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Come and Rejoice
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Vol. 3 – No. 17 ♦
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UNE TRIB S N E R BAR
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December 22, 2018 – December 28, 2018
Name Change to Better Reflect Operational Scope of YMCA Camp
Red e Page S Se
By Douglas D. Melegari
Staff Writer
Photo By Bethany Huff
Maj. Gen. Scottie Carpenter, the Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Army Reserve Command, passes the colors to Maj. Gen. Mark W. Palzer during a 99th Readiness Division change-of-command ceremony on Dec. 16 at Doughboy Gym, on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.
CHANGE OF COMMAND Garden State Major General Assigned to Lead Senior U.S. Army Reserve Unit By Shawn Morris
Special to the Pine Barrens Tribune
JOI NT BASE MCGUIR E-DI XLAKEHURST—When the state’s senior U.S. Army Reserve unit changed hands Dec. 16, it passed from one Garden State native to another. Maj. Gen. Troy D. Kok, taking on a new assignment, relinquished command Sunday of the U.S. Army Reserve’s 99th Readiness Division, to Maj. Gen. Mark W. Palzer during a change-of-command ceremony at Doughboy Gym on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL). “As our nation faces increasingly more lethal adversaries on the battlefield, readiness of our personnel and our organizations becomes critical,” said
Palzer, a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. “We can only bring the 99th to greater heights because we stand on the shoulders of those before us.” The 99th DIV(R) is headquartered on JBMDL, which is the second largest employer in New Jersey, the first being the state government. More than 40,000 active-duty and reserve-component service members, civilian employees and family members work and reside on the base. As commanding general of the 99th DIV(R), Palzer will be responsible for administrative, logistics and facilities support to more than 42,000 U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers across a region
spanning 13 northeastern states. “To all of you, I pledge my undying love a s wel l a s my eve rla st i ng commitment to making this organization and the United States Army Reserve a better organization as we continue to grow and build for the future,” Palzer said. Palzer also serves as the senior commander of Army Support ActivityFort Dix and Army Base Fort Devens Training Facilities and Training Support in Massachusetts. Kok, a native of the Allentown area, said he was raised about 15 minutes from the joint base and spoke enthusiastically See COMMAND/ Page 11
MEDFOR D —Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Camp Ockanickon in Medford Township, a renowned year-round organization that is best known for its summer camp, officially changed its more than centuryold name last week to YMCA of the Pines. “After 112 years, we have changed the name of YMCA Camp Ockanickon!” said Susan Miller, communications director for the organization. “The organization officially changed its name to YMCA of the Pines, effective Dec. 12, 2018. It is not a merger or a buy out—we’re still the same management team and board of directors.” Mark Dibble, the organization’s chief exe cut ive of fice r, said i n a n of ficial announcement last Tuesday— before the name change took effect—that the new name will reflect the “true nature of the year-round organization.” He explained that Camp Ockanickon “for decades has been known primarily as a summer camp” while the organization actually runs three summer camps and conducts year-round activities. “Many people do not realize that our reach and impact extends far beyond our popular summer camps— Ockanickon for boys, Matollionequay for girls and co-ed Lake Stockwell Day Camp,” Dibble said. “We impact the lives of children, teens and families 52 weeks a year. During non-summer months, we offer before-and after-school childcare, teen leadership, family programs, outdoor education and recreation programs, corporate teambuilding and retreats, school trips, conferences and financial aid for those in need. We’re so much more than a summer camp!” Dibble, i n h is a n nou ncement, also emphasized that the name change has nothing to do with a merger or a buy out and stressed that he wanted to assure the local community of that fact. “This was an internal decision, stemming from discussions that began well over a year ago,” he said. “We have not been taken over and we haven’t been bought out. We still have the same key team members on our staff and board of directors. We will continue to be good neighbors and be there to meet community needs.” Dibble claimed that in recent years, it “became apparent” that having the organization’s name the same as the boys’ camp name “created See CAMP/ Page 19
INDEX Beyond Auto......................19 Business Directory............14 Dental Column...................11 Coloring Contest............... S7
Health................................10 Hobbyist............................12 Jobs...................................17 Local News..........................2
Marketplace.......................16 Opinion................................8 Season's Greetings.......... S1 Worship Directory................9
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