GRANTS TO TOWN WILL BENEFIT FIREFIGHTERS, ART IN THE PAR K

Berkeley Heights has received three grants, two of which will benefit the volunteer fire department and the third from Union County to expand Art in the Park.

The first grant, for $27,000, is part of the $10 million American Rescue Plan Firefighter Grants Program to departments across N.J.

“Having appropriate gear, clothing and equipment is critical for firefighters’ physical and mental health, particularly for those who serve in fire departments with limited operating budgets and large numbers of volunteers,” said Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver, commissioner of the N.J. Department of Community Affairs.

The second grant to the BHFD, for $2,000, is from FM Global and is to be focused on fire prevention. It will be used to purchase two cameras to be used in fire investigations to determine causes and to help prevent future similar incidents.

In addition, Berkeley Heights has been approved for a $3,700 award from the Union County Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board towards “Berkeley Heights Art in the Park - a Zoo Comes to Town!,” the third seasonal Art In the Park display at Peppertown Park.

This project is a partnership of the Berkeley Heights Recreation Department and the Governor Livingston High School Woodworking class, Studio Advanced Art class and National Art Honor Society.

Woodworking teacher Michael Maresca’s students will design and build 10 three-dimensional animal forms. With the guidance of teacher Michelle Harpster, the Open Studio/ National Art Honor Society class will finalize the design through priming, design implementation and acrylic painting. The goal is a display that is family friendly, providing maximum visibility to residents and visitors. Township officials said they hope final models could be unveiled during the Memorial Day parade.

The Summit Hearing Aid Center at 75 Summit Ave. is celebrating 40 years of providing hearing healthcare to residents in Union, Essex, Morris and surrounding counties.

“Our center’s mission is to provide an individually-tailored solution for every patient who experiences compromised speech clarity, and we achieve this by offering premium service and customer care,” said founder Leslie E. Herman, who holds a Doctor of Audiology degree. The center’s Holly Herman is a boardcertified hearing aid dispenser, Meghan C. Zieser has her doctorate in Audiology and the staff is rounded out with Monika Patrao, office manager for 22 of the center’s 40 years.

According to Dr. Herman, “It is our responsibility as your provider to make sure that you are educated about anything and everything that can help you achieve the most from your hearing. It could be a software upgrade with your current hearing devices, better communication strategy or upgrading to new hearing devices with AI technology.”

Clinical services offered by the Summit Hearing Aid Center include diagnostic hearing evaluations, hearing aid fitting, evaluation and repair, tinnitus treatment and management, and live speech mapping, which ensures hearing aids are programmed to make soft sounds audible and that speech is at comfortable levels.

For details , call 908-360-2039.

P atient reviews arefeatured on the website, summithearingaidcenter.com.

Creating attractive gift baskets requires a certain set of skills, and Alec Gavenda possesses every one of them.

“Alec is extremely organized,” said his job coach, Gail Sinnott. “He even uses a board to fold T-shirts when he puts away his laundry. He loves to work from a list and cross off each task as he completes it.” Ms. Sinnott searched high and low for a job for Alec, 24, that would put his talents to their best use, and the lifelong New Providence resident landed close to home, at Linda’s Creative Gifts, 1259 Springfield Ave.

Owner Linda Tribuna of Berkeley Heights, an artist herself, fills the shelves with items designed and crafted by creators from across the U.S. Currently, 19 of her product lines are the work of artists and business owners with disabilities, and it is often those products that Alec, who has Down Syndrome, highlights in the baskets he assembles and wraps.

A teacher-themed assortment might feature soap, lip balm and a “Thank You” inscribed chocolate bar. A basket destined for a child holds popcorn, sculpting clay and sweets. Items gathered for a gift for a man might include a candle from Man Cans, in a scent like bacon, campfire, coffee or fresh-cut grass.

One thing every basket has in common is that “every item is perfectly-placed. Alec really has a gift for it,” Ms. Sinnott said.

Many of the assembled baskets are available on the store’s website, lindascreativegifts.com. Customers can also select their own items from the shelves for Alec to prep and wrap. Baskets can be shipped, and delivery is available within a five-mile radius.

The store carries jewelry, home décor, handbags, cards, snack items, body lotion, mugs, toys, baby gifts and more, including a selection of items that feature local town names and zip codes.

“I’d like to thank Linda for employing me,” said Alec, who pointed to a photo collage on a store shelf where one of the snapshots shows him receiving his first paycheck.

While on the clock, “Alec doesn’t really take a break,” his job coach noted. He can also be spotted restocking the candy shelves at CVS in the borough, and on Saturdays he indulges his love of performance by taking acting and dance lessons.

“He has a real talent for memorizing lines,” Ms. Sinnott said.

Alec said he enjoys going to the gym to work out with a trainer, and loves to listen to music, especially Fleetwood Mac. The eldest of three, Alec has a brother and a sister.

Ms. Sinnott and Ms. Tribuna described the joy it gives them to see how much Alec enjoys his work.

On occasion, “he will sometimes simply run around the store,” Ms. Sinnott said, “and when we tell him to slow down, he says, ‘But I’m so happy to be here.’”

I am thrilled to share that the City of Summit is participating in New Jersey Local Government week from Sunday, April 16, through Saturday, April 22. Local Government week is a time for municipalities to bring awareness to the role local government plays in achieving the best life for communities.

Join me for tea on Facebook live on Monday, April 17, and ask any questions you'd like. The communications office has filmed virtual video tours of locations including the Common Council chamber, the Transfer Station and the Community Center. The videos will be highlighted during this week and available to view on the city YouTube channel all month long.

On Tuesday, April 18, I will spend the day with the winner of the "Mayor for the Day" essay contest, a student from Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School. The student will join me for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at a new business, tours of city buildings, a meeting with staff and the Common Council meeting that night.

It is our hope that by the end of the week, citizens will have learned something new about municipal operations and how services benefit our everyday lives. Please visit cityofsummit.org to view the schedule of events and follow along all week. See you around town!