M t . O l i v e’s H o m e t o w n N e w s p a p e r
MOUNT OLIVE LIFE Vo l . 1 8 • I s s u e 3
March 2023
Member of Mid-Atlantic Community Papers • Association of Community Publichers • Mt. Olive Chamber of Commerce AUDITED BY CIRCULATION VERIFICATION COUNCIL (CVC), ST. LOUIS, MO.
Mount Olive High School Air Force JROTC Cadets Compete at the Piscataway High School Drill Competition
MOUNT OLIVE - In their first competition of the season, the Mount Olive High School Air Force JROTC (Unit NJ-20172) Drill Team demonstrated why they are a force to be reckoned with at the Piscataway High School JROTC Drill Competition. Under the watchful eyes of multiple judges, the drill team competed in a series of events all designed to test the discipline, synchronization, and poise of each cadet as they worked as a team performing various drill commands and movements. The Marauders started the competition strong in the unarmed regulation drill category, led by senior Jason Wang. The team was composed of cadets from all grade and experience levels. Although many of the members came with drill experience, this was their first drill competition since 2020 and they captured a third-place finish out of eleven teams competing. “After all the early morning practices (6:00am), it has been
an honor to represent NJ-20172 at this drill event,” said Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Jason Wang, the unit cadet commander. The Drill Team consisted of Anthony Cluxton, Marco De Leon, Gabriella Drucks, Cyara Ferreira, Riahanna Ferriara, Anirudh Guruprasad, Cooper Henderson, Aidan Johnson, Talan Lleras, Noah Lopez, Connor Magidson, Jazhiel Ona, Lucas Rainha, Morgan Ryerson, Charles Stockley, and Jason Wang. The unit’s Senior Aerospace Science Instructor Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Brian Dickenson said, “After 3 years, it was great to see a full drill team and color guard perform especially well. I think it was a great experience for all the cadets whose hard work and dedication came to fruition, I am exceptionally proud of everyone.” The Color Guard performance, led by senior Lucas Rainha along with veterans Ethan Doyle and Connor Magidson with first time com-
AREA - On Wednesday, April 26, 2023, Roots & Wings, a Denville-based non-profit supporting young people who have aged out of foster care, will host its annual Authors’ Lunch at the Crystal Plaza in Livingston. This event is traditionally attended by over 125 professional and literary-minded people who understand the need to support aged-out foster youth in New Jersey. This year, author Emi Nietfeld will discuss her memoir, Acceptance, a memoir of her journey through foster care and homelessness, interrogating the true meanings of resilience, ambition, and success. After graduating from Harvard in 2015, Nietfeld worked as a software engineer, an experience she wrote about in her viral New York Times essay, “After Working At Google, I’ll Never Let Myself Love a Job Again.” Today she’s a mental health advocate, speaker, and journalist writing for publications like The Atlantic, Fortune, and Slate. Nietfeld will be joined by #1 New York Times bestselling author Christina Baker Kline who is continuing her longstanding relationship with Roots & Wings to lead a discussion and Q&A session with
Nietfeld. Kline is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of eight novels, including The Exiles, Orphan Train, and A Piece of the World, and the author and/or editor of five nonfiction books. She is published in more than 40 countries; her books are taught in universities, colleges, and high schools. Hundreds of young adults age out of New Jersey’s foster care each year. Many are not reunited with their families or placed into a permanent home, leaving them vulnerable to homelessness, poverty, unemployment, lack of education and incarceration. You can help. Join us for an afternoon of fine dining, stimulating conversation, and good company while supporting our mission of providing safe housing, emotional support, life skills, and educational opportunities for youth aging out of foster care; empowering them to rise toward their greatest potential. Roots & Wings is funded almost entirely by individual donations. We rely on the generous support of donors to help change the course of the lives of aged-out foster youth in New Jersey. To learn more and register to attend please visit www.rootsandwingsnj.org.
MOUNT OLIVE - The winners from January’s “Find Moe Life Mascot” are Anthony Rondan, Budd Lake; Jill
Giacchino, Flanders; Meredith Ferris, Hackettstown and Diane Yaeger, Netcong. Mr. Moe was hiding in the following
Roots & Wings Hosts 10th Annual Authors’ Luncheon
petitor Brandon Sanchez, masterfully impressing the judges with their synchronized routine. Their performance was so exquisite that they took home first place over nine other teams. “Both teams have shown their hard work and dedication
in today’s events and the results from the competition show it,” said Cadet Major Rainha. “I believe this event was helpful as it allowed our unit to grow together and it showed how if we work together that inevitably we will be stronger
BY ELSIE WALKER STAFF WRITER
MOUNT OLIVE - Mount Olive Police Lieutenant Mike Cordileone knows how important it is to remain calm during an emergency. He has been with the department for 25 years and has seen everything from routine accidents to senseless fatalities. Cordileone started as a patrol officer for Mount Olive in 1997. After close to a decade, he was promoted to Sergeant in 2011 and finally to Lieutenant in 2016. He currently oversees the Mount Olive Communications Center which is more commonly referred to as the 911 dispatch center. There is an incredible amount of responsibility involved for Cordileone and his staff, which currently consists of eight full-time communications officers. Together, they handle between 900-1000 calls a month for the town. The most common calls involve domestic disturbances or car crashes. However, according to Cordileone, they must be ready for almost anything.
“We dispatch for emergency services as well as police services. We do medical dispatch too, so we’ll give medical instructions over the 911 system if somebody calls in and someone’s not breathing, and the person wants to help perform CPR. We can give those instructions.” In addition, if there are hurricanes or other weather emergencies, they are ready to help. Cordileone says “we can and have operated an emergency operations center in the past. And we work in coordination with the county, local phone,
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local electric companies like JCP&L (Jersey Central Power & Light) and gas companies to make sure people have the services they need.” Cordileone refers to his dispatchers in the 911 center as Communications Officers. Though they are not police officers, they possess many of the same skills. These officers are responsible for working hand in hand not only with police officers, but with other emergency departments such as paramedics and the fire department. Cordileone realizes his unit must be prepared for almost anything any given day. This position is not for everyone. According to Cordileone, “the officers must have the ability to work in a stressful environment, the ability to make decisions, the ability to listen
and most importantly understand what people are looking for and to get them the appropriate resources.” The unit also must do this rapidly. Once the communications center receives a call, they can start dispatching it to the appropriate emergency team within about ten seconds. However, Cordileone does foresee some changes occurring in the next few years. Both the federal and state government are working on expanding the 911 system to enable both texting and video functionality. This will help different populations such as people who are deaf. Also, if drivers see an emergency on the road, they can send video. Cordileone expects these expansions to be completed within about a year. Lieutenant Cordileone not only hires and trains his staff but goes the extra mile for the unit by securing grants for all necessities. When New Jersey mandated body worn cameras for police officers in 2021, the lieutenant secured funding for this equipment as well as replacements too. This was also a savings for the residents of Mount Olive. Most importantly, Cordileone says he “wants the public to know that we’re here for them 24/7 so if they need something, don’t hesitate to call.”
Budd Lake Gets Its Own Super Market
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Teams from twelve schools in three states participated in the competition. The competition had more than 250 cadets competing in multiple events, judged by volunteers from the active-duty military.
Mount Olive Communications Center Stays Calm Under Pressure
Winners From February’s “Find Moe Life Mascot” Contest
MOUNT OLIVE - Check out our new mascot...Mr. Moe Life. Look for him in the ads in this issue and enter (no purchase necessary) to win a $25.00 gift card.
as a whole,” said Cadet Second Lieutenant Magidson. “Both teams performed amazingly and I am so proud of how they represented Mount Olive,” said Aerospace Science Instructor Chief Master Sergeant (Retired) Robert Bedell.
A woman Owned & Operated Small Business
MOUNT OLIVE - Shop Fresh Marketplace, independent and locally owned, opened on March 3rd with many amenities aside from just standard
groceries, like hardware, prepared foods, sushi made daily, fresh baked bread and so much more. Come check us out.