, so be open to airing your views so Roman can take action.

Learn more about Mount Olive Township at www.mountolivetwpnj.org.

Colleen Labow: A Dominant Female Presence on the Township Council

C

By Steve Sears olleen Labow, Mount Olive Town Councilwoman since 2001, has some definitive wisdom for the reader.

“There’s always something to learn no matter what the situation. Yeah, and nothing was ever so bad that it’s that bad.” She also states, “Keep putting one foot in front of the other.”

Labow grew up in Dover, the oldest of six children. “In 1975 I graduated.” She briefly relives her childhood. “I remember going during Christmastime, we went downtown.

Remember that song, ‘Downtown?’” she asks with a laugh. “So, there’s a lot of history there, and it was a great place to grow up and just walk in downtown. Oh, and the holidays! They would have the Christmas carols playing through the town speakers.

We used to have a drive-in theater way back in the day down across from the police department. Then there was the bowling alley and all kinds of cool stuff.”

Labow also was head editor of her high school’s newspaper, The Student Prints. She embraced the role, and one editorial really turned heads. “I was also on the Student Government, the Student Council, and we were always trying to plan dances and func-

tions, but back then the teachers didn’t get paid a stipend, you had to try and get chaperones, and it was always the same four or five teachers.” One day, Labow overheard a few teachers complaining about the students. “They’re like, ‘This student apathy is just awful. These students don’t want to do anything.’ And I’m thinking to myself, ‘Are you kidding me?’ You know you guys lead by example; it’s more like teacher apathy.

That’s why we can’t get anything done because nobody wants to chaperone.’”

She took to the editorial page and wrote about it. “I wrote this article all about teacher apathy, you know, that kids learn from example, and teachers have to understand it’s a very unique job - it’s not a 9 to 5 or 7 to 3, - it’s the after-hours that go with the job and the example you’re setting.”

When she submitted it to her advisor, he looked at it and asked, “Oh my God, Colleen, do you really want to publish this?” He feared teacher pushback at he and her, but still he liked the piece and it was published.

The superintendent met Labow one day in the hall. “And I’ll never forget it,” she says.

“The superintendent’s office within our school, and he hunted me down. I thought for sure he was going to expel me or some-

thing, but he actually hunted me down to shake my hand and tell me he loved the article. It was so funny.”

The editorial did its job. For the rest of that year, Dover High School had no issues getting chaperones for events.

“The last day of high school,” Labow says, “I didn’t want to leave the building. I was actually the very last person to leave the building that day,” she said, recalling the flowing tears. “I was devastated. I loved high school.”

Labow has been married to her second husband, Marc, since 1985. The couple has one son, Curtis, 31, and Labow has a son from her first marriage, Jeremy, 40. She is grandmother to his two children, Tyler (9) and Alexis (6). Currently a Keller Williams real estate agent who also chairs the township Board of Health, Labow is also a member of both the Open Space Advisory Board and Stigma Free Committee. She first bought a home in Mount Olive in 1980 on the Budd Lake side of town, just a few blocks from the water. She still lives in the same house. “I ran (for town council) the first time in 2001 and I did not get elected. I ran again in 2003 and I did get elected, and I’ve been reelected every term since.” She

grew up as a Republican, initially ran as a Democrat, but eventually changed parties back to the Republican side.

However, political parties aside, Labow knows where her heart is. “I’m really for the people,” she says. “I just want to do what’s best for all of us.”

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Daniel Amianda: At Home in Mount Olive

By Steve Sears ou don’t have to sell 81-year-old Daniel Amianda on living in or serving the Township of Mount Olive.

He has, after all, been a resident for 46 years. “I was introduced to Mount Olive by a friend,” he says of that day almost a half a century ago. “I found Mount Olive to be a nice, peaceful place where I could raise my children.”

The last statement perhaps is redundant when describing the township of almost 28,000 people, but still, Amianda and his wife have raised four children within its 33 square miles.

More on the family later. But first, more about the man who has served on the Township Council for eight Years. Amianda, whose current term expires 12/31/2021, also represents the Council and resident senior citizens as a township liaison at the Board of Education meetings. He also served as a member of the Mount Olive Board of Educa-

tion for 16 years.

“I wanted to make Mount Olive a safe place to work for all, and raise all the children in a safe environment,” says Amianda, a Republican, when asked why he initially ran for a Council seat. His main goal as a Councilman is, in his words, “To accomplish unity for all.” And as for the biggest challenge facing the Council? “Maintaining taxes,” he states.

Amianda was born in 1939 in Bunyore, Kenya, and migrated to the United States in 1961 when he was 22 years old. He attended Lincoln University near Oxford, Pennsylvania, and he worked for the New York City Human Resources Administration for many years prior to his retirement.

One interesting tidbit about Amianda, and how it pertains to his love of and the importance of education, is The Naomi Nursery School. Located in the village where he grew up, the school is honorarily named after the Councilman’s mother. It opened in 2004, Amianda raising money and as well using

his own savings to build the school, which would provide a like educational opportunity that he had enjoyed while growing up.

“The school is still educating all the students who don’t have the ability, or enough funds, to go to school,” he proudly says.

As promised, back to his family, which he is immensely proud of. “I have been married to my wife, Helena Amianda, for 52 years,” he states happily. The couple has, as previously mentioned, four children: daughters Naomi, Erica, and Alumasi, and a son, Mark.

In his spare time, Amianda believes in keeping in shape physically and mentally.

His hobbies are running and reading, and he always looks for ways to aid and inspire others. “I use the ability I have to help others. I participate in charity groups like ‘Walk from Obesity.’”

Daniel Amianda is a happy man who has accomplished much during his life, and still continues to do so. When asked for a summation of his feelings on the Township of

Mount Olive, he simply states, “Mount Olive is the best place to work, live, and raise a family.”

John Mania: The City Kid Who Now Embraces Mount Olive

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By Steve Sears ount Olive Township Councilman John Mania, entering his twelfth year as a council member, is an affable guy, always ready with friendly conversation.

One interesting tidbit from a recent discussion was his never envisioning as a young boy he’d one day be living in the Budd Lake section of Mount Olive.

There’s a story to this – a great one, and he’s ready to tell it. His Dad raised and raced pigeons, and it was through this unique lifestyle avenue that he was introduced to the area he now calls home. “In fact,” he states emphatically with a chuckle, “what was amazing was to train the pigeons, he used to take them from Paterson to Budd Lake. He trained them for the races. I used to say to my Dad, ‘Who would ever want to live here?!’” It was different compared to the crowded, busy streets of his childhood neighborhood. “It wasn’t built up, there was a lot of farmland. To be honest with you, I never knew what a town looked like until I came to Budd Lake. I was a city guy.”

The above being said, he’s been living in Mount Olive for over 50 years.

Mania, 84, grew up in Paterson, and attended Saint Anthony’s Parochial School for elementary and middle school education, and then Passaic County Vocational and Technical School for high school. He was one of five children -- three brothers and two sisters -- growing up in a locale that was one of New Jersey’s top cities for commerce and history. Literature was also abundant, and so was comedy – in a very big way. Think Abbott & Costello, with Lou Costello being born and raised as well in Paterson. “Abbott & Costello, absolutely,” says Mania with excitement,

he often back then in company albeit at a distance with the slapstick duo. “He (Costello) used to come to our church. Lou Costello, Bud Abbott, and Kate Smith. They used to come to Mass at Saint Anthony’s on Beech Street in Paterson. I was an altar boy, so I used to serve Mass.”

Roman Catholicism and, primarily, serving others, obviously, was imbedded in Mania at a young age. It was important to him then, and it is important to him now, he serving for 15 years as a Eucharistic Minister for Holy Communion at Saint Jude Parish in Mount Olive. “It’s very important. I’m a member of the Knights of Columbus – I’m a former Grand Knight – and the good that the Knights do, which is a Catholic organization, the good they do for people in need impresses me. It’s so important to me, and to the people that are less fortunate than most of us that are in dire need of just clothing – forget about food, clothing! -- it’s amazing.”

Mania, who is up for reelection in 2021, didn’t run for the township council initially.

It was thrust upon him, courtesy of his diligence. He details one example. “Many years ago, there was a proposal to have Palisades (Amusement) Park to relocate in Mount Olive, where the foreign trade zone (International Trade Zone) is located now. Palisades Park was coming.” Mania, then a new resident of Mount Olive, didn’t think the park and the township would be a good fit. “That was my personal opinion.” He attended a council meeting and raised his hand during the public portion of the forum, seeking to be heard, eventually stating his objection to the project after council members stated the benefits of it. “I got up and said, ‘I come from the city of Paterson, and I don’t think that Palisades is the right thing for Mount

Olive.’ I then said, ‘If you really feel strongly about this, I think you should put it on the ballot, and let the people of Mount Olive decide whether they want an amusement park or not.’” He was told by the elected officials that they themselves would make the decision, not the people.

Mania was upset, but the chagrin didn’t deter him. He went home and, the more he thought about it, he figured that if he didn’t do something about it, what good was it? He and a few others sprang into action, forming a Citizens Alert Committee (CAC), their purpose to fight the proposal. “Now, to get it on the ballot, you had to get 25% of the registered voters. So, we had to go out and get signatures to get it on the ballot,” he explains. The plan bore success; onto the ballot it went. “I’ll be honest with you, then coming from the city of Paterson, I was a Democrat; I wasn’t a Republican then. But before that, I went from town to town where Palisades was located, and talked to the police chiefs, and the crime (they said) was unbelievable.

They said, ‘We’re so happy to get rid of Palisades out of here.’” Mania now had an extra leg and maybe more leverage when learning that all the park rides were not permanent structures, therefore not taxable. “All Mount Olive would’ve gained, had the park been built, was taxes on the land, not any of the rides. And there we had 300 prime acres bordered by Routes 46, 206, and 80, and not a ratable.”

Mania sings the praises of the current members. Now serving the township for over 10 years as a Republican, he enjoys his relationship with other council members, no matter their party affiliation. “We have working members, we all work together, we may not agree all the time, but we shake

hands after it is all over.” He continues, “I’m proud to be a resident of Mount Olive.” He lauds Mayor Rob Greenbaum. “Our Mayor has done a tremendous job. We have a good working council. We’ve got a nice town here to live in, and good support.” Mania saw more proof-positive evidence of this in an important realm during a recent Sunday afternoon visit to Mount Olive High School: the progression of education on the local level. “They had a Robotics event going on, and I went through the whole high school, and I am so impressed with the opportunities the students have to feel free as to what they want to do in life.”

“The opportunity is there. Our tax dollars are well spent.”

He then sums up his (and many others’) feelings regarding the township. “It’s become a great town to live in, to raise a family, people help each other – I’m just thrilled to be a resident of Mount Olive, and to be a member of the Town Council, and the Planning Board for many years.”

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 97

Councilman John Ferrante Truly Cares About Mount Olive

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By Steve Sears 3-year-old Mount Olive Township Councilman John Ferrante, who has lived in the Pershing Estates of Budd Lake for 13 years, has a deep fondness for the land he currently calls “home.”

“I love the sense of community,” he says.

Ferrante, a Republican, has served on the Township Council since 2011, when he was appointed to fill a vacant council seat when then Mayor-elect Rob Greenbaum ascended to the top helm. Ferrante has since won reelection twice, and his second full term ends Dec. 31, 2021.

Ferrante and his wife, Lynn, celebrate wedding anniversary #15 this month. The couple are parents to a 13-year-old daughter named Angelina, and two sons, Nicholas (10) and Joseph (7).

For Ferrante, who is employed with MetLife Investment Management in Whippany, his interest in getting involved with the Town Council began while he was living briefly in Hopatcong. He explains. “I lived near my grandfather. One of his biggest complaints was that there weren’t enough lights on his street. One day while

visiting him, I noticed that he had a utility pole outside of his home. I had reached out to one of the Hopatcong councilmen that I had met while I was on the Knights of Columbus in Hopatcong. He had walked me through the process of inquiring about adding a streetlight to the utility pole.” A few months later, his Grandfather ecstatically called him to report that the electric company had just installed a light on that very pole. “Through several conversations with the Hopatcong councilman, (it) got me really thinking about wanting to get involved in the community. I had moved to Budd Lake shortly thereafter, and later met current council president Joe Nicastro.

We both had similar interests in getting involved within the community and decided to run together. We have been there together ever since.”

While serving Mount Olive, Ferrante is proud to state that Mayor Greenbaum, he and his fellow Council members have been able to sustain a zero increase in municipal taxes. “This is quite an accomplishment considering the challenges of battling an uncertain economy at times, growing com-

munity, and increase in costs to run a township of Mount Olive’s size.”

The above being said, Ferrante knows there is work to be done, especially in his own backyard. “I would love to see continued improvements made in the Budd Lake area. If you ever look at the historic photos of Budd Lake, it was once a highly desired vacation destination. I would love to see the lake return to its glory again. We need to overcome some of the challenges of working with the state in regard to redeveloping the area, as well as the latest challenge of combating Harmful Algae Bloom which is not just unique to Budd Lake. We have made some strides with dealing with HAB, but more needs to be done to ensure the safety of our residents and the wildlife at the lake.”

Among his other involvements in the township are being the council liaison to the Environment Committee, Library Board, and Budd Lake Association. “I am also the Treasurer of the Mount Olive Soccer Club, Head Coach of the 2012 Boys Travel team, past Mount Olive Baseball Coach, member of the Saint Jude’s Parish and Saint Jude’s

Knights of Columbus,” he says.

Ferrante always focuses on the positives. “From supporting the school sports teams, to the many recreation sponsored events, there is always something going on.

We also have top notch schools, premier parks, and close proximity to shopping.”

Greg Stewart: “The Town (Mount Olive) is Phenomenal on Working Together”

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By Steve Sears reg Stewart, Township of Mount Olive Councilman, loves where he lives.

Heck, he’s been in Mount Olive longer now than where he originally grew up. The 67-year-old has been living in Flanders for 34 years after residing in the Caldwell area for his initial 33. “The town is phenomenal on working together. The donations, the volunteering of time for the food pantry and stuff – this tough challenge (COVID-19 pandemic) that everybody is facing, it really shows what’s really neat about this town. It’s about how good people are.”

And then there’s his family, of whom he speaks with pride. He and wife Sheila celebrate 35 years of marriage in 2020, and daughter Rachel, a current Brooklyn, New York resident, is now 25. “Seeing my daughter do well - she’s been working for two years and is now going to go back and get her law degree. We’re very proud of that young lady.”

He’s also a busy guy. His company, NexGen, is in its 17th year, and addressing client concerns in the current age has

“shelved” (pun intended) a book project he’d been working on. “Believe it or not,” he says, “I’ve been so busy hearing from clients I haven’t worked with in years, it’s been totally put aside. All things I’ve wanted to get done with this isolation I haven’t even accomplished because I’ve been busier from a work perspective than I’ve ever been.”

Stewart, who is also on the Foundation Board of Directors for Hackettstown Medical Center, is concentrating on getting the word out about local businesses who are doing good right now. “This is what’s going on in your backyard, ladies and gentlemen,” he says. “You’ve got some great businesses of all sizes that have been doing some tremendous work. And there’s not one thing political involved in it. It’s about, ‘How do we help this community?’

That’s been the most positive, most inspiring component of it.”

Stewart is an affable, inspiring, and positive individual. A graduate of both Newark’s Essex Catholic High School and Montclair State University, he initially worked for AT&T and then left, and from there

it’s been about giving back. He is been a certified senior business advisor with the Independent Business Alliance and the Institute for Business, and is a member of the Mount Olive Area Executive Council, which he founded when he was council President and has chaired for 10 years.

The beforementioned are just a few of the worthwhile teams his name is stapled to.

Stewart, whose business wisdom was included in the 2017 best-selling book, Breakthrough RESULTS!, lauds the Township Council he serves on. When initially recruited (for the council), he said he wanted no part of politics. But the Mayor (at that time) and the other council members told him, “We’re not political.” “They’re spot on,” he says. “There’s not a political discussion on it. It’s all about – and this is where I enjoy it, and why I ran for reelection three years ago and why I’m going to go again next year – because it’s all about what’s right for the community, and that’s what I truly enjoy.”

Stewart, an avid golfer and New York Jets football fan, still hasn’t netted a holein-one. He’s come close, one time even

less than an inch. He relives the frustration with a laugh. “Where it (the ball) actually changed directions around the hole and then stopped. It’s (a hole-in-one) actually a bucket list one. I came very, very close at least 10 times last year.”

For more information about Greg Stewart and NexGen Management, call 973927-5446 or visit www.nexgenmgt.com.

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Mount Olive Police Department’s Key Initiative is Fighting Crime, Building a Relationship with the Community

MOPD Chief of Police Stephen Beecher

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By Steve Sears he Township of Mount Olive Police Department is celebrating their 92nd anniversary in 2021, and with it comes recollections of a great past with a view towards the future.

Chief of Police, Stephen Beecher says, “A lot has happened between now and then (1929) to bring us to where we are today: the third largest police department in the county; accredited through the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, with the latest technology; a highly trained workforce; and fully operational communications center. We strive towards continuing excellence in pursuit of community support through responsive professional service.”

Beecher lists, with pencil on pad, his daily want of accomplishment. He prepares his list the night before, and then reads it at his desk at Flanders Drakestown headquarters the next morning.

“For me, it’s an exercise before I leave work,” Beecher says. “I’ll jot down in my notebook here with my pencil – which my guys bust me about because I still use a pencil.”

He chuckles, then continues. “They’ll use their phones or computers. I’ll jot down with a pencil in my notebook what I want to do the next day. So that’s what I do; I’ll jot down things that I want to accomplish, things that we’re working on, some things are things that need to be done immediately or short term, while other are long term goals that you need to check on, and I come in the following day and we see what happens. I come in and there might be an arrest in here, and there might be any number of things that might be going on.”

Every day, for Beecher and the MOPD, is different. “It’s not boring, and that’s one of the reasons I love the job is that every day is different, you just never know what’s going to happen. I start my day like everyone else does, with an idea of what I want to get accomplished. But different things come into play in the course of the day that change that.”

Beecher’s planning, as well as that of his subordinates, bears much fruit. The MOPD, which consists of 50 officers, is accredited through the New Jersey State Chiefs of Police Association. The department was first acknowledged in 2013

and was re-accredited again in 2019. 108 standards were met, policies and procedures complied with, and proof was shown that all departments were actually following those policies and procedures.

The work entailed in accumulating information for accreditation is very arduous. “It’s a lot of work,” says Beecher.

“Back in 2012, when we started putting this together, Captain (Mike) Spitzer was the accreditation manager, and Lieutenant Cordileone was his assistant, and in this most recent reaccreditation it was Lieutenant Cordileone who was the accreditation manager and Corporal Wurtemberg was his assistant.”

Beecher is proud of the department’s record and history.

“We would not be where we are today if not for the efforts of those that came before us, and those that continue to work in Mount Olive, civilian and sworn officers alike.”

Proud. An apropos word to describe the MOPD, the fine folks who guard all of Budd Lake and Flanders.

Since 33,000 residents can’t visit the police department behind the scenes, Mount Olive Life transports the reader inside police department headquarters to hear officers discuss their on-the-job challenges and what Mount Olive’s finest value most.

One thing is and will always be certain. The Mount Olive Police Department cares about neighbors and citizens, and seeks to ensure the township is a great, safe place to live.

The Mission Statement, as gleaned from the MOPD website, reads: “It is the mission of the Mount Olive Township Police Department to serve all persons within our community. Our service shall be rooted in professionalism, respect, courtesy, integrity, dignity and accountability. The members of the Mount Olive Police Department are men and women of character and compassion. We value ethical behavior, competency, and a strong work ethic among our members.

Our members are dedicated to providing the highest level of police services to the community. It is by our efforts that we seek to improve the quality of life in this community for all who live, visit or work here. We seek to provide a safe and pleasant environment for our residents, visitors and employees.

We are firm in our conviction that all persons must receive fair and impartial treatment and service without regard for race, religion, gender, age or ethnic origin. We pledge to be unbiased while executing our duties; to perform our duty while protecting the rights of all people; and to respect the lives of those we come into contact with while performing our duty.

The men and women of the Mount Olive Police Department will maintain the highest standards in serving the community and will continually strive to improve our performance and ourselves. We shall diligently seek to improve safety and protect our citizens. We are charged with enforcing laws and regulations, seeking out wrongdoing and pursuing criminals, investigating and prosecuting crimes, enforcing traffic regulations and making our roadways safer, and aiding those who are lost or in distress. We seek to develop strong ties to our community as we together attempt to solve the problems as they occur.

We are proud to serve the Township of Mount Olive and the citizens who live and work here.

“We firmly believe we can’t do our job well without the support of the community.”

Beecher, who was hired as a patrol officer in 1987, and subsequently was promoted to Patrol Sergeant, Administrative Sergeant, Support Services Lieutenant, then was named Patrol Lieutenant, and then promoted to Captain prior to being named Chief of Police on August 1, 2016, is up front about camaraderie with the residents of Mount Olive. “We firmly believe we can’t do our job well without the support of the community. We need the support of the community if we are going to have any effect on crime prevention efforts – and that’s our ultimate goal, right? Our ultimate goal is to prevent crime, not just respond to calls, take reports, and make arrests. Our goal is to prevent crime and have a quality of life here in Mount Olive that people enjoy. In order for us to do that we need the help of the community, so it’s about building relationships.”

Mount Olive is 33 square miles. Coverage areas include vast portions of Routes 46, 80, and 206. The MOPD will also continued on page 99

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Mount Olive Police...

continued from page 98 pitch in if needed outside these areas. “If someone calls for mutual aid,” says Beecher, “we’ll be there.” The primary responsibility, however, is the jurisdiction of Mount Olive.

Although the Mount Olive Police Department was officially established in 1929, an early population growth in the community encouraged the formation of law enforcement. The Mount Olive Vigilant Society was founded on December 22, 1859. In the 1920s, the township hired its own Constables, Harold McLaughlin and his assistant George Hildebrandt. Per Beecher, “In a township logbook from 1929, Class II Special Officer Michael Pocquat found an entry on June 3rd where the Mayor empowered Chief Harold McLaughlin to hire officers. Chief McLaughlin hired three, establishing then what has become a police force of fifty officers.”

As Mount Olive continued to grow, in 1929 The township by ordinance established a police department. Dan Tremitier served as the first Chief of Police.

An interesting historical tidbit about Chief Dan Tremitier. He is the only former New Jersey Police Chief to have been killed in action in World War II, dying on March 22, 1944. In honor of former Chief Tremitier and in remembrance of his sacrifice, all Mount Olive Police Officers wore a mourning band over their badges from March 22 until Sunday, March 31 this in 2019. The beginning was very humble. There was no two-way radio, and officers would be alerted to a call when a flag was hung out of the municipal building second floor window, or when a blue light was on. When observing these notifications, officers stopped at the municipal building to get the call details. It wasn’t until 1941 that the Mount Olive Township Police Department had a two-way radio in a patrol car.

And Beecher himself is from a generation where technology pales in comparison to today. When he was hired, one computer sat in the patrol room which was available for use by everyone, but not much was done with it.

“I remember our first cell phone; we had one cell phone, and the Patrol Sergeant got the cell phone, and it was like carrying a briefcase. That was a big cell phone,” he laughs.

“Now we’re up to these,” he says, pointing to his desk PC, “and we’re told these have more computer power than the Apollo 13 did. It’s just incredible how technology has changed.

So, we try to leverage the technologies to assist us in building relationships with the community.” The MOPD also has active Facebook and Twitter pages, the latter home to traffic detail and other tweets, the former displaying what the MOPD does in and is doing with the community. “We have the L.E.A.D. program, which is Law Enforcement Against Drugs, that’s in every 5th grade class in the elementary schools, we have the Officer Phil program which we bring in the elementary schools, which talks about child safety and such. We also have a drop off for prescription

drugs.” There is also a program where students are brought to the police department to apply education to real life, such as how math is used to show how speed is judged on the roadways, and students as well have viewed a video of a staged burglary and the students had to take a report about what happened, which uses both communication and writing. “It was very well received,” says Beecher regarding the latter. Beecher also lists National Night Out, Coffee with a Cop (which is done at various locations) as other key ways of interacting with Mount Olive residents.

As of 1971, the Mount Olive Township Police Department consisted of eight officers, two Detectives, three Sergeants, and a Chief, and was aided by twenty Special Officers.

Mount Olive was now intersected by Route 46, which ran through Budd Lake, and Route 206, which bisected Flanders. Also, Route 80 was being constructed, and large residential development was being undertaken.

In 1979, construction on the International Trade Zone increased traffic and commercial and residential development.

The Mount Olive Police Department currently has fifty sworn police officers in its four divisions: Patrol, Investigations, Support Services and Communications and Records.

The officers are supported by three civilian personnel and six full time Communications Officers.

The Mount Olive Police Department works with directed patrol list. “You want to send your cops where there are problems,” says Beecher. “So, if people have any issues, we encourage them to call us or email us and tell us what their issues are in town. For instance, there’s a business in town right now that has a lot of seasonal employees and there has been some reported drug use, and so we’ve been asked to swing through the parking lots there to make sure there’s no drug activity going on. We’ll have incidents of criminal mischief at certain locations in town, so we’ll have our officers patrol through there. We’ll have certain intersections or streets where there’s a lot of speeding or crashes; we’ll put officers in there.

So, we have an ongoing directed patrol list which fluctuates, so locations come on and off that directed patrol list as needed. Once we’ve solved that issue or seen a decrease in it, we’ll close that out, and if it reoccurs, we’ll reinsert it into the directed patrol list.

It’s a list that constantly fluctuates, and the purpose is to have officers in those areas a lot of the time. So, when they’re not doing anything else, they’re going into those areas, checking on things, and if they see any violations, see any quality-of-life issues, they are to address them.”

Staffing – a chief concern A chief (pun intended) concern for Beecher is staffing. “Back in 2008, when the economy tanked, not just Mount Olive but a lot of towns saw a decrease with their staffing

in their police departments. So, we were at 50 officers 10 years ago, and that’s where we’re at presently. Our population has gone up, we continue to see growth, and one of the things I’d like to do is have a dedicated juvenile officer in the detective bureau.

When I first started, we had a narcotics bureau and a detective bureau, we had a juvenile officer in the detective bureau, and then you had your detectives that did your general detective work. That eroded down to just your detectives doing your general detective work, and I think it’s important to have relationships with the schools, it’s important to be proactive in dealing with what kids are dealing with out there, and I’d like to have a dedicated juvenile officer to do that full time. Now, I have two detectives that are the primaries when it comes to doing juvenile investigations, but they also do other investigations as well. So that’s one of the things I’d like to have. Another thing I’d like to do is expand our personnel at the desk, our communication center. A lot of people, in my humble opinion, don’t appreciate how mission critical and how difficult and how important the communications officer’s job is.” Video is streamed in from Mount Olive High School so if an issue occurs, dispatchers can see it at the desk. There is also video from other parts of the town and inside police headquarters that dispatchers also monitor. “ The dispatchers have to take 9-1-1 calls, and when they take 9-1-1 calls, they’re not supposed to disconnect until an officer gets there. And when we have critical incidents, our desk is just flooded with calls.”

Mount Olive is the spot where the unfortunate Paramus bus crash occurred, and such busy times requite additional personnel, which the MOPD has addressed. “I can tell you what we’ve done in Mount Olive, and former Chief Mark Spitzer initiated this.

We have taken our clerical personnel and we have trained them as dispatchers. So, lots of times we’ll have one dispatcher up at the desk, so if something comes in that’s critical,

our clerical staff will step up and fill in there.

We have three workstations, and my goal is to have two, full-time dispatchers up there 24/7. Right now, we have four dispatchers, one of those is assigned to each squad, and each squad works 12-hour shifts, and then we have a flex dispatcher who will work from 11 in the morning to 11 at night. But after and before those times, there’s one dispatcher. What I’d like to do is get two full time dispatchers assigned to each squad.”

Communications and Dispatch is Critical Michael Cordileone, an officer of 24 years, serves as Lieutenant of a key MOPD function: Communications and Records, which includes dispatch, the initial contact at the MOPD. “The communications unit is the communication center, the operations and maintenance of all the radio equipment, all of our dispatchers, so I oversee two officers in that unit and soon to be seven full-time dispatchers as well as four part time dispatchers,” he says.

The communication center, where 9-1-1 calls come in and police, fire and first aid are dispatched, is an important three-workstation realm. “The patrol division and the investigation division certainly come in contact with citizens, residents, people that work here all day long,” says Cordileone, “but certainly, if you have a problem, a question, I’m going to tell you that 98% probably come into the communication center, whether it’s 9-1-1 or a regular phone line, or a walk in.

Then we either dispatch somebody or get a hold of someone in the investigations division to come and talk to them, whatever it might be. But that’s pretty much where all of our first contact comes in.”

Calls of all kinds come in, including, yes, cats caught in high trees. “It’s perception. It depends on your life. Some people are hunters, so a dead deer in the road isn’t a big deal for them, or a deer that has been struck and has a broken leg isn’t a big deal for them. For continued on page 100

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continued from page 99 people that are animal lovers and haven’t experienced that, that’s a traumatic incident. For kids, seeing a deer injured in the road could be a traumatic incident. So yeah, the level of importance when they call is certainly dictated by everybody’s personal experience. We’ll get nurses calling in telling us somebody is unresponsive, and we need CPR, and they’ve done CPR or are trained in CPR, so their level of stress for that incident is a lot less for a normal person that has never had that experience.”

“We pride ourselves on the training we put our dispatchers through” There are emotional, mental, and physical aspects of the job that all come into play. “Oh, there certainly is,” attests Cordileone. “We pride ourselves on the training we put our dispatchers through. They basically get 400 hours of training before we let them sit at that desk. 80 hours of basically certifications – they have to be certified for 9-1-1, they have to be certified for EMD, which is emergency medical dispatch.

So, we put them through that; we have five instructors. We instruct them, test them, certify them, then we send the test out, the state takes the grades, looks at the test, gives us certification back and approval, and then we start training them with a seasoned communications officer at the desk for about 300 – 320 hours, sometimes it might be a little less if they’re doing well, or sometimes it’ll be a little bit more.

They are then ready to fly on their own because there are lots of times that they are on their own.” During the day, Cordileone tries to have two dispatchers, he needs eight dispatchers to have two per shift. He currently has seven, and he is doing his best to use those seven to serve the community. “That’s kind of a work in progress right now, but we’ll get it done in the best interests of the organization and the community. But there are times when there is one communications officer up there, and they have to be able to handle an emergency 9-1-1 call which may involve dispatch and management of police services, as well as fire services, as well as EMS (Emergency Medical Services), and also on the EMS side is that of ALS, which is paramedics. So, there are a lot of aspects that have to be handled up there possibly by one person. So, to your original question, it is an emotional and mental toll on them, and because they are trained so well, we hope for training purposes that they experience all different types of calls so that they can adjust their stress levels and understand what to do under a stressful situation.”

As previously noted, dispatch was contacted during the sad Paramus school bus crash in May 2018. “That was a lot of patients: 46 patients, 2 fatalities. With something so large, you have so many people wanting to help, and it’s not just that there’s a loss of life, it’s putting your emotions and stress in check in order to be able to handle the call, because you’re getting such an overwhelming response that you kind of have to know, ‘Push this aside right now; we’ve got a job to do.’ And that takes an emotional and mental toll on you.”

Officer Ryan M. Hammell has been a resident of Mount Olive for 29 years and has worked as a dispatcher since 2016.

In addition to the all the duties previously mentioned by Cordileone, he and the other dispatchers also dispatch animal control, sewer and water and the Department of Public Works for any incidents in town that require their services. “We are also tasked with collecting paperwork for firearms packets, bail reform and handling paperwork for local ordinance. “As a dispatcher there are no typical days,” Hammell states. “Some calls require more attention and time due to their severity and need for more resources. Other calls require less attention and are handled in a timely manner. Days vary in the number of calls received, so it is necessary to be prepared for anything.”

Coffee with a cop!

As for public misconceptions regarding the MOPD and dispatch, Cordileone says, “They (the dispatchers) don’t necessarily know how the roads are. They don’t know how Route 80 is. They don’t necessarily know if the schools are closed or open. We try to have as much communications as possible, though.”

Hammell adds, “I think the big misconception is that all we do is answer phones. Even though answering phones is our primary function, we are usually performing multiple tasks at the same time.”

Including Hammel, there are 6 other dispatchers: Communications officers Mirsik, Johansen, Maio, Papa, Zuckerman and Lamanna. In addition to 6 full time communications officers, dispatch has 2 part time communications officers, James Seeger, and Mark Adamsky, and three full time records clerks, Darrell Hooper, Karissa Sevensky and Emily Loughman that are certified as communications officer and assist at the desk during high volume times. Part-Time Dispatcher Cheryl Henderson-Brill retired on December 1, 2020.

She had served the Mount Olive Township Police Department for over fifteen years.

With regard to the Records Division, Cordileone’s team is responsible for all the records, investigation and supplemental reports, all discovery requests to be sent out (when someone gets arrested, attorneys will send requests for discovery), they’re in charge of all OPRA, in charge of all what’s now called DOORS (the division of archived and record management), submitting requests to destroy records if they fit into the categories, and they deal with personnel orders and purchase requests. “…knowing that you helped somebody in some capacity is always a comfort” Cordileone, who is also the Supervising Weapons instructor and Use of Force training, says he enjoys his job, but he does miss being out on the road. “When I was a young officer out on the road, just to go to somebody’s house to do the typical get the cat out of the tree kind of thing, it’s a sense that you were able to connect with somebody and help them out on a personal level. In here, we help everybody, the communication center is the nerve center, everything comes in and goes out, we do everything we can do to make sure we can connect to them, and we’ll give CPR instructions over the phone if need be, so there’s a connection there. But when I signed up for this job, it was really to help people and to try and make a difference in one person’s life. Obviously, you’re not going to change the world, but being able to go home at the end of the day knowing that you helped some-

body in some capacity is always a comfort.” “…it’s coming where you’ll have almost every school in the district having a police officer there” As Lieutenant of the MOPD Support Services Division, Phil Lucivero oversaw “all the stuff the police department has to take care of besides investigating crimes and solving crimes and arresting people. So, I have a Sergeant, a Corporal, and officer who’s here, an officer who’s at the high school – a school resource officer, and two class threes who are also in the high school. It’s not required (at the high school), but it’s a program that the state started last year that we instituted for this school year where we put a full-time police officer in the high school and we hired two recently retired police officers who have all their certifications, and they’re up at the school, too, during the day.”

Lucivero entered year number 27 in law enforcement on January 30 and retired on February 1, 2021.

School safety is a big thing, and the MOPD recognizes it.

“I think,” says Lucivero, “it’s coming where you’ll have almost every school in the district having a police officer there. Right now, we have them only at the high school. My guys inside here handle all the firearms applications for people wanting to buy guns, we do Megan’s Law, people who need to register, we do outside activities, and a big one we do is the L.E.A.D. program, which has taken over for DARE. Both of my guys are L.E.A.D. certified and they go around to the elementary schools, the fifth graders, and they’re in charge of that.

So, that’s kind of a snippet, and whatever else comes down the pike that the Chief or Captain say ‘Hey, I need you to take care of that’ it usually comes in this division.”

Purchase of firearms: you never want them in the wrong person’s hands; Megan’s Law : the great issue regarding sex offenders; and drugs: seemingly a non-stop, non-defeatable issue. “Yeah, those three, they take up a big part” claims Lucivero. “Then we help out with the traffic, my Sergeant is the backup traffic officer, we’ll sometimes get side press releases, we’ll handle the outside activities, so anytime a company wants to hire us to work a traffic post, we handle that, we’re in charge of the breathalyzer machine, making sure it’s not malfunctioning. So, we run the gamut. A to Z, and that’s Support Services.”

“I’m happy I wound up here” “I’m happy I wound up here,” says the former resident of Parsippany. “Mount Olive has been everything and then some for me, it really has. Beautiful view (from his office window), I think the town is run well, I think the PD is run well continued on page 101

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Detective Hunter Guiles, Cpl. Matthew Gumann, Cpl. Michael Russell and Cpl. Jessica Groblewski assisting with the Sandshore School Memorial Day ceremony.

Mount Olive Police...

continued from page 100 – obviously, I’m biased – but we’re squared away.”

Lucivero recalls that, when he first arrived, the MOPD was pretty aggressive and proactive in its duties. “At the time, and we’re talking the mid-90s, you were visible, you had as many cars as you could, you were on Route 46 or on 206 and you were looking for things. We still do that and then some because there’s so many more responsibilities now. Technology has gone…unbelievable. When I first started, I got into a 1991 Chevy Caprice that had a police radio and a little toggle switch underneath the dash that flipped to make the lights go on. Now there’s cameras in the car, there’s a laptop, there’s a computer, I have access to everything, I have a computer to print out my tickets now. That’s the biggest things to me: the technology, the advancements in 24 years, for the better, absolutely. And it’s made everyone more accountable.”

There is so much more that the MOPD does now, and its biggest needed resource is people. “You can always use more people, can always use an extra set of hands. The population, the technology…I’m not sure of our staffing has followed that. I think 10 years ago we had 55 guys, and we’re down to 49 guys. In those 10 years, there’s more stuff, there’s more people, more housing developments going in on 46, and another is about to start on Love Lane off of Route 80. Ideally, we’d bring up our staffing to match that.

But we’re doing good though.” The MOPD gives much back to the Township of Mount Olive. “I think the level of service the citizens get each and every day is second to none, and that’s by way of how we enforce the laws, how proactive and reactive we are to the community, and I know since I’ve been in this division, the Chief has made it clear to me how he wants us involved in the community events. This fall, for example, almost every weekend, I was coming in for Shop-Rite Bag Hunger, Coffee with a Cop. We were out last Saturday (December 2018) handing out teddy bears. I think we kind of work hand in hand with the community very well, and I think it works.”

“We’re a good, solid, squared away PD. I’m on the inside, I do it, I’m working, I feel like it’s noticeable and people will see that we know what we’re doing. Like anything else, if you make a mistake, you admit it, you move on and you learn from it, and thankfully it doesn’t happen that often.”

As a result of Lucivero’s departure, Corporal Hunter Guiles was promoted to Sergeant-Patrol Division; Sergeant Michael Zarro to Administrative Sergeant- Patrol Division; and Sergeant Paul Ottavinia to Lieutenant-Support Services Division.

Officer Lonnie Elbaum was reassigned to the Patrol Division as a Corporal. Also, Lorena Papa, a former full time Commu-

The Mount Olive Police Department once again participated in the Special Olympics Torch Run. Pictured left to right is Officer Chad Rossy, Cpl. Michael Russell, Cpl. Paul Ottavinia, Records Clerk Emily Loughman, Officer Matthew Koppinger, Cpl. Matt Gumann and Sgt. Eric Anthony.

nications Officer and James Evans accepted conditional job offers and attended the Morris County Police Academy in January 2021. Finally, Dispatcher Anthony Preziosi was hired to fill the position being vacated by Lorena Papa being hired as a Police Officer. “…to me there’s a lot of personal-ness to this job…”

Mark Carlstrom, a Mount Olive High School 1986 graduate, took over as Patrol Lieutenant Sergeant of the Patrol Division following the retirement of Lt. Craig Austenberg effective March 1, 2020. Sergeant Ottavinia was re-assigned to Administrative Sergeant, Carlstrom’s former seat, and Corporal Marianne Wurtemberg was promoted to Sergeant-Patrol Division. Also, Sgt. Carl Mase retired effective August 1, 2019. As a result of his retirement and Lt. Austenberg’s announced retirement, Corporal Jessica Groblewski was promoted to Sergeant-Patrol Division. In addition, Officers Anthony LaManna and John Simonetti were hired and attended the Morris County Police Academy in January 2020 and have assumed lone patrol duties. “As Anthony LaManna was a full time Communications Officer, Dispatcher Alexandra Vanni was hired to replace him,” says Beecher.

The patrolman’s unit is made up of four squads of seven, in addition to Carlstrom. Carlstorm started out as officer on the road. Carlstrom was a patrol officer for 16 ½ years and was promoted in 2014 to Administrative Sergeant prior to his current duties. “I’ve been in the patrol division my whole career. I still live in the town, I have kids who graduated Mount Olive, I have kids that are still in Mount Olive, I have three boys, so to me there’s a lot of personal-ness to this job. People know who I am, and I’m all about the department. And here in our patrol division, these guys work 12-hour shifts, so they put in long days and they’re exhausted by the end of the day. It’s not easy to work a 12-hour shift. We have smaller homes, apartments, to the very big extravagant homes. So, we have to know how to deal with different types of people.”

He then proudly states, “Our school system is probably the best in Morris County, I grew up in it and now I get to see it, and you’re proud to be here.”

Mount Olive Police Officers receive top notch training through the Morris County Police Academy.

Carlstrom adds, “Our testing process…there are sometimes we’ve had as many as 500 people come take the written test for what ultimately wind up being only one or two positions. It’s a long process, several months before they may or may not get hired.”

A Challenge Coin of Core Values “Along those lines,” says Carlstrom, “when one of our recruits graduates the academy, they are given a Challenge

Coin from the Chief, and it has the Core Values of the department: professionalism , respect, accountability, courtesy, integrity, dignity . A lot of them carry it on duty, that coin, and they can pull it right out of their pocket to remind themselves that these are the core values of the police department of Mount Olive Township.”

Those abided-by and honorable Core Values are: Professionalism: We are committed to the mission of the Mount Olive Police Department. We also realize that each of us is accountable for our actions and we conduct ourselves accordingly.

Respect: We will earn the trust, respect and support of the citizens through active partnership, involvement and service to the community we serve.

Courtesy: We provide service in a courteous, efficient, and accessible manner. We foster community and employee involvement through problem-solving partnerships. Recognizing and responding with sincerity to those in need of our services.

Integrity: We have committed ourselves to elevated standards of trust, responsibility and discipline while promoting justice in a fair and impartial manner.

Dignity: We treat all persons in a dignified manner and exhibit understanding of ethnic and cultural diversity both in our professional and personal endeavors. We guarantee to uphold the principles and values embodied in the Constitution of the United States and the State of New Jersey.

Accountability: We are proud of our profession and will ensure that our members are dedicated, highly trained and capable of handling the daily demands of the law enforcement profession. We promote a collaborative environment for sharing information, resources, assistance and expertise “Every day is different – there’s nothing typical,” adds Carlstrom.

“A new development is the creation of a Traffic Unit beginning January 2021. Traffic Officers William Galop and Andrew Spotts will staff this unit. We hope to add a couple more officers to the unit in the coming years. Traffic crashes are one of our most frequent call for service and traffic complaints, crashes, and engineering issues have continued to grow in frequency. This unit will fall under the Command of the Patrol Division,” says Beecher.

“I started in 1999, I spent a few years on the road,” says Lieutenant Luis Sanchez. “I was then moved into the detective bureau to do some narcotics work, I did some narcotics work for a while, I was placed on loan to the county where I did a few narcotics wires, I came back and finished out the continued on page 102

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continued from page 101 year in 2004 on the road – so I roughly spent about four years on the road – and then I came back into the investigation division in 2005, I was in here as a detective from 2005 to 2012, where I got promoted to Detective Sergeant in 2012 to 2017, and in 2017 got promoted to Detective Lieutenant (of Investigations) in 2017. If you were to do the math, roughly 16 out of 22 years I’ve been in here.”

The Investigations Division consists of two Sergeants and four Detectives. When Sanchez joined the division in 2005, it had seven Detectives, one more than current. “Each Detective is also responsible for an “On-call” week. During this week they are responsible 24 hours a day for any investigations that may arise,” says Sanchez. He also adds, “The Detectives often leave work and make it to their homes, to be called right back to work. They get called out all hours of the night to help assist patrol. It is a demanding aspect of being an investigator.”

“Our detectives have received specialized training in many aspects of investigations. When I started, you were considered a narcotics Detective or a j.v Detective. Now our Detectives have to be highly trained in all aspects”.

Sanchez has developed many skills best used in his position, which he enjoys, but he recognizes that being out on the road is a hard job. “It is a very difficult job, you have to react quickly, you go from one call to the next call to the next call. Here, it takes time. Sometimes investigations last 90 days, 180 days, so I’ve developed a lot of skills that are best used in here. If you were to ask me, I enjoyed the road, but I do prefer this type of work.”

Sanchez states his role as Lieutenant is very different from a detective. “A typical day as far as a detective is concerned is, they come in and have certain responsibilities they have to take care of, as far as reviewing reports from the weekend. Seeing if there is anything that’s been missed or needs immediate follow-up, they have some internal things that we do, we take care of evidence, we take care of found property, seized property, we have a med return kit in the front that we have to check and see if it has to be emptied, so they have those responsibilities that they need to check daily before they get their day started, then they come in and look at whatever cases they have going on, which can range from car burglaries, home burglaries, sex assaults, narcotics, so they have a vast array of things that they constantly need to be looking into. Requesting subpoenas, court orders, canvassing neighborhoods and talking to people, conducting interviews – so their days are full. As you can see there’s no one in the office, they’re out working, following up on things, but they cover a vast array of cases.”

Per Sanchez, drugs are the number one crime that the MOPD deals with. “Two different things. So, our biggest thing, the thing that we encounter the most, unfortunately, is narcotics and narcotics related crimes. What I mean by that is not just the possession of narcotics, but crimes that are fueled in order to buy narcotics, or re fueled in the course of consuming narcotics. So, if you look at the types of crimes that we cover, more often than not are car burglaries, stolen cars, theft of items inside of a car, burglaries of residences, narcotics sales, accidents involving consumption of narcotics, we have to follow that is it’s a fatal accident, and a lot of overdoses. The hurdles we have now is just that everybody has so many more social media accounts, and so many more devices that they use, it’s just more information that’s out there that we have to request more information from.

Where before I could sit across from you and ask a couple questions or request a court order to your bank, to your credit card, and get everything I could about you, now I have so many more companies that own these social media sites

that in order to gather my intelligence and my information is just so much more paperwork for us to do.” “…we’re educating people” Sanchez, who grew up in Warren County and is a Centenary University graduate, states that the MOPD is vigilant in combating drugs. “We put on a program called Hidden in Plain Sight, with a company called Prevention is Key out of Sussex and Morris County. I brought the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, us at a local level, people at the county level, and we went and put on a presentation for parents and educators at the high school as to what to look for – the title of Hidden in Plain Sight — and we staged a room a normal child’s room and told parents what to look for in your child’s room. So, part of that is education, which I think we’ve always done in different manners. It used to be DARE, now its L.E.A.D., but we put on that types of program , so we’re educating people.” The MOPD also offers a program where individuals can come into police headquarters and dispose of illegal controlled substances, no questions asked. “You can come into our station, drop your syringes, your drugs into the box that’s out front. So, we’re trying to put more programs out there for education and turning things in, and then on the back end, obviously it’s always a struggle to try and do the enforcement because there’s never enough officers and never enough time. You start working on a narcotics case and then you get pulled for a burglary, you get pulled for a sex assault, or you get pulled for another reason. So, that is the challenge there, being able to have enough people to investigate the back end. I think that we’re doing well here and what we work hard on is putting out those programs.

We have L.E.A.D. in schools, the med return kit, we’re always working on Prevention is Key and the county to try and put on programs like that.”

Sanchez, who is Spanish, is a translator for the MOPD, which is key. “A good portion of Mount Olive is of Hispanic descent, meaning from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, there’s people from Argentina, Uruguay, so, there’s a good mix of people who speak the Spanish language here. I don’t think I’d be here at this point in my career, in this title or in this position, if it wasn’t for that. I was the first Spanish speaking officer hired in the department. I’m told now that that was a big, big selling point. At that time, there was only maybe one or two officers in Morris County that actually could speak more than one language, and I was one of them, and I was the first here in Mount Olive. Very early on in my career I was very fortunate that then-Chief Mark Spitzer, and previous to him Chief Cotona, recognized that, and they loaned me out to certain towns in Morris County. I worked in Dover in homicide early in my career, also in Hackettstown, Roxbury, so I’ve gotten to work with a lot of agencies which has given me a chance to see a lot of different things, just by virtues of being able to speak and write two different languages.”

“I have learned a great deal from him over the years in what I consider a mentor/protégé relationship” Captain Mike Spitzer is in his 27th year of service to Mount Olive Township. “I was hired on August 3, 1994, graduated the Morris County Police Academy on December 9, 1994, was promoted to Sergeant on November 13, 2001, transferred as a Sergeant into the Communications & Records Division in September 2006, was assigned as the departments 1st Accreditation Manager in December 2010, was promoted to Lieutenant (Communications & Records Division Commander) on September 1, 2011 and was promoted to Captain (Operations Commander) on August 29, 2016.”

Spitzer and Beecher have known each other since day one. Beecher, in fact, was involved with the selection process Spitzer hired from and was one of his FTO’s (Field Training Officers). “I trained with him for over a month and another officer (former Lt. Craig Austenberg) for 2 months after I grad-

LEAD officers Lonnie Elbaum and Michael Russell! Law Enforcement Against Drugs (LEAD) program. Mount Olive officers, instruct the Too Good for Drugs curriculum at all Township elementary schools.

uated the Morris County Police Academy in 1994. I have also worked with and for Chief Beecher my entire career. He has been my direct supervisor as a Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain and as a Chief. I have learned a great deal from him over the years in what I consider a mentor/protégé relationship. I feel like the chief and I work well together. I believe we know each other very well which helps us understand each other’s style, personality, and communication nature. Steve affords me a great deal of autonomy to do my job, which I appreciate a great deal and respect that he seeks my input and opinion on important department matters as well.

According to Spitzer, the Captain is the Operations Commander and tasked with many responsibilities. “I am heavily involved in the department’s budgeting, purchasing, payroll, scheduling, human resources, accreditation, policy, discipline, recruitment and selection, training, professional development among many other functions.” He was also the department’s first Accreditation manager in 2013. “The certification in 2013 was very difficult and required a great deal of work from many but was an extremely rewarding assignment for me. I learned a great deal during the process, and I was very proud to be a part of it. I continue to support our accreditation efforts and am a strong advocate for the accreditation program (NJSACOP LEAP).” “…our people are our greatest resource and have done an excellent job developing relationships within our community…”

Relationships within the community include initiating a Police Chaplain Program in Mount Olive beginning 2021.

Pastor Matt Jones of Mountaintop Church and Rabbi Daniel Zucker of Temple Hatikvah are the initial members.

Spitzer says that the MOPD, and the Township of Mount Olive, are special places to work. “I believe we have worked very hard to recruit and hire the best, most qualified, professional and ethical people (sworn and civilian personnel) here at the Mount Olive Township Police Department. We believe if we hire the right people everything else will fall into place. With that said, our people are our greatest resource and have done an excellent job developing relationships within our community for many years. Chief Beecher has made it a priority that we participate in Community Outreach programs and events such as National Night Out, Coffee with A Cop, Keeping Seniors Safe, L.E.A.D., The Positive Ticket Program, Officer Phil, Operation Chill, CARES, etc. The interactions our personnel have experienced, and the conversations and relationships developed through these engagements has been awesome. I believe MOPD is a special place because we have developed great relationships with our residents, co-workers, and governing body and because we hire great people.”

Captain Spitzer says, “I am very proud to be a member of the MOPD Family and very grateful to work with so many great people currently and in years past.”

Centenary University:

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 103

Educational Heart of the Skylands Region

Centenary Collegiate Institute in 1874

T

he Skylands Region of Northwestern New Jersey is a special place, with rich history and beautiful scenery.

The educational and cultural heart of this remarkable area is Centenary University.

Centenary’s enduring educational tradition spans more than 154 years—just slightly longer than Mount Olive’s—and the two entities have presented boundless opportunities for local residents to lead fulfilling lives. Today, Centenary enrolls many students from Mount Olive, providing important skills and connections for area residents to succeed in today’s rapidly changing world.

“Centenary University offers unparalleled educational opportunities, providing students with experiential learning they wouldn’t get at larger universities,” said Bruce Murphy, Ed.D., who was recently inaugurated as Centenary’s 14th president. “In the last year alone, Centenary students have won an international science competition—besting students from Harvard, Yale, and other leading research institutions—and a statewide history award, earned impressive internships, and have taken part in important research, including collecting and analyzing COVID-19 masking data for the CDC. Centenary has truly emerged as a small university with a national reach.”

Founded in 1867 as a preparatory school by the Newark Conference of the United Methodist Church, Centenary first

evolved into a junior college for women, then a four-year women’s college, and is now an independent, four-year baccalaureate institution. The University now offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, as well as career advancement programs for working professionals through the School of Professional Studies in Parsippany.

The University’s history was so fascinating to Centenary student Sean Graham ’21 that he opted to conduct a four-year study of the motivations of the original founders who lobbied to locate the University in Hackettstown. For this work, presented as his Honors Program capstone project, Graham was recognized with the prestigious Paul A. Stellhorn Undergraduate Paper in History Award by the New Jersey Historical Commission. Noting that the previous year’s winners were from Harvard and Princeton universities, Graham said, “I feel really proud to represent Centenary in such a great way. This University has given a lot to me.”

The opportunity for undergraduates to conduct meaningful research is an integral part of the academic experience at Centenary. Earlier this year, the research and development team from Mars Wrigley worked with nine Centenary seniors in an Analytical Chemistry class to demonstrate how scientific research provides practical solutions for global companies. The project—to analyze the sugar content of a sin-

gle M&M — gave students the opportunity to work on a real-life problem while gaining professional lab experience.

Additional scientific research at the University could have a meaningful impact on the environment of the Skylands Region. Assistant Professor of Biology Amanda Tokash-Peters, Ph.D., and two

Centenary students are currently breaking new ground in studies to halt the spread of the spotted lantern fly, an invasive species that is destroying trees and crops in northwestern New Jersey, while students under the direction of Assistant Professor of Environmental Science Julie LaBar, Ph.D., are continued on page 104

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Centenary University... continued from page 103 examining microplastics in the sediment of the Muscontecong River.

Even during a pandemic, passive learning is not the norm at Centenary. Last fall, Professor of History Raymond Frey, Ph.D., assigned an independent research project to students in his African American History course using the digital archives of the Truman Library in Independence, Mo. Students were asked to analyze original documents to study U.S. President Harry Truman’s call for racial justice in a 1947 speech. “Rather than passive learning through lectures and textbooks, I wanted students to get their hands dirty like real historians, searching through the archives and coming to their own conclusions,” said Dr. Frey.

In the field of Sports and Entertainment Management, Centenary students get hands-on experience with major league

sports franchises in the metropolitan area beginning freshman year. The students shadow professionals in the industry and run events, including a major annual Sports and Entertainment Management Symposium. Centenary graduates go on to work at a host of major and minor league organizations, from the New York Jets and New York Red Bulls, to the Philadelphia Eagles, Portland Trailblazers, New York Yankees, and New York Mets.

At the Centenary University Equestrian Center in Washington Township, the University offers a nationally recognized Equine Studies Program, with outstanding opportunities for students to pursue careers in equine-related fields and graduate degree programs. In fact, the University has achieved a near-perfect record in the past several years for placing students in competitive veterinary schools through

its excellent Equine Studies and Animal Health majors.

While the pandemic has presented educational challenges to universities across the nation and closed many campuses to in-person learning, Centenary has offered on campus learning since the fall 2020 semester. One important initiative was the launch of Centenary Choice, which allows students to attend courses in person, online, or in a HyFlex format combining the two. As a result, Centenary completed its fall semester, as planned, with no interruptions to in-person instruction. This flexibility led to a 17% increase in new students for the fall 2020 semester. Dr. Murphy said, “At a time when students need more support than ever to continue their studies, small colleges have stepped up with enhanced academic programs and personalized support systems.”

Today, Centenary University is building on its rich history to prepare the next generation of students for emerging careers, with new programs of study in medical laboratory science, health science, physical therapy, and other growing fields. In addition, the University is strengthening it partnerships with county colleges to increase educational access, as well as with area businesses and national educational organizations to bring a broader array of professional opportunities to the Skylands Region. Dr. Murphy said, “We’re taking a long-term, institutionalized approach to ensure that Centenary moves forward in a very deliberate way to serve our students while meeting the needs of businesses for well-trained professionals.”

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 105

MOSD Principals Share Secrets of Success

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By Collin Berg ount Olive is a wonderful place to raise children.

An important part of that is the strong public schools in the Mount Olive School District (MOSD). You probably know all about the Marauder Dome and the new stadium seating, but did you know that Mount Olive has been ranked many times as some of the top schools in New Jersey over the years? Much of the credit for these accolades can be given to the principals of the schools.

The principals around the district work tirelessly to help their respective schools. They all do this

VG

a little bit differently, but they all have one goal in mind: to make the students and staff the best they can be and push everyone to do what they are capable of as students, educators, and staff. These humble leaders often attribute their success to those same students, educators, and staff!

Nicole Musarra, principal at Chester M. Stephens School (CMS), has been working in the district for 11 years. Prior to the role she has now she worked as an Instructional Supervisor at Tinc. She explained that the thing she loves about Mount Olive is that they have innovative thinkers

who really prepare the children for challenges they will face in the future.

The Principal of Tinc Road Elementary School, Scott Lipson, has been working in the district for 4 years. When asked about what he loved about working in the MOSD, he provided an answer similar to Musarra: “I like how dedicated and hard-working all of the students and staff are in MO. They all continue to challenge themselves and try to be the best they can be.”

James Kramer, principal of Mount Olive Middle School, former vice-principal of Mount Olive High School, and also a local,

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said that his middle school students are his favorite part of the day. He said, “I am in this for the kids. I enjoy academics, sports and all the things that go with school but I love working with kids. When you are in middle school you haven’t decided you “hate” anything yet. Your mind is open to trying and enjoying school and life. There is always a positive energy when working with kids in middle school.”

However, it is not all work and no play for the MOSD principals. They also love the community surrounding, including the great eats! Kramer said that his favorite MO treat is a slice of pizza from Branda’s.

Kevin Moore, the Mount Olive High School principal (MOHS) also said, “I think behind the scenes, our admin team and support staff like to have fun and laugh.

Despite the stressors of the job and the to-do lists

Nicole Musarra

James Kramer

Scott Lipson

Kevin Moore

that seem to never end, we really enjoy each other’s company and have developed a good chemistry as a team.”

Both Musarra and Lipson noted that it takes a lot of behind-the-scenes work to make a school run

smoothly. Musarra shared that there is thought and preparation into every single decision she and her staff make. It is clear that the district principals are the backbone of their respective schools!

What’s happening in your school or organization?

Celebrating a special birthday, anniversary, graduation?

Have a human interest story or something you would like to share?

Email us at editor@mylifepublications.com

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Page 106 • March 2021 • Mt. Olive Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Meet Your Board of Education Members

I

By SeoYoon Chun f you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people.

This is an old Chinese proverb about the impacts of learning, and education in Mount Olive is demonstrated in no better medium than the Board of Education (BOE). It is a fundamental aspect of our town’s legacy. The BOE is in charge of fiscal policy in the district, which means that it is charged with maintaining a healthy and safe learning environment for students. Board members are elected for three-year terms, and in total, there are nine members.

The BOE is not only charged with creating a safe environment that nurtures growth and education, but it is also charged with creating change and upholding the values of the district.

It is not often that one can find an entity of leadership that truly values people’s opinions before their own, but the MOBOE manages to do just that.

Students and parents can agree on the fact that rarely has the BOE ever fostered attitudes that shut down others. It is a virtue of the Board to listen and represent accordingly to uphold the values that exist within the district’s educational system.

During these tumultuous times, it is easy to lose faith in the institutions that have kept Mount Olive functional. However, the Board of Education is, without a doubt, representative of the voices of struggling students and parents alike. Going to school in a completely alien manner

is hard, but it is entities like the BOE that makes it easier to continue forward, and strive for a better education that will be celebrated again, on the 150th anniversary, and every year onward.

Mount Olive Life reached out to all the members of the MOBOE for a rapid question and answer session to commemorate their involvement during the 150th anniversary of the township.

Dr. Anthony Giordano, Board President How long have you been on the Board? I have been on the Board of Ed since 2007 so 14 years.

What is the most impactful change you have seen the Board of Ed make since you’ve joined? The most impactful change since I joined is seeing how much our curriculum has grown to better help our students, the different experiences students have access to, based on their interests, and how much we have improved our learning environments for students and staff.

How does Mount Olive’s Board of Ed exemplify our district’s values? The MOBOE is unified in a student centered approach to all decisions, which is reflective in our district goals.

We continue to work to provide meaningful opportunities to help all students find their passion in life.

Rhonda Cohen, Board Vice President How long have you been on the Board? I was a member of the Board of Education for 7 years, serving from 2011 through 2018. Last month, I started another 3 year term and am now serving as Vice President of the BOE. What is the most im-

pactful change you have seen the Board of Ed make since you’ve joined? As a member of the board of education, I feel we have made many changes that have impacted the students, staff and the entire Mt Olive community. I feel we as a board have made it a top priority to enhance our academic curriculum throughout all grade levels, and have made it a priority to add new and exciting classes to our high school catalog of courses. By offering the highest level of academic offerings possible, all students are provided programs that inspire learning for college and career readiness. As a result, the students in our district have become more competitive during the college application process and as they continue on into the workforce.

How does Mount Olive’s Board of Ed exemplify our district’s values? The Mt Olive BOE exemplifies our district’s values by ensuring that the schools continue to improve the student experience, building on the social and emotional aspects of our children’s lives, while providing opportunities for staff recognition and development.

Dr. Antoine Gayles How long have you been on the Board? I initially joined the Board in August of 2014 by appointment to fill an unexpired term. In November of 2014, I was elected to my first full term on the Board of Education.

I have served on the Mount Olive Board of Education for six years, and am entering into my third term, having won re-election in the November 3, 2020 election.

What is the most impactful change you have seen

Dr. Anthony Giordano Board President

the Board of Ed make since you’ve joined? Over the years I have seen so many remarkable milestones for our district, that picking one is really tough. But If I had to pick one, I would say that the Board’s support for Visible Learning has made a tremendous impact in our school community.

Through Visible Learning teachers at all grade levels engage students in learning environments that promote problem-finding and problem-solving activities, how to identify resources to solve those problems with the support to take educational risks; and how to embrace failure as a tool for learning, all in an academically safe environment. I feel that, as a result, students are empowered to take a more active role in their educational experience than ever before.

How does Mount Olive’s Board of Ed exemplify our district’s values? When I joined the Mount Olive Board in 2014, I quickly saw the principles that the Board applies when deliberating any recommendation from the Superintendent: 1) Does it benefit kids? and 2) Can we afford it without burdening our taxpayers? These principles are student-driven and community-focused, which keeps us focused on the main objective - providing an exceptional educational experience for

Rhonda Cohen Board Vice President

Dr. Antoine Gayles

Liz Ouimet

William Robinson

Nolan Stevens

Anthony Strillacci

students! In the spirit of the Kindness Matters initiative in our schools, and to exemplify the professionalism that we expect from the district’s personnel, we have also made the commitment to be considerate and respectful of each other, accepting that it’s OK to disagree, even when those disagreements are passionate.

Liz Ouimet How long have you served on the Board of Education? Since April 2009 What is the most impactful change you feel the Board has made since you have joined? Innovative curriculum initiatives and technology resources for all students. We have the

most phenomenal and caring staff that works with all students to see that their potential is always realized and helps them to be successful and thrive.

How does Mount Olive’s Board of Education exemplify our district’s values?

A board member’s responsibility is not to administer the district, but to ensure it is run well. This is done through policy making, governance, and assessment.

As a collaborative board, who are elected officials, our goal is to provide an equitable, high quality education for every student.

There is something for ALL students in Mount Olive to experience, whether it be continued on page 107

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 107

Board of Education Members... continued from page 106 the arts, sciences, athletics, diverse clubs, and many extra curricular activities.

William Robinson How long have you been on the Board? About 35 years ago, I became interested in my children’s education and started going to board meetings. I served on a few parent committees, but two comments that I heard from administration stopped me in my tracks: First, “Gifted and talented is just an ego trip for the parents.” Secondly, “computers are a passing fancy”. I am in my 31st year on the BOE. What is the most impactful change you have seen the Board of Ed make since you’ve joined? Through the years the board became more knowledgeable about the happenings in school and tried to relate

it more to what a student would face in college or the possibilities available for the future. About 25 years ago a wood shop teacher, Bill McGowan, started a competitive robotics club.

It was one of the first in the US. The BOE agreed that it was a great idea and brought it into the curriculum. Since then, there have been a myriad of upgrades and changes.

What evolved was a culture of pride by the staff in their achievements when they were able to go in new directions. Science was at the forefront but the arts which had always been a focus was allowed to blossom under the tutelage of an incredible staff. By focusing on students the BOE came to realize the capabilities of all of our students and passed down from the high school to the middle

school and eventually to the elementary schools more and more learning possibilities. As of about five years ago we began to rise through the ranks of better school systems.

We were even nationally ranked. The difference was that many BOE members were acutely aware of what was going on in the schools and trusted our administrators in spreading opportunities to all of our students and not just the few. We welcome all Mt. Olive students regardless of their race or religion.

How does Mount Olive’s Board of Ed exemplify our district’s values? Our town has become much more diverse, but I feel, personally, that we should always hire the best candidate that applies. We are expanding our search area beyond the usual channels to get

a more diverse applicant pool.

Nolan Stevens How long have you been on the Board? My family has been a part of Mount Olive since the beginning. I myself am the seventh generation of Stephens. I have completed my first year in my 3 year term on the Board of Education.

What is the most impactful change you have seen the Board of Ed make since you’ve joined? I feel the most impactful change since I have joined the board is putting attention to agriculture programs.

I am very proud of the board and superintendent to bring a geo-dome and bring more programs such as farm to table into the district.

How does Mount Olive’s Board of Ed exemplify our district’s values? I feel

the Board of Education exemplifies our district’s values by always looking for what’s next. We always aim to add more programs that benefit everyone in each of their own futures. As I feel, from every student, to teacher, to faculty, to administration, we are constantly widening our ideas to bring to Mount Olive.

Anthony Strillacci How long have you been on the Board? I am in my 29th year of a rewarding service to our children and our community.

What is the most impactful change you have seen the Board of Ed make since you’ve joined? Over the last 50 years, our school district went from 2 antiquated K-8 schools with 700 students to K-12 schools with 4600 students. We have been a leader in many areas such

as Robotics, TV production, Sound Recording Studio,and a Makerspace to produce inventions. We also provide a diverse and world relevant curriculum including a concentration on Biomedics for one.

How does Mount Olive’s Board of Ed exemplify our district’s values? With the town’s assistance we have been able to erect state of the art facilities and provide the equipment for a High School, Middle School, and four Elementary Schools. We also maintain our own 33 Bus and 17 Van fleet. Most of all we continue to look forward as to how we can deliver the best education for our students. I have been involved in many projects but, if I had to pick one, it would be full day Kindergarten of which I championed for twenty years.

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Page 108 • March 2021 • Mt. Olive Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Spotlight on Our Scouts

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By Jacqueline McGarry ount Olive’s 150-year-old history has allowed generations of town citizens to become involved in extraordinary community events. From academic to athletic functions, there is something for everyone in our town, Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts are just two of them.

Our town is lucky enough to encounter many hard-working and dedicated troops.

Mount Olive, as well as most neighboring towns in Morris County are a part of Boy Scouts of America’s Black River District. The earliest troop, Troop 156, in Mount Olive to be recorded has existed for fifty years, chartering out of Flanders United Methodist Church. Troops to take the latter include Troop 312, formed in 1981 in the Flanders Fire Department, and Troop 249, chartered in Saint Jude Roman Catholic Church in 1980.

With fifty-four total members among these three troops spread across town, there may be community service being done right in your backyard.

Peter Huber, eleventh grader at Mount Olive High School, spoke about his experiences as a scout: “I’ve been a boy scout since fifth grade...Boy Scouts is special to me because it’s given me new opportunities and has taught me a lot. This past year I was S.P.L. (unit leader) so that made me know

what it would be like to be a teacher.” While being a Boy Scout may seem like all fun and games, there is more to it than what meets the eye. Huber elaborated on this. “Some requirements for lower ranks include skills like ropes, map, and handling a compass. For higher ranks, you must take on leadership and service based projects, and have a leader role for six months.” With mission trips and valuable life skills under his belt, it is safe to say that being a Boy Scout is very beneficial. Discipline, honor, and merit are few of the many terms to describe this program.

Along with Peter Huber, Mount Olive High School student Anthony Rocco had similar thoughts to share. “I’ve been a Cub Scout since 1st grade, then at the end of 5th grade I crossed the bridge to boy scouts. I’ve been a Boy Scout for 7 years…(and at the age of) 18, you age out. I turned 18 this past August, so since then I’ve been a junior assistant scoutmaster.” Rocco continued with some of the highlights he has experienced through his time with Boy Scouts of America. “Boy Scouts is special and unlike any other youth program. Also all the opportunities Scouts provide such as Philmont, a high-adventure trip where we hiked 100+ miles across three states; Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona carrying our own food and water and gear for two weeks.” Rocco said that scouts has

introduced him to new experiences and new people. “I’ve met a ton of new people (and made) connections that I will definitely be sure to utilize in the future. Scouts has also given me the opportunity to lead as well as teach leadership and all the skills that go with it.”

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Scouting in Mount Olive also includes Girl Scout troops. Mount Olive is a part of the Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey District.

Gabriella Harmon, a student at Mount Olive High School and a Girl Scout for 10 years, said that scouting helped her become a leadcontinued on page 109

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 109

Scouts...

continued from page 108 er and a team player. Harmon has earned a Silver award in Girl Scouts and is currently working on her Gold award. “Being a Girl Scout is an opportunity to take authority in helping others, and expanding my comfort zone in order to learn more about the world and people around me, and how I can make a difference in the lives of others. Feeling good while making a difference is eye opening to the extent that just one person can make so much difference,” said Harmon. She also reported that the Girl Scouts provide service to the community in many ways, such as

“planting flowers at Sandshore School, going Christmas caroling to the elderly at Paragon Village to brighten their Christmastime, picking up trash in the woods of River Road, organizing with the local food pantry, hosting a tea party for young girl scouts, babysitting for children while their parents participated in a school event, helping out at a family fun night at a local school, and so many more throughout the years.” She also said, “One of my favorite projects would have to be the yearly International Night. During International Night, every troop participating chooses a country to present culture

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and other aspect of their chosen country to share with their fellow troops, even sampling food from different countries. This is a great way for children of any age to become aware of different countries and people who are different than us. Being culturally aware and accepting and considerate of all people is an important Girl Scout value, and learning about these countries triggers interest to learn about others and their cultures.”

While young scouts are the backbone to the troops offered in town, it all starts with adults who are eager to teach and share their past experiences with others. Someone who has fulfilled this includes Archer Jones, a man who has taken on multiple leadership roles since starting this journey with his son. “I began scouting in Mount Olive with Pack 47 which is run out of Mountain View School in Flanders. The Pack is 52 years old and currently has 20 scouts registered with it. I then joined Troop 156 which is run out of the Flanders United Methodist Church.

The troop was founded in 1970 and currently has 28 Scouts registered with it. In 2015 we chartered a Venture Crew out of the Flanders United Methodist Church which is a high adventure unit for older scouts. Last year we chartered a Sea Scout Ship in partnership with the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. The ship has 20 members and is still growing.” Jones also “served as the Cubmaster of the Pack for 4 years and was the Den Leader for all 5 years my son was in the unit. I was an Assistant Scoutmaster for the Troop for 2 years and then the Scoutmaster for 5 years and now I am an Assistant Scoutmaster again. I serve as an Associate Advisor for the crew and a Mate for the Ship. I also serve as the Council Commissioner and as a Chapter Advisor for the Order of the Arrow (Scouting’s National Honor Society).” Jones says that the Scouts are what keep him so involved. He said, “In all the leadership roles I serve in and have served in it is about watching the Scouts grow both physically

and mentally.” Jones has been incredibly involved throughout the years, providing service to the community with the Boy Scouts.

Jones also spoke about defining moments he endured, as well as how the youth of Mount Olive’s community can benefit from joining this program. “The scouts that joined my group in first grade were very special to me because they were all classmates with my son. To see the boys grow and evolve from little boys to young men was so impactful on my life just as I made a huge impact on their lives. I was so proud of each and every one of them when they earned their Eagle Scout award and to see the group graduate with all 7 classmates as Eagle Scouts was when I knew I had done a good job as their leader. I am happy to say that the scouts still hang together today as well as the parents of the scouts.” Jones also said that more girls are joining the Boy Scouts, “I am (also) so proud to say we have 7 girls being elevated to Eagle Scout from our Council which is the most in the State. I feel the Scouting movement is a positive experience for all who join the program. It is a program that serves both boys and girls and teaches them life skills that they can use for the rest of their life. I know that adults that get involved in the program have just as many positive experiences as their child does. Being a leader provided me the opportunity to have so many positive and worldly experiences with my son and his friends that I will have for the rest of my life.” Family and friends can bond in more ways than one. With over fifty years of Boy Scouts history roaming through our town, and many citizens coming forward about their accomplishments, everyone can take a piece of information away from a local scout.

Having a community of young people who are passionate about their service is what this township stands for. Mount Olive is incredibly proud of their scouts, who make the community better one day at a time!

Page 110 • March 2021 • Mt. Olive Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce:

Y

A Great History of Service Continues

By Steve Sears ou might assume, when you pose the question to second-year President and co-owner of Jersey Girl Brewing Company, Chuck Aaron, regarding the 2020 overview of the Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce, that his response might be somewhat chagrined - based on COVID19, of course.

Assume again. “I thought it was a great, great year for us as a Chamber,” he says. “Because we were in the midst of a lot of change going into 2020, with the reduction of events. We went from five events per month to two events per month.” Also, when the pandemic hit, the group reacted quickly. Events weren’t canceled except if necessary but were held virtually instead. Only the March 10th annual “Business Builders Workshop” event was held in person.

“We had to set an example,” says Aaron. “Business continues no matter what. It may not look the same, it may not feel the same, but it will continue.”

Then there is the membership number, which took a backward slide. The MOACOC wasn’t and isn’t deterred.

“We’re looking for our engaged members,” Aaron says. “I think the ease of getting numbers is not as beneficial to the Chamber as getting members who come out to our meetings, who come and get engaged. The only thing I want to say is we want quality over quantity now.”

The MOACOC had its beginning in 1954, when it was initially known as the Budd Lake Chamber of Commerce and Vernon Geary served as organizational lead. He asked around the area to see if there were any businesses who would be interested in joining a local Chamber of Commerce. After a healthy response, the first meeting was held at the home of Dr. John Alcamo, and from there on meetings were held at the township municipal building. The group became known as the Mount Olive Businessmen’s Association (1955-1979), Mount Olive Businessmen’s Association and Chamber of Commerce (1972 and 1972), Mount Olive Chamber of Commerce (1973-1982) and has lived by its current name since 1983. “It’s been a constant,” says Aaron. “The Hackettstown area, coming over to become part of the Mount Olive Chamber, only creates a stronger community. The beauty is if you look at the mayors of each of the towns, they traditionally all communicated well together, worked well together. More recently, even with our ‘Breakfast with the Mayors,’ we started to incorporate the Mayor of Washington Township as part of our community, because we have members now that exist in Long Valley, in his backyard. And it’s important to have him at the table when we’re talking. So, with Mount Olive, Hackettstown, and Washington Township, we are now truly a community of Chamber members, a community of businesses.”

Per Aaron, the 66-year Chamber longevity shows the strength and the need for that community of businesses to exist. “It’s been something that started very small. Back then, the area wasn’t well developed. If you look back, even as far back as the 80s when I used to come through the area as a Boy Scout – I used to go camping in Allamuchy – this area was all farmland. There wasn’t a lot of residential, there wasn’t a tremendous amount of business.” The International Trade Zone development changed things.

“Then the business real estate started developing and home real estate started expanding, people were setting up their homes, and communities started to build. And the

importance of the Chamber, much like the Economic Development Group that exists and the Hackettstown BID group that exists, is an important element to business. It’s the foundation of these communities, and it’s tremendous tax revenue for the town. It’s important for the businesses to have a community of businesses where you can get together and understand each other; understand what we’re each trying to do, and what our goals are within our businesses, and find those opportunities to work together.”

In addition to Aaron, the rest of the Board is as follows.

Patrice Schaffer (navitend) is Vice President; Claudia Ehrgott (Graphic Image Inc.) is Secretary; Patricia Singer (Follow Me Social Media Consulting) is Corresponding Secretary; Brian Ko (Nisivoccia LLP) serves as Treasurer. Trustees include Glenn Ehrgott (Performance Trailers Inc.), Larry McEntee (HomeTeam Inspection Service), Matthew Czigler (Czig Meister Brewing), Harry Browne (who served as the previous Chamber President, One Legacy Financial Group, LLC), Craig Hanlon (Hanlon Insurance Agency), Manny Rizzuto II (NJ Lenders Corp.), and William Lockwood (The Padded Wagon).

Aaron and Mike Bigger founded Jersey Girl Brewing Company in 2014 and joined the MOACOC immediately.

The brewery is located in Hackettstown just beyond Route

46, one of the major arteries that runs through the area. “I think the importance of the last 60 years is, if you look at business growth in the area, you continue to see new properties, new businesses open up on major roads,” he says. In addition to the before mentioned Route 46, Routes 80 and 206 run right through town, and Routes 57 and 517 are a prominent part of Hackettstown. Routes 10, 15, 183, 287 are also nearby. “The amount of traffic you can get through the area is tremendous. You get a lot of pasture from 80 to Hackettstown down 46. With 206 you get that connection between Somerville and 80 that cuts through. And so many cars go up and down there, so having a business along those arteries is really, really an important element to the success of the town.”

And as the goal of continuing to engage current members is met, replenishment of the MOACOC membership base will happen over time. “I think that’s what this year is about,” states Aaron. “We couldn’t do it all in one year, especially with COVID when it hit. It’s hard to go out and market a program, bringing in new members when you’re saying, ‘Unfortunately we’re going to all be virtual for a while and come join us anyway.’ People just want that faceto-face networking opportunity.” There is a refined plan continued on page 111

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Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce... continued from page 110 in place. “We just put together our annual event planning document for all of the events of the year. We have some great sponsors that support the Chamber. So now we’re going to start our goal for this year, expansion. It’s growth, it’s engagement. If you look for a way of describing this year, we need to start engaging more businesses.” According to Aaron, there are many local businesses that don’t know the benefits of the group, nor do they know how to join. The MOACOC has an arsenal of radio, print, and direct mail this year to educate about and encourage prospective members. “We need to reach out more proactively and directly to those businesses to talk to them about the Chamber and encourage them to join.”

Also, another key is that the group is now back in to holding indoor events. “I call them blended events,” Aaron says. “We’re transitioning back to face-to-face meetings.

For example, we had our ‘Marketing the Morning’ meeting last Wednesday, and that meeting was both in person and virtual. So, if you’re a business owner and you say, ‘I don’t want to risk being around other people, where I could get sick or I could have a problem,’ it’s an option. But you know what? We had 10 or 11 people show up face-to-face and the rest were virtual - and we had just as many virtual – and we set it up with a laptop and a screen so you can see people on Zoom, they can see the room of people, and we all socially distanced.” Of course, there are some requirements per locations. “We have to pick a location where we can meet the standards for separation.” The Board still meets virtually but will meet face-to-face if necessary.

“The job of the Chamber,” says Aaron succinctly, “is to give businesses the best opportunity to succeed in our community. That’s really what it comes down to.”

For more information, visit mountolivechambernj.com.

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The Kiwanis Club of Mount Olive Reaches Out to the Community

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By Henry M. Holden he Kiwanis Club is a global volunteer organization that annually raises more than $100 million and dedicates more than 18 million service hours a year to help children.

The Kiwanis Club of Mt. Olive (KCMO) is one of thousands of clubs in the United States with those same objectives.

Since 1995, the Kiwanis Club of Mt. Olive has been responding to the needs of the community through charitable contributions and donations of time and talent. Members are empowered to pursue projects that fill needs in the community.

Kiwanis Club of Mount Olive sponsors a Key Club at the Mount Olive High School. The Key Club is a student-led service organization and has over 200 members and is active within the Mount Olive community.

Kiwanis Club of Mount Olive is always looking for new members and future leaders.

“I was looking for a way to get back into volunteering,” said Heidi Caruso, current president of Kiwanis of Mount Olive. “I had reached a point in my life where I wanted to get more involved with the Mount Olive community, more than just as a resident and a parent. I reached out to a friend on the Town Council and told him exactly what I needed; some connections and what direction I should go in looking for a good fit. After some research I found Kiwanis was on the top of my list.

“I went to a meeting and found this amazing fit for myself and in doing so became a member. I have been a member for a couple of years now.

“Rich Moore, the immediate past president of Kiwanis of Mount Olive, talked with me about stepping up in the organization and I felt it was really just the right time. I was elected president, in October of last year and it really felt like it was the right time to do this.”

But Caruso faced the challenge of Covid. “It has been an overarching challenge for everyone,” Caruso said.

“For us to just continue as a club during the pandemic, we needed to focus on fundraising. From March of last year until now we lost a lot of opportunities. The fundraising we do are all large public fair types. There is the 4-H Club, and the Community Fair that we did the year before.

We were also not able to do the Mount Olive Community Day either.

“So, we lost thousands of dollars as a club and we had to find other ways to market ourselves and for us to raise money. One way we found was to pair our social media together. We started using our social media platforms (Instagram and Facebook) and just connecting with our Key Club members from high school. We started looking for opportunities where we could continue to help the community to outsource stuff. So, we did a tree planting day.”

“We had volunteers from the community and about 40 kids from the Key Club show up to help plant trees near the south Raritan River and the community garden.

It was an educational day and a day to get some native trees planted back in our community. We were looking to do anything like that because we are really focused on community support and our Key Club is one of our service

President Installation night: Back row: NJ Division 9 Lt. Governor Frank Cahill, Treasurer, Kyle Ropp, Front row; Member, Pat Ryan, President, Heidi Caruso, Secretary, Mary Fahy, Member, Kelly Moore, Immediate Past President, Richard Moore, Member, Brian Ropp.

(Courtesy Heidi Caruso)

leadership projects.”

The Key Club hosts events and service projects for members of the Mount Olive Community. Some of their current projects include: Annual Easter Egg Hunt for the children of Mt. Olive, Safe Trick or Treat event at Mt. Olive High School, Food drives for the Mt. Olive Food Pantry, and the Senior Citizen Prom at the Senior Center.

“Our mission is still to sponsor the Key Club in the high school and assisting with any fundraisers that they want to do. Any opportunities that we can find through our organization, we like to have the students working side-byside. That is really our mission, because we are mentors for the youth in our community and that’s the goal of Kiwanis.”

The money lost because of the Covid restrictions is lost forever so now the organization is looking for grants.

“We have a foundation that is part of our particular club, the Kiwanis Club of Mount Olive Township Foundation Inc., which is a registered 501(c)3 public charity, meaning your contribution (but not your membership fees) will be tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. That is where a lot of our fundraising money goes, into the Foundation, and we give that money back to the community through scholarships for our people’s endeavors or high schoolers who are graduating and going off to college. We also donate a lot to the pantry. We try to provide opportunities.”

“We are in the process of raising funds to charter a Builders Club at the Mt. Olive Middle School. Like the Key Club, the Builders Club is the largest service organization for middle school and junior high students, with more than 45,000 members worldwide.

“We have had Scouts come to us and present their projects whether they be Eagle Scout projects or other projects. We try to provide opportunities for the youth

in the community to get involved in a project and if they need money for that we can provide the money.”

“We are working extremely hard at engaging the community, to increase our membership, and to provide more opportunities for our youth to have more mentors from our organization, and for us to continue to fund raise for organizations or the needs of our community.

The Kiwanis is best known for their signature projects.

KCMO supports the local pantry in Mount Olive with regular food donation sites to support the Food Pantry. Food is picked up from 18 non-perishable food donation locations at businesses around Mount Olive. All proceeds go directly to benefit the Mt. Olive Pantry, at Christ Episcopal Church. A list of locations is on the website.

The signature projects are a win for business because when a business sponsors a bucket (of food) KCMO puts out press releases to let everyone know where the food is coming from, and the business’ locations. The business gets free advertising because their location is in the press release. It could draw people to their establishment looking for a place to drop off food, or buy their product or service.

Although serving local communities is their focus, on an International level, Kiwanis’ is part of a global campaign for children, called “The Eliminate Project”. It is Kiwanis’ aim to eliminate maternal/neonatal tetanus. Its goal is to raise $110 million and save the lives of a 129 million mothers and their future babies. In partnership with UNICEF, Kiwanis is committing to eliminating a disease that kills one baby every nine minutes.

Becoming a member of Kiwanis offers great opportunities to get involved in your community, networking and socializing with others, all while making a difference in the lives of children, and those in need. For more information contact Kiwanis Club of Mt. Olive www.mtolivekiwanis.org.

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30 Years of Dance Arts and Appreciation at Theater Dance Center

Mary Ellen Volz and Millene Michele with Suzette Mazzola 1991.

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By Megan Roche tarted in 1991, Millene Michele and Mary Ellen Volz taught classes out of the Flanders Knights of Columbus. Now in their 6,000 square foot state of the art facility, they celebrate 30 years.

“Our staff is our family, our clients are our pride and joy. We created a place where dancers can train to be well rounded performers in a positive and welcoming environment,” the duo shared.

In the business of training dancers, Michele and Volz have inspired decades of dancers who have truly found a home at Theater Dance Center. For both Michele and Volz, they have always wanted their dancers to feel accepted and loved, no matter how long they’ve been a student at TDC. “We are a safe and healthy place to dance, where friends become family and dance becomes your passion,” the duo say.

The studio offers dance training beginning at age 2 ½.

With classes available in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, musical theater, and hip hop, there is something for everyone. Adults can even take classes with the adult stretch and tone class.

“Our experienced and caring staff have been part of the Mount Olive community for 30 years,” the duo shared.

Of course, the studio also offers competitive and pre-professional programs for those dancers that may want

to continue dance well beyond their teen years.

Theater Dance Center is located at 230 US 206, Suite 403 in Flanders. They are open Monday through Thursday from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Friday’s from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, and Saturday’s from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM. For more information on Theater Dance Center, visit www.theaterdancecenter.com or email dance@theaterdancecenter.com.

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The After Charbroil and Ice Cream Parlor Celebrates Over 50 Years in Mount Olive

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By Steve Sears he After Charbroil and Ice Cream Parlor, which celebrated 50 years in Mount Olive on July 1, 2020, is well into its second half century of great food and service.

Founder John Davis says, “If you haven’t

been to The After, you should try it.” You can. The After is open 7 days a week, 6: 00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. in the summer, 6:00 a.m.

– 10:00 p.m. in the fall, winter, and spring.

Davis recalls as a teenager going down the shore after work to a drive-in place where they had carhops. “And I was think-

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ing, ‘Boy, this guy’s making a good crowd.’ It stuck in my mind.” However, he got married, he and his late wife Rosalie had three children, and he initially was in the dry-cleaning and laundry business with his sister and brother-in-law. “That wasn’t working out so well, so I said, ‘I’m going to try and open up a restaurant.’”

He was directed by a real estate agent to a piece of property for sale on Route 206. He borrowed $100 from his dad, and the land was held for six months. His dad was still unsure of the venture, but his mom said, “Do it, do it…you can do it.”

Buttressed by his mom’s encouragement, as well as learning that Routes 80 and 287 would soon be open nearby, he envisioned a future flourishing area. “That’s when I made up my mind and said, ‘Okay, I’ve got to do this.’”

The name for the restaurant came from a Hackettstown photographer, Brooke Hersh, for whom Davis had done some electrical work and had mentioned to him his restaurant “dream.” “In the middle of the night one night, about 2:30 - 3:00 in the morning, my phone rang. I answered the phone and he (Hersh) said, ‘The After.’ I said, ‘What are you talking about, ‘The After?’ He said, ‘Your restaurant, call it ‘The After.’ I asked why, and he said, ‘Well, you’re looking for a name. Call it ‘The After’ – after the movies, after the ballgame…’”

Mount Olive’s newest food spot had a name, and ground was broken in the early spring of 1969.

“He can talk all day,” says Davis’s daughter, Gina, about her dad. She’s been working at The After since 1990, and she and her husband, Jim, work alongside her dad

and a number of employees that have been at The After for decades. “A few of my employees (Jay Hicks, Robin Wenzel and Joe Butrymowicz) have been with my dad since before me and they’re still here,” she says.

Rosalie Davis passed away in 2018, but her memory lives on. She and John were married for 62 years. “She did all my bookwork; she backed me up all the way,” says Davis. “She used to make my meatballs to take to the restaurant. She worked there with me a couple of weeks or a month or so (early on) and I said, ‘This isn’t going to work.’ We had three little children (Johnny, Danny, and Gina).” Johnny and Danny worked for a while at The After but left for other careers, but Gina, who has a dental hygienist background, came back to work at the restaurant. “She’s the quiet one in the family. But she’s very good – she’s fantastic.”

Davis spotlights “The Big A Basket”, which is five different menu items under an individual letter in A.F.T.E.R. For example, the “A” is four pieces of honey dipped fried chicken with French fries and cole slaw for $10.95, the “F” shrimp with fries and slaw for $8.50. A ¼ pound burger, 5-ounce rib sandwich, and veal steak sandwich are the T. E. R. offerings. Davis also cites wraps, veal parmigiana, and the previously mentioned homemade meatballs. “They’re great,” says Davis. “I still have my mother’s recipe from back in the 50s.” And yes, soft and hard (30 different flavors of) ice cream is a huge favorite.

The entire menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner items can be viewed at www.theaftergrill.com.

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Mount Olive EMS – Forever Ready

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By Steve Sears here’s something to be said about working a grueling full-time job and pairing that with everyday concerns about running your household raising a family. Then, kick in being a volunteer, and that volunteer time engaging your sleeping hours and weekend free time and family activities, and you might wonder why anyone would do it.

Perhaps these words will suffice. “We certainly are not volunteering to get rich; we do it because we love the idea of helping our neighbors.”

Those are the words of Cassandra Issler, former Captain of the Budd Lake side of the Township of Mount Olive EMS squad. The former Flanders Captain, Melissa Widzemok, echoes her words: “For volunteers, it’s also giving back to the community.”

Issler and Widzemok have both passed their Captain’s hats and titles respectively to Quincy I. Jackson and Todd Summer, but the heartfelt words from both women still resonate. This will give you just an inkling of how caring the EMS folks serving the township’s roughly 33,000 residents, and even folks beyond Mount Olive borders, truly are.

The Township of Mount Olive Emergency Medical Services (EMS), sometimes referred to as “rescue squad” and “first aid squad” as well, cover a vast area. The Budd Lake EMS, located on busy Route 46, covers the northern section of Mount Olive, while Flanders, which can be found on sleepy Main Street [a]just seconds from bustling Route 206, serves Mount Olive’s southern section. The total area of coverage is roughly 33 square miles.

That’s a lot of area. They spend a lot of hours performing necessary, vital functions.

Yes, much like the Mount Olive police and fire departments, they are ever ready to respond to calls and serve.

Mount Olive Life in 2019 visited with EMS on both sides of town, and communicated with then EMS Director, the late Fred Detoro, and how they articulated what they do and the emotion and value they place in volunteering and service is well worth reading. In this article we also revisit both units circa 2021.

It’s a great, behind-the-scenes experience.

Two EMS departments for the township “Each EMS Department was started separately,” said Detoro, who acted as the liaison to the Mayor and Administrator prior to his passing in June 2019. In July of 2019. Mark Dombrowski was appointed to the position of Director of Fire and EMS by Mayor Rob Greenbaum. Flanders came first, starting a rescue squad in 1940, and then joined forces with the Fire Department as a tandem in 1950. Budd Lake was born in 1954. Detoro also streamlined the budget process into a

single budget which help the entire Emergency Services eliminate redundancies and pools resources.

“EMS in the township have two different EMS departments,” Detoro said. “This two-department system was originally developed to meet the needs of the two major areas of the township. In the 50’s, Budd Lake was vastly different than Flanders. The organizers in Budd Lake started a separate organization outside of the Fire Department to focus on EMS and Rescue. Flanders organizers decided to attach themselves to the Flanders Fire Department which enabled them to share the same building and manpower.

Today the two departments work well together as if they were one department.”

Dombrowski, who has lived in Mount Olive for 35 years, has been married for 39 years and has 3 children and 6 grandchildren. EMS Has been a part of his life since the late 1970s. “I started as a fireman in Lincoln Park,” he says. “After returning from the United States Army, I started my career with the Morris County Sheriff’s Department.”

While there, he was tasked with putting together and getting up and running the Morris County HazMat team. “I was certified as a second level hazmat technician. We were also in charge of conducting all Hazmat complaints in Morris County. I was also a member of the Sheriff’s dive team during my career.” Dombrowski volunteered as well for the Parsippany Rescue and Recovery Team, a Heavy Rescue and under water recovery unit.

“After I retired from the Sheriff’s Department,” he continues, “I took some time off from the volunteer squads until I became an EMT with the Budd Lake Rescue Squad about six years ago. Now I’m the oldest of three generations of EMT’s that are proudly serving there.”

The little sibling Per Issler, EMS in general is the “little brother or sister to the police and fire departments.” “We don’t have the centuries old traditions of these venerable establishments. Ours is a newer service, spawned in the wake of World War One.” The history, the development of both EMS squads, is an interesting one.

Budd Lake First Aid Squad was formed in 1954 by eight township residents. The group held their initial meetings in the municipal building and began to take lessons on first aid from Dr. John Alcamo. Once proficient in first aid application, EMS in Budd Lake was ready to go.

The first ambulance was a 1937 LaSalle ambulance donated by Morgan Funeral Home in Netcong. The original squad was all volunteer and self-funded. Door-to-door campaigns for funds, sponsored raffles, circuses, and other activities garnered the equipment to outfit the ambulance. They

then requested and gladly from the township the official okay to form the squad.

They purchased their second ambulance in 1956, a 1953 Cadillac. “Originally, EMS was housed, depending on the jurisdiction in question, under fire departments, under hospitals, and (rather morbidly) under funeral homes,” says Issler. “These early organizations often had little training outside of very basic first aid. This coincided with the time when “house calls,” as made by physicians, became increasingly rare – necessitating someone to transport a sick or injured person to a hospital. The EMS organizations that formed helped to fill this gap. Some of those organizations, as mentioned, were housed as a separate company under fire departments, with the company officer holding the rank of Captain. While the rank is currently equivalent to that of a fire department’s Chief, independent EMS organizations (those not affiliated with another emergency service agency) use the rank of Captain as a way of honoring this progeny. This can cause some confusion, especially among younger individuals.”

In 1957 the squad bought a 1957 panel truck for $1,000.00, painting it and laying out floors, installing cabinets, and buying first aid equipment . The truck was used as an ambulance, while the regular ambulance was used for transporting and general emergencies.

Budd Lake EMS realized as the decade closed that they needed their own headquarters of their own. In September 1959, the 14-member squad started a threemonth building job which evolved into new

headquarters worth $45,000.00.

An increase in population meant an increase in roadways and highways, which meant an increase in vehicles and accidents.

Issler continues. “It was not until the 1960s, when the creation of highways led to an increase in morbidity and mortality among motorists, that the Federal government got involved and, under the Department of Transportation, created the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. EMS, as it stands today, is a direct descendent of these programs – so it is entirely fitting that we also perform motor vehicle extrication, in addition to providing prehospital emergency care. The US Department of Transportation is the agency that sets the curricula for EMS programs, which the State Department of Health modifies to conform with the State’s needs. Created later in the 1970s, the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians was formed as an independent body that provides a nationally recognized EMT certification. This is kind of neat because we have some members who remember when the EMT certification was the “new” thing, while it is something others among us grew up with.”

Budd Lake EMS currently has 52 active members.

Flanders EMS celebrated 70 years in 2020.

Flanders EMS is located on the village’s main thoroughfare, Main Street, right near where Detoro grew up. Flanders Fire Company No. 1 and EMS share a building as a joint department. If needed, Flanders EMS will travel to the Budd Lake side of town, Roxbury, and continued on page 117

Mount Olive EMS...

continued from page 116 Chester and Hackettstown if needed. Also, Stanhope and Netcong and Randolph are other spots, and they’ll go mutually with any of the paid services if they need backup during the day. As for the Flanders portion of town. It’s a busy town, they have Routes 46, 80, 183, and 206 covered.

Randolph Township in 1950 donated an ambulance, known as a “cheesebox” due to its shape, to Flanders. This was replaced in 1951 by a 1949 Studebaker, which in turn was replaced by a blue Cadillac in 1958.

Who they are and what they do Summer, the current Flanders EMS Captain, is in his 10th year with the department. He has also served four years as a fire Lieutenant, and three years as an EMS Lieutenant. This is his first year as Captain, and his 1st Lieutenant is Megan Pfefferkorn, and 2nd Lieutenants are Josh Heyman and Alec Staszak. “Having both Fire and EMS under one roof is very helpful,” says Summer.

“By having everyone together, it helps with training, response, and overall patient care.”

The mission statement, courtesy of the website, reads: “The Rescue Squad has the responsibility of keeping up with all Federal, State, and local laws, procedures, and policies that oversee the Emergencies Medical Service. The Rescue Squad also has the duty to maintain the Ambulances and all other equipment used to protect the lives and property of the Flanders residents as well as

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those who live around our town. The Rescue Squad is also responsible for attaining the best possible equipment and the continuous training of our members – both for their safety and the safety of all whom we protect.”

The squad currently has 45 active members. “EMS respond to many types of calls, and they vary from a simple well person check to CPR,” explains Summer. “We also answer calls for simple lift assists to motor vehicle crashes with entrapment, and we also respond to traumatic injuries, childbirth, and psych calls.”

“The Budd Lake First Aid and Rescue Squad covers an area of roughly half of the Town’s approximate 31 square miles,” says Issler. This coverage area includes Mount Olive’s boarders with Hackettstown, Washington, Byram, and Netcong. “We share coverage of the township with our sister company, Flanders Fire and Rescue. While our time is spent primarily responding to emergencies within Budd Lake, we assist Flanders when they need an extra set of hands. We have a great relationship with Flanders. During fires we assume roles for them so that they can focus on firefighting operations, and they are always ready to have our backs when we need it. I am very happy of the great relationship we have built with them! In addition to occasionally lending a hand to Flanders, we also will respond to the townships that surround us when requested and we assist

in responding to areas under the jurisdiction of the State, such as Route 80 and the surrounding State parks. Despite this, however, our primary concern is ensuring that the residents of Mount Olive Township receive the top-notch prehospital care they deserve.”

The Budd Lake First Aid and Rescue Squad is a separate entity under the Township’s Charter, and therefore has its own building, which is located on the Route 46 East side of Budd Lake. “I believe that this is beneficial in that we are able to focus on the emergency medical needs of our residents, much like the police department focuses on law enforcement – rather than dabbling in multiple, diffuse missions for which they are neither trained nor proficient. As a result, both departments are able to “stay in their own lane” and provide the services required of them, while working together in mutually beneficial ways for our community.” And while the mission and Budd Lake’s leadership are focused on what the emergency medical needs of the community are, it doesn’t mean that the combined approach, such as that used by Flanders Fire and Rescue, is the wrong way to go. “Certainly, they make it work and they do it well,” attests Issler. “But it is worth noting that the benefit for our organization is evident when there is a fire in town. Everyone wants to ride the big, red truck and put the fire out; it is far less sexy to be the person trying to ensure the firefighters are healthy enough to keep

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battling the fire, to ensure they are hydrated, and to be the guy or gal who has to tell the firefighter, ‘No you can’t go back into the fire, your blood pressure is through the roof.

Put the coffee down, have a water, and relax for a minute (a process called firefighter rehabilitation, or rehab).’ Luckily, the fire department’s Chiefs fully have our back when we are providing rehabilitation services to their firefighters. The core here is our ability to focus on our core mission: we are dedicated, through our members, to help the sick and injured,” Being an independent first aid squad enables Issler and crew to focus solely on their mission to give aid to the sick and injured in their community. Her side of town has about 9,000 residents. “We have no desire to do a firefighter’s job; we have no desire to do a police officer’s job. We are there to support our brothers and sisters in red and blue, as we all work symbiotically to help our community. Our members come from diverse backgrounds, including those who multi-disciplined in the emergency services, concurrently serving as firefighters, emergency managers, dispatchers, and police officers, but when they are responding with our organization, they are EMTs and their focus is on the patient, because there is no other alternative that the individual might find more enticing. The benefit of being patient and mission focused is that there is not a choice continued on page 118

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Mount Olive EMS...

continued from page 117 for us as to which role we will fill on a given call. We do not have to prioritize our job based on available staffing – we know the patients, victims, and other first responders who require our assistance or services are our responsibility. There is power behind such focus.”

The number of calls can be astounding Flanders EMS in 2018 was sent out on 533 calls, in 2019 553 calls, and as of December 2020, 545. Budd Lake in 2018 was called out 718 times. High numbers, but not surprising considering the number of vehicles traveling over the variety of busy, congested roadways in a busy area. And that’s just the vehicular side, not building or house fires. All calls are received and dispatched by the Mount Olive Police Department. Atlantic Ambulance Corporation serves both Budd Lake and Flanders during the day from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The breakdown Issler explains the breakdown of Budd Lake EMS. “The Budd Lake First Aid and Rescue Squad, like our sister companies throughout the Township, are divided into two sides of the same house, the administrative side and the operational side. The administrative side of the Budd Lake First Aid and Rescue Squad is currently led by President Chavonda Jackson. She is tasked with ensuring we have the money to buy the supplies we need, the trained people to use those supplies, functioning vehicles to transport those supplies and our patients, and a building in which to house those supplies and vehicles. On the other side, you have the organization’s operational side of the house.

As of 2021, Jackson is the new Captain of Budd Lake EMS, Issler is now First Lieutenant of EMS, Zachary Butchky is First Lieutenant of Rescue, Brandon Rudalf is second Lieutenant of EMS, and Shane Spitzer is second Lieutenant of rescue. Jackson’s job is to lead the squad, ensure response to calls for help, that EMS operates safely when on the scene, that there is command and control on that scene, and that the patient (or patients) is properly transported to the hospital.

The administrative side holds fundraisers to support the operations, oversees the maintenance of the building and property, is tasked with establishing and controlling a budget, and in-processes new members. Operationally, Budd Lake EMS responds to calls for assistance. “This can be fairly straight forward or very complex, ranging from a call for a simple assist (e.g., helping someone off the ground) to a mass casualty incident,” says Issler. “Regardless of the severity of the call, our members respond with the same degree of professionalism.” Also, there is constant training involved. “In addition to responding to calls, we train, train, and train some more. Training can include our annual training as required by PEOSH (Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health), training to maintain our emergency medical

technician credentials, training to keep us at the cutting edge of the emergency medical services, and training on specialty topics for calls we are likely to encounter, such as cold weather emergencies or sports injuries.

While I do not have an exact figure, I would estimate that for every hour we spend with a patient, three hours are spent in training on an annual basis. It is a considerable time commitment for our members. But, if you really want to find out what it is that we do, the best advice I can give is that we always welcome new members, so learn what it is we do by joining our ranks.”

Summer speaks about the importance of training. “Training is almost as important as response. You can never train too much for a job that can kill you or someone else. With all the ever-changing state and federal protocols, new equipment, new medications, we must constantly train.”

Budd Lake EMS uses several pieces of equipment, and that includes the many vehicles made for their and a patients’ care and transport. “The ones most community members recognize are ambulances, which include Rig 73 (which has been remounted onto a new chassis, and it now has the power load system, and it was mounted onto a pick-up truck chassis, so it has 4-wheel drive to assist EMS during inclement weather) Rig 75, and Rig 76. These vehicles carry the life-saving equipment used when responding to a call for aid and transport our patients to the hospital.” Of course, EMS members who respond in these vehicles are certified emergency medical technicians. Also, with the actual Budd Lake directly across the road, Issler’s team is no stranger to having to do rescues on the water, and ice. “Because we are a lake community, we operate a boat to assist members of the community who may become stranded on the lake. Our boat, referred to the call sign of 72, can be seen throughout the summer months docked at the Budd Lake Beach, ready to respond if a boater or swimmer is in peril. Members who respond in this boat are emergency medical technicians who are specially trained in water rescue and motorized boat operations. In addition, we operate an extrication vehicle, Rescue 77. This vehicle has tools to remove our patients from vehicles if they are trapped inside due to an accident. Members who respond in this vehicle are emergency medical technicians who receive specialized training as extrication technicians. In addition, we are in the process of replacing our first responder vehicle, Rescue 74. This vehicle is operated by a certified emergency medical technician and is intended to allow us to rapidly proceed directly to a scene and initiate patient care. We also have a utility vehicle, designated 78, that can carry a back-boarded patient. We use this at special events, such as those at Turkey Brook Park, or during search and rescue operations, where topography prohibits access by traditional emergency

vehicles. Finally, the Captain is assigned Rescue 20 , which is used as a command vehicle and first response vehicle.”

The juggling of family, job, and volunteering Many off the Budd Lake EMS teamwork full-time jobs and volunteer with EMS. In fact, all positions within Budd Lake EMS are volunteer. “The vast majority of our members work full-time jobs and they too have families,” says Issler. “They spend their time responding to help their neighbors, they train extensively to gain and maintain certifications – at times out of their own pockets, and they miss birthdays, holidays, and other gatherings of families and friends, all so that the other members of our community can be assured of a safe and efficient response in the event of an emergency. The benefit of having members who have “real jobs” is that it offers our organization, and others like it, a diverse pool of professionals to utilize.

We have electricians, carpenters, and other trades represented in our membership. We have teachers, engineers, admins, managers, small business owners, professional first responders, students, retirees, and many others represented in our ranks.” The educations of the members vary from current high school students to individuals who hold doctorates. “Having such a broad range of education means that we are able to help better ourselves as a group. Older members, especially those with advanced degrees and/or teaching experience, will help tutor our younger members in various academic subjects. Some of our members are working toward certification as nurses and these members provide a bounty of knowledge that is especially helpful for understanding EMS procedures in our new (and at times older) members. Some of our members are great writers and take time to help others write squad related materials, such as call

reports, or personal essays and letters. We are a truly diverse group, and, despite our many differences, we are one coherent team that helps better itself beyond the direct needs of the organization. This diversity also helps us when responding to an emergency and when conducting our internal business in that there are many different viewpoints, rather than approaching emergency situations or internal business with a “group think” mentality.”

Summer is the father of three daughters, and also works full-time for Rutgers University Emergency Services. “My primary function is fire inspections,” he says. “We also respond to fire calls, motor vehicle accidents, and medical calls on campus. I have transitioned from full-time to per diem at St. Clare’s Hospital EMS Division, working mostly weekends when the town or the university are properly covered.”

Josh Heyman, while sitting in the control room at the Flanders Fire Department, discusses public misconception regarding EMS. “I feel like a lot of people think we’re billing them when we come. We don’t bill, we don’t charge anything like doing a transport to the hospital. I think lot of people might be afraid to go to the hospital or call 911 when they really need it, and we’re coming and they’re not going to get billed.” Heyman attends County College of Morris, and he also works as an EMT for Atlantic Ambulance, the unit which covers many of the towns during the day when volunteers are unavailable.

“We don’t do that. It’s all volunteer; and the transport or care that we give, it’s all free.”

For Issler, the work and life balancing are most challenging. “Balancing work, family life, and volunteering is difficult. Throughout the nation, we are seeing a decline in volunteerism. Even in our own town, volunteers are difficult to come by.” She as well weighs continued on page 119

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Mount Olive EMS...

continued from page 118 in regarding the need for paid ambulance service during the day. “Realizing this limitation, we brought a paid service in to cover daytime shifts during the week, both here and in Flanders. Too many of our members worked outside of the town or, if they did work within the town, their employers wouldn’t let them leave to respond to an emergency. Bringing in the paid service allowed our members to focus on providing services to our neighbors when we are home, alleviating some of the strain volunteering puts on a member’s employment.

Of course, there are nights where our members are out helping their community, not getting sleep, and still need to report on time for their 9-5 job. So, the paid service does not fully alleviate the strain on the member’s jobs and, by virtue of what we do when we do it, not too much else can be done to alleviate this stressor.”

Issler has missed many family events and celebrations, all because she was on duty for Budd Lake EMS. “Because of my position, I have missed my nieces’ and nephew’s birthdays, there are many nights where my husband is fending for himself because I am at the squad, and chores around the house sometimes don’t get done because, of course, when I planned to do something during my Saturday shift, I wind up taking back-to-back calls and accomplish nothing. I know the vast majority of our members go through the same thing. But it helps to have a support system. My parents understand and encourage my commitment, my husband is a professional first responder, my mother-in-law is a nurse, and my father-in-law is the past Chief of Newton Fire Department; suffice it to say, my family “gets it.” Without support from our families, I don’t think any of us would be able to sacrifice the kind of time we do to serve our community.”

Further challenges and misconception “The most challenging part of being the Captain,” says Summer, “is ensuring the members are up to date with their certifications as well as finding and offering classes to keep their certs. As new protocols, procures, equipment, and medications become available ALL the members are required to more training. Not to mention making sure everyone’s schedules are being followed to protect the residents and visitors of Mount Olive Township. The most rewarding aspect of giving so much of our personal lives to help others is when walking around the store and you see someone you just helped or saved. Knowing that your care and actions are a huge reason the person is buying milk for the store that day.”

Jackson has entered his 12th year as an EMS member. For him, it’s important that he, as the new Captain, garner respect as the new leader of Budd Lake EMS, from within the company and other agencies as well. Additionally, he says, “Learning to adapt in any situation given to you at that point in time and making sure that whatever you’re doing is safe and efficient for yourself, the crew, and the patient.” His attention is also focused on improving the way Budd Lake EMS can as individuals and as a department better serve the town and county when they are dispatched.

Then there’s the reality of real life versus, for lack of a better word, fiction. Issler definitively feels television paints a false picture of EMS and the emergency services in general.

It’s not as reckless as it looks, nor as easy. “While everyone is taught in driver’s education that they have to yield the right of way to an emergency vehicle that has activated its lights and sirens, sadly some people pay this no heed. In television and movies, traffic moves like Moses parting the Red Sea; in actuality this does not always happen. Many drivers are courteous, while some ignore our attempt to arrive at a scene safely and expeditiously. What does this mean on the

other end of the 911 call? It means that, while the sick or injured person is laying on the ground, we are trying to get there but are delayed.”

Not so, at least in cinema and television. “In movies and television, mainly because the minutes it actually takes for an ambulance to arrive means the writers need to develop additional dialog and action, ambulances and other emergency responders arrive in short order. Often scenes depict ambulances driving recklessly though traffic, driving through intersections at breakneck speed, nearly flying to arrive at the scene. While we respond and arrive on scene within a time that is consistent with national averages, often individuals have an unrealistic expectation of when we will arrive, based mainly on how a response transpired on television.

I’ve been on the other side of the 911 call before, so I totally understand that minutes feel like hours, but I assure you, if you call 911 an ambulance will arrive, the crew just needs to get there safely because what good are they to you if they get into an accident?” She also feels television and motion pictures create unrealistic expectations about what it is EMS can do or does when they pull up to a scene. “We do not do pain management and we don’t carry opiates, so if you’re in pain absent of trauma, we cannot do anything for you except bring you to the hospital. CPR is depicted as a quick and efficient process, whereby the patient is revived after a few moments of compressions. In reality, this is seldom the case and, while we work to save the patient even after we have brought the patient into the emergency room, by helping the ER staff in performing compressions and ventilations, in many cases CPR is unsuccessful. We do our best to give the patient a chance at living, but we are mere mortals and cannot oppose the will of the Almighty. Emergency medical technicians are often depicted providing medical advice as if they were physicians. In reality, we are prohibited from doing so; there are steps we can take to save lives and ease pain from injuries and illnesses, but there are limitations to what we are allowed to do.”

EMS (and EMT) duties courtesy of the big screen are often depicted as entertaining and clean, set up for the viewer’s taste. “What audience would like to watch what it is really like?” asks Issler. “In reality, working as an emergency medical technician can range moment to moment from mundane to terrifying, back to boring, to mildly amusing, and back to the everyday humdrum. It would not make for good television. However, it is because of those moments of terror, where a member of our community is having the worst day of his or her life, where we actually have a chance to help someone, that we volunteer. It is in those moments of mild amusement, brought on by the comradery within our organization, that keeps us coming back and remaining sane. I think anyone in the emergency services can appreciate this fact.”

Then there is the “they get paid” belief among many residents. Not true. “While it is true we receive a very small stipend at the end of each year to maintain our uniforms and members who meet a certain level of participation receive a small consideration placed in a retirement account (a program called the Length of Service Award Program or LOSAP), we are not paid for the many hours we put in,” claims Issler.

“In an age where people are demanding $15 an hour to perform a menial task, the amount we receive for our effort equates to roughly $1.40 per hour, assuming that member does the bare minimum required to maintain their active role in our organization. The vast majority of our members put in much more time than the bare minimum. Even the money we receive is not something we have access to. The LOSAP funds are held for a period of at least 10 years and

we get a uniform allowance at the end of the year. So, if it is June and you tear your pants on a call, which happens often because we are lifting and carrying patients, you are not reimbursed until December.”

The rewards Serving the Mount Olive community, which obviously can be stressful at times when combined with daily life, is the most rewarding part of being a volunteer. “We are privileged to help our friends and neighbors when they need our help,” says Issler. “Think about it, a member of our community calls 911 because he or she is having a really, really bad day. We come to help make that day a little better. Providing assistance to our neighbors in need is tangible, and it is an honor to be included in the days of our neighbors’ lives that they will never forget, such as during the birth of their children.

How many people can say something like that? At the same time, this honor can be a somber one. Occasionally, there is nothing we can do to save a person and all we can do is serve as a shoulder upon which our neighbor can cry. Being a volunteer EMT means being there for your community during their time of need, regardless of what that need may be.”

This united sense of purpose is the other rewarding aspect of being a member of the Budd Lake First Aid and Rescue Squad and Flanders EMS. It helps to build camaraderie among the ranks. “We are all there for the same reason, we want to help our community. This high degree of comradery helps to retain members. Often, we socialize together when we are not on call; this is mainly because of our common experience. The comradery found within our organization is also a great opportunity for those of us who are not originally from the town, as it allows us to meet new people and to get involved in our adopted community.” When Issler moved to Mount Olive in 2008, she knew no one. Now, she has an organization of friends who she knows she can count on when in need. “Aside from the ability to help our community, being part of something bigger than yourself is a wonderful feeling.”

Heyman agrees volunteering in Mount Olive is rewarding and is good for any township. “There’s definitely more benefits to have free service coming in like taking you to the hospital, treating you and whatever you need done, instead of paying for it. Again, a lot of the people coming to you are doing it on their own time, they enjoy it.”

Caring for each other, togetherness, and the tough times Summer says there have been many memorable calls over the past few years. “Still to this day we continue to talk about the carbon monoxide call on Fenmore. It truly was a miracle that the occupants of the house were saved and have no lasting side effects. A few years ago, we had a nationally televised tragedy on Route 80; a school bus filled with students was hit while making a U-turn. Our cross training (Fire & EMS) allowed us to quickly identify what needed to be done and set-up a system for when all the other agencies arrived. It’s calls like these that haunt you days, weeks, even years later. It’s the ‘family’ in the firehouse that helps us get through it.”

Jackson weighs in. “I see a lot and experience a lot. I see some sad things, but it’s a part of the job. It’s sad and hurts at times, but I can handle the hurt and pain a little better than your average person, so that’s part of the reason I do the job.” Jackson, who is 27 years old and owns his own trucking business, has fond memories of the late Robert Coopersmith, a former Budd Lake EMS Captain. “He taught me a lot,” says Jackson, “and I always keep his memory alive when I can. He’s done so much for me, the squad, and the town of Mount Olive.” He adds, “R.I.P. ‘Coop.’ I’m trying to fill your continued on page 120

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Mount Olive EMS...

continued from page 119 shoes as best I can.”

Heyman says, “It’s a different type of feeling. Being here (Flanders EMS) is more of a family aspect, as opposed to being at work and doing it for my job.”

“Tough times” certainly applies to 2020.

“When the pandemic of 2020 hit, it was not easy,” says Dombrowski. “I think the biggest reason was the unknown. We were all learning as we moved forward. Although the emergency service along with the police department as well as the Mount Olive OEM all worked together - which is a big part of our jobs - we all had to stop and reevaluate our procedures and adjust them in order to keep everyone safe. From the beginning of the pandemic to the present time, our departments have had to treat every call as if COVID was involved. With that being said, we had to change policy to include heightened PPE, smaller crews (which caused another whole set of issues), and after calls everything has to be decontaminated. But I must say, as tough as it got and still is with the new issues coming out, our volunteers never once skipped a beat. They were there from the very beginning and continue to be there to answer the call. When the pandemic hit Mount Olive OEM coordinator, Andrew Tatarenko, set up an interior command system which made it possible for all branches of government and emergency services to communicate with each other and come up with a game plan to fight this pandemic . This made it possible to move resources around, as well as service and any other logistics that were needed. In the beginning, we were having daily conference calls, and now we are holding steady at weekly conference calls.”

Giving back The Budd Lake First Aid and Rescue Squad is always actively engaged in the community, providing services to beyond responding to 911 calls. “Our township is blessed to have a wonderful, progressive Recreation Department and we partner with them to provide first aid coverage for their various events. We partner with our sister company, Flanders Fire and Rescue, to provide coverage for the Recreation Department’s various events, including mud runs, bicycle races, the town’s carnival, and many more.

We, along with Flanders, provide coverage for football games and we provide coverage for the annual lacrosse tournament held in Turkey Brook Park. In addition, we participate in many other township activities, such as robotics tournaments, “Touch a Truck,” “Pirates and Fairies Festival,” the food truck festival, and National Night Out. It is truly a terrific opportunity to be involved in these impactful township events.”

Budd Lake also has an auxiliary that consists of members who specifically aid in raising funds for the organization. It’s another way, avenue if you will, to help or join Budd

Lake EMS. “If you would like to be part of our group but cannot sacrifice the time required to gain certification or do not have the time to commit to assigned shifts, this is a great opportunity to help us help our community,” Issler encourages.

Per Summer, there are numerous ways that Flanders EMS gives back to the community beyond responding to call. “Besides the work we do to help those in need, we often give back to the community in different ways. We host the Girl & Boy Scouts of America; we show then some basic first aid techniques. During the annual township carnival, we setup stations to show the younger children that EMS is not something to be afraid of. We also host a blood drive to help with our local blood banks and hospitals with something very much needed.”

Appreciating support, and needing it In addition to monetary support, EMS needs it from mental and emotional standpoints as well.

Issler is very thankful for the support of others. “As I mentioned before, we are blessed to have a great team over in the Recreation Department, but we are also blessed to have outstanding, consistent support from Mayor Rob Greenbaum, Township Administrator Andrew Tatarenko, and the members of the Town Council. With the support of these Township officials, as well as the support of our sister companies, Flanders Fire and Rescue and the Budd Lake Fire Department, and that of the Mount Olive Police Department, we are able to serve our community and meet our mission: To help the sick and injured within our community.

We would like to thank all of these individuals and departments for constantly championing our organization.”

Donating Mount Olive EMS welcomes donations, whether it be money or time. Donations can also be mailed to or dropped off at the fire houses (and at Budd Lake EMS if someone is present).

Dombrowski speaks about the need for volunteers. “As we know, our town is growing and continues to grow, and this will bring thousands of new citizens to Mount Olive.

And one thing we could always use is more volunteers. So, if you think you have what it takes to do the job, please call the department in your neighborhood, and ask about becoming a member. Besides free training, there are other benefits. When you call, they will explain the whole process to you.”

Issler and Budd Lake EMS agree, perhaps the best way to contribute is to join the department. “We are always looking for members and if anyone is interested in joining, I encourage them to come down to our building (365 Route 46 in Budd Lake) between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. on any Wednesday to speak with our President, Chavonda Jackson, to inquire about joining. Community members who may not have the time to

invest in volunteering, but wish to contribute to our mission, can always donate to our organization.” An added benefit is that all donations to the Budd Lake First Aid and Rescue Squad are tax exempt. They can be mailed to P.O. Box 761, Budd Lake, NJ 07828.

As for the volunteering end, Jackson says it takes a special type of person to serve on EMS. “We all have jobs and have to wake up early. Not just anybody has the time and patience to do what we do and not get paid.”

Still, he wouldn’t change a thing. “I still have fun with EMS in town,” he says regarding the camaraderie, and then adds, “I have a whole, new family. I love my department.”

Also, visit the Budd Lake EMS website, www.buddlakerescue.org.

To support Flanders EMS, visit the “Support Us” page on their website, www.flandersems.com/index.php/supportus. Monetary donations can be made during their “Road Drive” on Route 206 and Flanders Bartley, and via online donations through Amazon Smile and PayPal. “We are always looking for new members,” encourages Summer. “Training and meetings are Thursday nights at 7:30 pm.

We appreciate any support the community can offer the department.”

Thanks go out to both the men and women of Budd Lake and Flanders EMS, those who have served and they that currently do.

No one gets paid, everyone is a volunteer,

and all sacrifice valuable time doing something they love to do. Dombrowski lauds both units. “I’d like to take the time and thank all the men and women of Mount Olive emergency services, for your service and everything you do and for everything you might have to do! You see, you really don’t know what it is like to be a volunteer until you’ve walked in their shoes. I’ve been there and done that, and I don’t mind saying it takes a special person to put those shoes on and walk in them. These are the people that are walking into danger as you’re running away from it. These are your fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, your wives and husbands. And they do it for nothing, for you, and they do it to help out their neighbors, friends, and strangers. These volunteers are on duty 24/7, 365 days a year. I can tell you that the members of Mount Olive emergency services are committed and dedicated and ready to serve you when that bell rings.

So, do me a favor next time you see one of our members: please take the time to talk to them and thank them for servicing your community.”

And he has a closing message for EMS members: “Please keep an eye on each other and stay SAFE and STRONG as you move forward. We are always here for you! GOD BLESS!” Mount Olive, they’ve “got your back.”

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 121

The Mount Olive Food Pantry Serves the Hardworking Families of the Community

Pantry volunteers break down newly received pallets of snacks and put away donations.

Rev. Sonia Waters leading prayer for the pantry along with Rev. Matt Jones.

T

By Steve Sears he Mount Olive Food Pantry was founded in 2013.

“The pantry serves all residents, all who worship at any place of worship in the township, and anybody who works in Mount Olive,” says Susan Morse, pantry administrator since 2014. “Today, due to the COVID pandemic, we serve anyone who comes to our door.”

The pantry was founded by the township itself and met Mayor Rob Greenbaum’s vision to see the pantry eventually privatized and expanded. “The Mayor asked if any of the local churches would be interested. Rev. Matthew Jones of Mountaintop Church and Rev. Sonia Waters of Christ Episcopal Church both stepped up and combined their efforts to take over and run the township’s food pantry, according to the Mayor’s vision,” says Morse. Rev. Jones created a non-profit, faith-based corporation, Partners in Compassion, to privatize and oversee the food pantry. ”The corporation was created to allow the pantry to work with the township, secular organizations, and other faithbased entities. Rev. Sonia Waters’ helped to structure the operation of the pantry.”

Morse came on board as Administrator in 2014, and her major challenge was to organize what the pantry had to create; a workable system. ”We had a lot of unsorted canned foods, a small room in the township building, some money, and no real sources for food procurement. And, of course, this was brand new to me! But it was also necessary to visit a few other pantries and to see how they were run. The Interfaith Food

Pantry in Morris Plains provided us with a lot of information.”

The community has been a huge aid to the pantry. ”Because of the pandemic and the news coverage,” says Morse, “the community has greatly stepped up with both food and funds for the pantry. Mount Olive Kiwanis regularly collects food that had been dropped off in special buckets at specific sites. Please see the pantry’s websites for those locations. The pantry also maintains a Facebook page, courtesy of Heidi Caruso.” Regular needs include canned vegetables, and particularly in demand are canned beets, potatoes, corn, and peas.

“Also - and very important - are personal care products such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, conditioner, toilet paper, and deodorants.”

Morse speaks to the benefit of the Mount Olive Food Pantry, as well as its future. “At this point, the pantry has been able to meet the needs of the community. We serve approximately 100 families per month. All clients are given shopper’s choice for food items. Previously they would come into the pantry, register, and then be accompanied by a volunteer to shop the pantry. Client registration is kept confidential. Any groups coming in to see the pantry is always done separate from client hours. For holidays, Thanksgiving, Christmas/Hannukah, and Easter/Passover, the pantry provides a turkey or (if possible) a ham along with a bag of food items for the holiday meal, such as vegetables, potatoes, biscuit mix, a baking mix for a dessert. As to the future, we try to keep a pulse of the community, because

Rev. Matt Jones and Mount Olive Mayor Rob Greenbaum at the pantry ribbon cutting.

so many have lost their jobs. Will that increase? We don’t know. As I mentioned earlier, we are well able to meet the needs of all who come to us.”

Per Morse, the pantry has recently updated website, www.mountolivepantry. org, with thanks to Your Cyber and Foresight Performance. “Our website is able to accept monetary donations. The donor will receive a receipt acknowledging the donation.” Due to the pandemic, the pantry has converted to curbside service. “The client receives a printed order form, which they fill out in their cars, and bring back. A volunteer then shops it. Another volunteer will then bag it and bring it out to the client. The

client must either then open the trunk for the volunteer to load the packages, or the client can load their own packages.”

The Mount Olive Food Pantry administrative office toes the Mount Olive border at Mountaintop Church, 6 Naughright Road in Hackettstown. The pantry itself is located at 369 Sandshore Road in Budd Lake, on the lower level of Christ Episcopal Church. Pantry Hours are the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month, 6:30 p.m.– 8 p.m.; Tuesday, 9:30 a.m. – 12 noon; and Saturday, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. For inclement weather, check the pantry Facebook page or listen to WRNJ radio for updates.

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Fratelli Beretta: A Piece of Italy Right in Mount Olive

F

By Megan Roche ratelli Beretta has Italian roots that start in 1812.

“The history of Fratelli Beretta begins on May 5, 1812, when Carlo Antonio Beretta received ownership of the family business from his father, who had first established the meat and pork enterprise in Barzanò, a city in Brianza, just north of Milan, Italy. In the two centuries that have passed, this passion continues to be renewed, even as the brand preserves its founding values: a faithful love and dedication in their work,” All in the family, the Italian food company that many are familiar with is thanks to Beretta’s grandchildren.

“The company as we know it today is the outcome of Carlo Antonio’s grandchildren, Mario and Felice Beretta’s, efforts. These brothers fought in World War I, and then in 1920, began a new adventure by opening their own butcher shop in their native Barzanò. From then until the 1960s they developed the production and commercial activity of Fratelli Beretta and expanded their distribution capacity across different Italian regions. Following the development and success of the first supermarkets, brothers Giuseppe and Vittore, sons of Felice Beretta, expanded their production activities even further by investing and diversifying through the production of packaged salami for wide-

spread sale and consumption. The turning point occurred in the 1970s when the Beretta Brothers entered new and promising retail channels, advertised the new packaged salami, and expanded awareness of their products by participating in the major International food fairs,” Passion for the American market started roughly 160 years after the start of the company and the dream to expand became a reality in 1997.

“Beretta’s interest in the US market dates back to 1972, when the family began to visit the United States to study salumifici already operating in the USA. The turning point came in 1987 when the Tonino brothers, at the time owners of Ideal Sausage (a fresh sausage production company), in South Hackensack, contacted Beretta to partner in the production of new Italian products, salami, and cured meats. This began a collaboration between the two companies, and a great friendship between the two families,” In 1997, Beretta acquired Ideal Sausage and the overseas brand of Beretta meats was born. Beretta meats available for sale include salame, coppa, pancetta, mortadella, and bresaola. The Beretta family also makes cured meats, frankfurters, and fresh, ready to eat meals.

What started in South Hackensack eventually found its way down Route 80 and into

Mount Olive. According to company history, the Beretta family became part of the Mount Olive family in 2013.

“In 2013, the Beretta Family decided to invest $50 million in a new state-of-the-art production plant and new headquarters in the United States. The choice fell on the village of Mount Olive, a place where the environmental characteristics and the climate perfectly replicate a typical prosciutto and cured meat producing environment in Italy.

The Mount Olive Beretta facility was completed in 2015 and is the largest and most modern US-based facility for the production of Italian salumi products,” Joining the family became official in June of 2018 when Mount Olive, New Jersey and

Carpegna, Italy became sister cities.

No matter how big the Beretta company gets, they will always rely on their core values.

“Commitment, dedication, and passion are the main ingredients in the success story of the Beretta Company. Beretta has prioritized innovation in order to continually meet the different demands of a specialized market and serve a continually evolving consumer. Today we are proud to bring the unique taste and the Italian tradition of noble cured meats to homes around the world,” Fratelli Beretta is located at 750 Clark Drive, Budd Lake. For more information on Fratelli Beretta, visit www.fratelliberettausa. com.

Serving God Runs in the Families of Mount Olive Pastors

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By Steve Sears ery often, on his drive via Flanders-Drakestown Road to Mt. Olive Community Bible Church, Pastor Neil Bruce Lines passes the old Mt. Olive Baptist Church building.

The memories are vivid. “I grew up in it since I was 4,” he says.

Lines will soon be a pastor for 30 years, having served since 1991. His dad, Neil Malcom Lines, held the leadership role at the former Mt. Olive Baptist Church (which became Mt. Olive Community Bible Church in 2003) from 1969 until his 1995 passing, he and his son serving as associate pastors the final four years.

“By way of his character, he was a very encouraging person in general,” says Lines of his dad. “He didn’t specifically encourage or recommend that I become a pastor like him.

He was just, ‘Hey, whatever God wants you to do.’”

Often times, Lines wishes his dad were still here, just to ask his advice. “Oh, of course. That’s a given. Just dealing with people. People are great, I love them, but people are challenging, humanity is challenging, so is dealing with individuals. Just from his experience – what he would counsel them to do and recommend them to do – he was patient and understanding, very accepting. It was always good to hear his voice.”

Pastor Matt Jones has been at the helm of Naughright Road-located Mountaintop Church for 18 years. His Dad, Rev. Don Jones, pastored in the Methodist Church after his 1961 ordination, and during his tenure, served at churches in Suffern and Port Jervis, New York, and Paterson, Wyckoff and Midvale, New Jersey. The elder Jones, now 81, is retired.

Jones’s parents never edged him in any direction, but saw his talents, and encouraged him to exercise them. He was 18 when he discovered his calling. “My parents always supported me,” Jones says, “and the different church (Jones represents the Assemblies of God) wasn’t a big deal. It was bible-believing and that’s what was important to them.”

Jones saw from an early age that his son, Matt Jr., 28, had an affinity for God, he recognizing the vision while in a high school youth group. “It was a natural transition for him,” his dad says. He then pauses, and states, “You know what’s really cool? He’s Matt Jones’s son, but now I’m Matt Jones’s dad.” Jones serves at the Freehold Assembly of God. 26-year-old Kody Vagle and his wife, Jaime, work at Mountaintop Church as the Directors of Children’s Ministry. Vagle is an ordained minister within the Assemblies of God fellowship and Youth Pastor at Mountaintop Church, joining the staff in Septem-

ber 2015.

Vagle’s maternal grandfather, Cyril Chegwin, was a lifelong minister of the Gospel within the Assemblies of God fellowship.

“He planted and pastored multiple churches in his nearly 50 years of ministry,” says his grandson, “and he even served with his wife Marlene as a traveling missionary/evangelist in Canada. Ministry wasn’t just a job for him; it was his life. I was only four years old when he passed, but his legacy still inspires me to this day to give my all to the call of God on my life. “ His father, Kirk Vagle, was a Youth Pastor for 9 years at First Assembly of God in Elkton, Maryland. “He saw his youth ministry grow from serving less than 10 students a week to almost 100 students. My father is the best public speaker and communicator I know;

he taught me how to stand up and boldly declare what I believe in, even if it is not the popular opinion. After my grandfather passed, my dad transitioned out of full-time occupational ministry, but still remained heavily involved in the church as a volunteer.

He taught me to never settle, but to always give what I could to God. “ “As a minister, I have some of the greatest role models and people to look up to right in my own family,” Vagle attests. “I thank God that they instilled in me the drive to communicate the Gospel to everyone I meet. Ministry is not just a job or career for me; it truly is a calling.”

Matt Jones Sr. agrees. “I feel ministry must be a call from God, and nobody can suggest it to you.”

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • March 2021 • Page 123

TeleSearch Staffing Solutions:

Helping Corporate America Since 1991

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By Megan Roche hen Polly McDonald founded TeleSearch Staffing Solutions 30 years ago, it was certainly a different time. Even then, both she and her company established a female powerhouse that hasn’t been shaken yet.

“We are a female-owned corporation, certified by the state of New Jersey. Our corporate office is in Flanders, NJ. I am a Certified Personnel Consultant and both President and CEO of TeleSearch. I have a background in Marketing and Human Resources and have over 30 years experience in the Personnel Industry. I had the honor of being chosen “Best 50 Women in Business” in New Jersey,” McDonald said.

TeleSearch Staffing Solutions helps the community by bringing together job seekers with companies who are looking to hire new talent.

“We provide full service staffing and job search assistance, specializing in short

and long term placements along with direct hire. We primarily focus on the administrative and light industrial industries,” Kim Carsillo, branch manager, said.

With locations throughout New Jersey, Flanders is home to the corporate office. Other locations around the state include Mountain Lakes, Freehold, Newton, and Lakewood.

In the times of COVID, TeleSearch, like many companies has had to adapt and improvise the way they help their clientele.

“We provide a contactless online application process. In addition, we have a convenient client and employee portal that allows for easy management of both the payroll and billing administrations,” Carsillo said.

TeleSearch Staffing Solutions is located at 251 US Highway 206 in Flanders. They are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. For more information, visit www.telesearch.com.

Tronex International: Getting Protective Equipment to Those Who Need it Most

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By Megan Roche n the current COVID-19 pandemic, Tronex International is remaining true to its mission.

“For over three decades, and through these unprecedented times, our commitment to support our major health system and Fortune 500 brand customer partners, together with our connection to the local community, remains constant and strong. We are honored for the trusted opportunity to supply a comprehensive range of medical grade and food safe gloves, disposable gowns and apparel, and face masks, among other vital personal protective equipment in support of essential front-line personnel across the nation. Our deepest appreciation and admiration go out to the countless healthcare providers who continue to provide critical care to those who need it most,” Tronex shared.

Founded in 1989, Tronex International is a true American success story.

“We were founded with the great vision to become a world-class marketing, manufacturing, and distribution enterprise. Tronex first opened its doors and its heart by responding to the urgent need at that time, for superior quality disposable protective products during the burgeoning AIDS crisis in the late ‘80s,” Tronex recalls.

Since its inception, Tronex has grown exponentially.

The entrepreneurial enterprise with deep roots in New Jersey, is now a major national and global brand.

“For the past three decades, Tronex has had the tremendous honor and opportunity to establish numerous long-term major partnerships with leading companies, brands, and manufacturing partners, both nationally and around the world, that share parallel philosophies and vi-

sion,” Tronex says.

Manufacturing and supplying comprehensive lines of all kinds of personal protective equipment is their specialty. The Tronex brand is home to numerous protection solutions, from gloves and masks, to gowns and apparel.

“Our product lines offer more than 1,000 infection control and cross-contamination prevention products.

We have a full range of superior quality, disposable medical-grade, and general-purpose gloves, as well as headto-toe disposable protective apparel, face masks, and N95 respirator masks. We continue to strive towards the future, with new emerging innovations including wound care and surgical/operating room infection-control products,” Tronex said.

As an essential employer and supplier through the

coronavirus pandemic, Tronex continues its dedication to provide advanced-quality products to those on the frontlines.

“As a leading provider of PPE for the past three decades, Tronex commits to the sustained provision of quality products, both through this COVID-19 impacted time as well as far beyond. Our mission remains to deliver innovation and continued performance in anticipation of the emerging needs of our customers and the evolving market. We operate with a spirit of deep gratitude and responsibility as an essential supplier, and to keep our community and the public safe and protected,” Tronex says.

Tronex International, Inc. Headquarters are located at 300 International Drive, Mount Olive. For more information on Tronex, please visit www.tronexcompany.com.

Our Team is SO PROUD to join in to celebrate our wonderful town turning 150 years old!

We have been honored to have helped homeowners move into our wonderful town for the past 25 years!

We are forever grateful that we are able to live in such an amazing community!

Happy 150th Mt Olive!

THE DEBRA BURKE GROUP

191 MAIN ST. • CHESTER

201-230-4725 O: 908-879-4900 C: