The Jefferson Chronicle DIGEST - October 2019 Issue

www.TheJeffersonChronicle.com

October 2019 • Volume 1, Issue 9

KEEP YOUR HEAD UP

Climate Change • Marching Band • Iron Ores • School Fundraising • Government History • 9/11 Tribute • Christine Clarke • Events • In Brief

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The Jefferson Chronicle DIGEST • October 2019

From the Editor

From the Editor

Domestic violence more prevalent thanthe any crisp cool fall October is inisfull swing, with of us would like to believe. according to the air feeling soagainst refreshing. change of season National coalition DomesticThe Violence, oncan a typical more your than 20,000 areof thinking, can’t just day change wholecalls way placed to hotlines nationwide. The presence ofit? a gun in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of homicide by 500 percent.

Changing ways of thinking became necessary for

August 2019 October 2019 www.theJeffersonChronicle.com

www.TheJeffersonChronicle.com Founder, President, and editor-in-chief: Kevin Pattky, Jr. Founder, President, andL. Editor-in-Chief: kevin.pattky@TheJeffersonchronicle.com

Kevin L. Pattky, Jr.

Deputy editor/Digital copy editor: kevin.pattky@TheJeffersonChronicle.com sue toth

Vice President and Deputy editor/Print copy editor: Director of Business LiseDevelopment: Greene

Christopher Bean

senior contributing editor/consultant: christopher.bean@TheJeffersonChronicle.com Maria Weiskott contributing Writers/Photographers: Deputy Editors: Kalen Luciano, Jane Primerano,

Lise Greene and Sue Toth Jim Dougherty, Carol Punturieri, tony Haryn, Janet Pfeiffer, Ulla Vinkman, Senior Contributing Editor and Christopher Bean Editorial Consultant:

Design and layout: Maria Weiskott CRK Advertising, Inc.

This horrific reality hit ourCourtney community inSanchelli, July, Jefferson resident who gave when christie solaro was shot and killed by herself anhusband. attitudesheadjustment when she found estranged left behind two her children, threehow yearsshe old. wanted. Read about Courtney’s strength her lifeeight not and going Jefferson has rallied, as it in always face of tragedy. (see and resilience, even the does, face in ofthe a disability. the story on page 5.) The White rock community, where solaro and her children lived,iswent purple intoo, support domestic violence for victims.

Our climate changing, andofnot necessarily the better. Kalen a local business, The Feisty Pepper, chose a weekend to donate a Luciano reports on this issue on how the climate crisis has affected portion of its profits to a fund for the children, and Jimmy Geez Lake Hopatcong. participated in a Dine to Donate event this month for the same fund.

These are justlife some of the ways Jefferson supports itscame own. I feel We know has changed since Jefferson into honored to call this town my home.

existence. Find out more about lost mines in town from Jane Primerano, and learn Kevin L.started Pattky, Jr. Punturieri. about how Jefferson’s government from Carol

But the biggest--and best--change is this: Starting in December, you won’t have to hunt all over town for your copy of The Jefferson Chronicle DIGEST. Just walk to your mailbox. That’s right! We will be direct mailing the DIGEST right to your home, starting with the December issue. We’ll have more details for you next month.

Enjoy October, andContents Happy Halloween to all!

Articles:

a Grand Finale: retiring Band Director..............................4

Kevin L. Pattky, Jr.

Contributers:

ribbons for christie ................................................................5

advertising Manager: Kalen Luciano, Janesales Primerano, Carene Kratzel 973-663-6766 Jim Dougherty, ckratzel@crKadvertising.com Carol Punturieri, Tony Haryn, Janet Pfeiffer, Ulla Vinkman

Drinks on the links ..................................................................8

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elisa.deyoung@TheJeffersonchronicle.com

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elisa.deyoung@TheJeffersonChronicle.com about the DIGesT:

The Jefferson chronicle was founded by lifelong resident MiaKevinMorella 732-604-6818 The chronicle is Jefferson Township's only l. Pattky, Jr. in 2016. dedicated newsroom, publishing local news and information.

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About the DIGEST: The Jefferson Chronicle was founded by lifelong resident Kevin L. Pattky, Jr. in 2016. The Chronicle is Jefferson Township’s only dedicated newsroom, publishing local news and information.

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PLEASE RECYCLE

New Distance regulations for lake Wake sports ........10

CONTENTS

Passing The Torch ..................................................................12 Jefferson schools Update security systems..................16

Articles:

Jefferson Fest Wows crowd ..............................................20

Fears for Lake Hopatcong’s Health in Full Bloom This Summer . . 4 Wrobo run: Making strides for charity ..........................20

ForRain Didn’t Spoil....................................................................6 Parade of High School Bands . . . . . . . . . . . 6 What It’s Worth tidbits J-town Before There............................................................................14 Was Tourism, There Was Iron Ore . . . . . . . . . . 8 and expertise Insights Achieving Resilience..............................................................15 with Keep-Your-Head-Up Philosophy . . . . 12 snapshots of History ................................................................18

Fall in School Aid by State Gives Rise to Local Fundraising Efforts . . 14 event Calendar ..........................................................................22

1804: How the Government of Jefferson Township Began . . . . 16 In Brief ..........................................................................................23

They Don’t Remember, but Organize Tribute so None Forget . . . . 18 www.theJeffersonChronicle.com Hometown’s Christine

Clarke on Campaign Trail . . .3 . . . . . . 19

History Repeats Itself . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 For What It’s Worth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 J-Town Tidbits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Insights and Expertise: Living Your Best Life Ever . . . . . . . . . 15 Event Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 In Brief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Cover Photo (by Ulla Vinkman): Courtney Sanchelliwww.TheJeffersonChronicle.com with her artwork, including her prize-winning painting.

3

Fears for Lake Hopatcong’s Health in Full Bloom This Summer Season’s Slump Due to Algal Growth Spurs Climate Change Discourse

By Kalen Luciano On any given summer weekend, the small, locally owned Espanong Market is filled with people wearing bathing suits and sunglasses. They wait in a crowded line for sandwiches and ice to prepare for a day on Lake Hopatcong.

In May, the deli and café had one of its best starts to the season. Then on June 27, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) released a public advisory to avoid contact with the lake due to a harmful algal bloom (HAB), and business plummeted. “People were afraid to use their boats or go in the water,” said owner Brenda Robinson.

“They made it sound as if the entire lake was green.”

In the weeks following the advisory, Robinson had only one customer with plans to go out on the lake, which is typically the base of her summer lunch crowd. “We weren’t sure how long it was going to last,” she said. “We weren’t sure if there was a remedy to fix it. There were a lot of questions unanswered.”

Though Robinson found ways to keep the market going over the summer, she is not confident about maintaining it if the HAB returns. This fear is carried across the local community where fishing businesses, restaurants, delis, and marinas lost customers after the advisory was put in place.

Backlash from the Advisory

According to the U. S. Geological Survey, harmful algal blooms are caused by cyanobacteria (also called blue-green algae). Cyanobacteria exist naturally in most lakes, but the DEP reports that they bloomed this year after heavy rainfall poured “nutrient-laden” stormwater into the lake. The warm spring temperatures that followed the rain produced an ideal environment for the bloom, according to Fred Lubnow, consultant for the Lake Hopatcong Commission (LHC), the organization managing the lake.

Exposure to a bloom can lead to health effects ranging from skin and eye irritation to flu-like symptoms. Since the 2019 bloom was so widespread, the DEP recommended that local authorities close all public swimming beaches and warned the public to avoid recreational exposure as a precaution. As a result, most of the public was hesitant to enter the water, but some did go in. The more people did not experience any health consequences, the more upset some became at the advisory and a lake barren of boats and swimmers.

While many blamed the messaging of the DEP advisory and 4

the media for these consequences, Jefferson Township mayor Eric Wilsusen noted that it was only a recommendation; people were free to go in the lake at their own risk. Although the HAB levels presented a risk according to standards of the DEP, its threshold has been criticized because New Jersey has stricter guidelines than most states and health organizations.

The Cause Behind the Closure

Regardless of the dispute, the HAB was more prevalent in the summer of 2019 than ever before. The blooms did occur on Lake Hopatcong in the past, according to Lubnow, but not usually so early in the summer or so widespread. And the problem was not isolated to Lake Hopatcong; it occurred in lakes throughout the country. The commonality: warmer temperatures and heavier rainfall. “I will be very surprised if we don’t see this again,” said Bill Kibler of Raritan Headwaters Association.

Leading state climatologist David Robinson attributed the ideal conditions for HAB to climate change. As more greenhouse gasses are released into the atmosphere and the earth traps more heat, temperatures rise and waters warm. The hotter atmosphere also holds more water before precipitation occurs, resulting in more intense rainfall.

For the full report and video, visit climate.TheJeffersonChronicle.com An Uncoordinated Response

In the hot and humid cafeteria at Hopatcong High School, hundreds of residents and elected officials gathered to discuss the HAB at a meeting of the Lake Hopatcong Commission. The frustrated audience listened to numerous proposed solutions but saw little action.

The DEP monitored the lake twice a week and performed an aerial view once a week to determine cyanobacteria and cyanotoxin levels, but people grew impatient at hearing that there was not much to do but wait. They argued that the HAB could be reduced through aeration, a technique where the water is moved around, or by adding chemicals or natural organisms.

However, Lubnow’s presentation and recommendations from the Lake Hopatcong Foundation, an organization that advocates for the lake, focused on prevention. Public officials and LHC members demanded more state dollars for the underfunded commission to better maintain the lake.

Still, most residents left the meeting disappointed by the lack of action being taken, the commission was frustrated with its lack of funding, and seemingly no solution was in sight.

The Jefferson Chronicle DIGEST • October 2019

A Struggle Bigger Than a Lake

Christine Clarke, an environmental advocate from Jefferson and state assembly candidate, sees the issue she’s fighting against everywhere. She sees it in her backyard’s flooding, in heat waves and heavy rainfall, and in harmful algal blooms – not just on Lake Hopatcong but across the country. “Climate change isn’t just a someday issue,” Clarke said. “It’s not something that we kick the can down the road and look at in 2030 or we put it upon the state.”

The HAB reveals what a community in a climate crisis looks like. In Jefferson, flooding has increased with more intense rainfalls, rising temperatures mean milder winters and hotter summers, and roads have deteriorated faster due to exposure to a changing climate. As climate change continues to affect the area, more businesses could suffer like those in Lake Hopatcong. Residents could face uncertainty and helplessness, and the government could continue to face limited funds for solving a problem too big to handle.

Robinson, the climatologist, observed that there are “a lot of good reasons why this requires some attention, but the interesting thing is that there’s always some pressing issue out there besides climate or climate change.”

‘A Very Human Problem’

The struggle for businesses to survive and residents to enjoy the lake during the HAB advisory drove many to focus on the issue. “Even though we have this fear that it’ll continue to come back, I think that has generated an urgency in people and really brought out constructive and creative ideas to confront this and look at what we can do to stop it,” said Jessica Murphy, president of the Lake Hopatcong Foundation.

Clarke also anticipates collaboration and creative solutions for climate change. She wants to see the state legislature allocate more resources to local communities, take measures to cut emissions, and move to a renewable energy market.

Although she occasionally finds herself discouraged by the pressing worldwide climate crisis, she finds hope in communities like Jefferson rallying to fight the impacts of climate change.

“Ultimately, it all comes down to being a very human problem,” said Clarke. “This affects us and our families and our businesses. As long as we can regard this as a human problem and include each other at the table in finding solutions, I do think we will find the right way forward.”

Editor’s note: A bill was introduced in the NJ State Assembly by BettyLou DeCroce (R-26) to increase the state’s annual funding to the Lake Hopatcong Commission to $4 million from $500,000.

Following the finalization of this October issue, a companion piece of legislation was subsequently introduced in the state senate. Progress of both bills may be followed on The Jefferson Chronicle website. www.TheJeffersonChronicle.com

5

Rain Didn’t Spoil Parade of High School Bands

By Maria Weiskott (article and photos) They didn’t miss a beat …literally.

It takes more than intermittent showers and a downpour to dampen spirits of the Golden Falcons.

Jefferson Township High School’s marching band hosted the North Jersey/New York Metro Region Tournament of Bands Saturday evening, Sept. 15, on the school’s home turf.

The Golden Falcons, a 1-A division band, weathered the worst of the evening’s elements, playing during a downpour that turned the bleachers into a sea of colorful umbrellas.

As host, the high school marching band was not part of the night’s competition but received scores from the judges.

Township residents can enjoy the Golden Falcons 2019 presentation – Bildingsroman – at Falcons football games.

For What It’s Worth The Ghost of College Past

By Tony Haryn On the bright, sunny morning of September 22, 1971, I walked up a hill from the parking lot to the new campus of Ramapo College. It had only three shiny glass buildings, one old mansion used for administrative offices, and one ghost!

It was rumored from the first day that the former owner of the property, Stephen Birch Jr., who passed away in 1970, still lived in the mansion (in spirit alone). Some say he was a very private person and gay, which doesn’t make him a bad person or a ghost, but we do know he was cultured and intelligent. I never heard anything more about the ghost of Stephen Birch in the four years I was there. In fact, I was a ghost at the college myself. I would just attend my classes and then disappear to go to my part time job that paid for school and books.

Recently I talked to an old friend who was a maintenance man at the college for 35 years. I had mentioned the rumor about Stephen’s ghost in an earlier conversation, and he told me a story.

“I was given a work order to fix a lock at the mansion.

When I arrived, one of the admins walked me over to the York Room. She said it was strange, but she could not open the door, so the lock must be broken. The college needed to get the room ready for a meeting. I started to work on the lock when I could hear classical piano music being played softy from inside the room. But who was in the room and why hadn’t they opened the door? I called out to open the door, but the music continued to play.

“After about 45 minutes, I opened the door – but the lock and the door were not broken! The music immediately stopped and no one was there. I looked around behind the drapes and in a closet, but not a soul was in that room. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck go up, but I could not think about it too long since I had to move on to my next job. I had forgotten about it until you brought it up.”

So, who haunts the mansion: Stephen Birch, who passed in 1940, or his son? Does the culture of Ramapo College bring out the talents of the Birch family to the point that they want to join in the fun?

Trick or treat?

6

The Jefferson Chronicle DIGEST • October 2019

www.TheJeffersonChronicle.com

7

Before There Was Tourism, There Was Iron What Lurks Under the Lake Communities?

By Jane Primerano (photos courtesy of the Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum) The “Danger, Keep Out” signs tacked to an occasional tree may not appear to the casual hiker to have an obvious purpose, but the depressions in the soil and piles of slag are a dead giveaway: The Mount Arlington Preserve was an iron mine.

“The Lost Mines of Lake Hopatcong” was the topic of a talk on August 15 by Marty Kane of the Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum. He started the presentation with the “Danger” signs from the Lake View Mine on the landward side of McGregor Avenue in Mount Arlington, which was first mined in 1863. A six-foot wide vein was served by three shafts (60, 84, and 85 feet deep). It closed after the Civil War, but reopened in time for the Industrial Revolution in 1882.

The shafts were supposed to be filled in after the mine closed permanently, but not all of them were totally blocked.

More hidden today is the Nolan’s Point Mine, which operated from 1855 to 1868. There are no indications of it now, but documents reveal digging under what is today Nolan’s Point Park Road and The Windlass. Kane joked that you could be sitting at the restaurant and the guy on the next barstool might just disappear.

The most famous in Jefferson Township was the Hurd Mine that produced about a half-million tons of ore and had a shaft a half-mile down. The current Route 15 cloverleaf surrounds the mine, which was across from what is now Gatwyn’s II and originally the location of the Hurd Mansion.

The remains of that mansion hosted the Pallas III restaurant and then Gatwyn’s before a fire destroyed the old building.

There are many slag piles throughout the area as well as depressions in the ground. The road that was the predecessor of Route 15 collapsed in the area in 1939, Kane said. Another shaft opened in 2005 and the township fenced it off. Other sinkholes occasionally appear.

The Hurd Mine is under the Route 15 cloverleaf.

The Weldon Mine was on the path of the Ogden Mine Railroad, opposite what is now Camp Jefferson. According to Kane, it was actually a series of mines operated at different times – The Weldon Mine was opposite worked, closed, and what is now Camp Jefferson. then opened by a new company. Jefferson’s water company is located right over one of the shafts.

At first, iron ore was brought to the lake and the Morris Canal by horse and wagon. During the Civil War, a 10-mile railroad was built to connect the Ogden Mine in Sparta with Nolan’s Point, which was chosen for the terminus because it is the deepest part of the lake. Although the railroad was completed after the war ended, for 15 years it was the main source of cargo for the Morris Canal, Kane reported. The Ogden Mine Railroad, probably the only one built to serve a canal, had a single track that crossed the Venetian canals on a bridge. Kane pointed out that the posts still annoy boaters who try to enter the canals today.

The railroad may have been a boon to the canal, but then became its undoing. The Central Railroad of New Jersey bought the Ogden Mine Railroad and built its own tracks to Lake Hopatcong. Using rail to transport coal and other cargo out of the area sealed the fate of the Morris Canal, said Kane.

But the railroad could also transport passengers – and it did. In the fall of 1882, there were four hotels around the lake. By 1900, there were 40.

The Ogden Mine at the end of the old railroad is better known today as the Edison Mine.

Thomas Edison took it over in 1889, thinking iron ore was overpriced The ore dock, where iron ore was and believing he transported from the Ogden Mine could mine it more Railroad into a canal boat. cheaply. He put the low grade ore into a crusher, removed the iron with magnets, and then made them into briquettes. The system worked profitably for about 10 years.

The Edison Mine could have thrived for many more years had it not been for the discovery of the Mesabi Range in Minnesota where iron was almost on the surface, Kane pointed out. The mine closed, but the foundations of some of the buildings are still there and it is a popular hiking spot.

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Kane closed his talk with a quote from Edison about his investment in the mine: “Well, it’s all gone, but we had a hell of a good time spending it.”

The Jefferson Chronicle DIGEST • October 2019

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9

J-Town Tidbits

By Carol Punturieri

Jefferson Tidbit #1 During emergencies, Jefferson professionals and volunteers stand ready and trained to assist. To protect the community, the Division of Emergency Management works closely with personnel in several departments: police, fire prevention, firefighters, emergency medical services, and communications. As part of the Department of Public Safety, their functions, powers, and duties are established by the state.

Members of Jefferson’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) are appointed by the mayor. The current coordinator is past fire chief Ed Mangold, assisted by a council of deputies: police captain Paul Castimore, past fire chiefs Mickey Deloreto and Andrew Schmidt, police telecommunicator Fred Claus, and administrative assistant Shelley Ebbinghouser, who serves as recording secretary.

The OEM works closely with the Morris County and New Jersey offices of emergency management to coordinate responses to large-scale crises, maintain Jefferson’s emergency management plan, and provide resources to all departments. The group also oversees and guides the local Citizen Emergency Response Team, a voluntary program led by Pamela Graham. Members are trained to give critical support to first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, organize volunteers at a disaster site, and help with non-emergency projects.

In addition, the OEM manages the township’s Rave alert system. Emergency messages are broadcast via phone, text message, and email to keep residents informed of situations such as severe weather, road conditions and closures, water system problems, and crises. Sign up at www.smart911. com/smart911/ref/reg.action?pa=jeffersontownship. For additional information, contact the office of police chief Sean Conrad at 973-208-6151.

Jefferson Tidbit #2

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Leaves and grass clippings are not accepted at the town’s recycling center on Sparta Mountain Road. They should be recycled to the property owner’s compost pile or placed in brown paper sacks for curbside pickup on Wednesdays through December 11. Tree branches, twigs, and shrubs can be dropped off at the recycling center on Wednesdays from 9-1 and Saturdays from 9-2; branches cannot exceed 3 inches in diameter or 4 feet in length. They are also collected during the Wednesday curbside pickup. The curbside limit is two cans, bags, or bundles (bundle maximum of 4 feet in length or 40 pounds).

The Jefferson Chronicle DIGEST • October 2019

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11

The Accident

Profile Achieving Resilience with Keep-Your-Head-Up Philosophy Courtney Sanchelli Turns Injury into Life of Quality, Courage, and Support

By Jim Dougherty (photos by Ulla Vinkman) To an outside observer, any one slice of Courtney Sanchelli’s life would seem wholly unremarkable. Born and raised in Jefferson, she graduated from high school in 2014. The 23-year-old still lives in town, does not have an extraordinary job or hold any public office, hasn’t yet made her mark in the broader world, and certainly is not the type to show up in headlines or police blotters. Nope, she is pretty unremarkable.

Courtney with her brother before the accident.

Sometime in Sanchelli’s sophomore year, the typically A-B student saw her grades slip. Like many of her peers, she felt disengaged and separated from the group. One day she sat herself down for a hypothetical conversation and realized the futility in her feelings of self-disparagement.

Instead, she decided to shift her outlook and participate in her own life,. Before long, everything began to improve: her attitude, relationships, grades, and ultimately her life and impact on those around her. How did she pull herself out of the teenage funk? “Fight for today, because tomorrow isn’t promised.” The phrase rolls off her tongue with ease, obviously not the first time she had stated the sentiment.

12

At four years old, Courtney came back to consciousness unable to speak and barely able to move. A machine breathed for her. Bathed in fluorescent light, her mother nowhere to be seen, she heard muffled voices, whirs, and beeps. Her last memory was sitting in the car seat, her brother riding shotgun and mom at the wheel. There was an accident, and the little girl suffered a damaged spine, awakening in the hospital mostly paralyzed from the neck down. That day began a lifelong journey of “fighting for today.”

That day was the first in a lifetime of working remarkably hard, being remarkably supported, and using remarkable creativity and innovation in order to live her unremarkable life. The first lesson was how to communicate without the ability to speak while on a ventilator. Courtney and her father devised a system for answering yes and no questions by blinking her eyes, which enabled her to communicate during six months of rehabilitation at Mountainside Children’s Hospital (a facility whose praises Courtney will never stop singing).

In that time, she watched six roommates fail to overcome their various challenges, learning the value of living for the moment at a young age.

Courtney with her mother while in a halo after the accident.

Courtney recovered and left the hospital able to speak when the ventilator exhaled for her. She attended public school from kindergarten on, recalling with a smile each of her teachers by name. In third grade, she was introduced to new technology: a head tracker system. After applying a small sticker to her forehead, a software program was able to trace her head movements via a webcam. Through this interface, she gained access to the internet, writing tools, music, and movies by using her laptop.

The Jefferson Chronicle DIGEST • October 2019

At age eight, Courtney returned to Mountainside for three months (“not long” as she recalls it) to learn another skill that would grant her further independence; she finally learned to breathe on her own without the aid of the ventilator. At 16, she underwent another procedure at Mountainside to fuse some of her vertebrae, enabling her to leave behind the rigid body splint she had worn since the accident. While still dependent on a wheelchair for mobility, the sense of freedom and un-encumbrance was remarkable to her. It was at this point that Courtney made the decision to “adjust her attitude” and start to engage with the world around her. “You gotta keep your head up,” her Grandpa would exhort. With that in mind, she embarked on a life of purpose, productivity, and promotion.

Today

Courtney creates art, works with younger people going through the types of challenges she understands so well, reads and writes, and continues to stay in touch with the staff and clients at Mountainside. Currently she advocates for a systemic change in its rules to allow certain patients to continue their care at the facility past adolescence, which she knows would lead to better patient outcomes.

While Courtney appreciates how accessible much of Jefferson is, she would like to see more consideration in the planning and design phases of new facilities across the town. She also hopes for the return of a wheelchair-accessible swing like the one that brought her and others so much thrill and joy.

In general, Sanchelli hopes to find a path to become a more vocal advocate for the rights of those with unique needs and abilities, and believes she can offer insight and perspective on projects aiming to be more inclusive for all.

Dallas, th

Courtney along with her parents, Deb and Mike. e family d

og, express

ing his dev otion to Courtney.

The way Courtney lives brings to mind a quote from Secrets Buried, a play she and her friend Haley James wrote and published: “I said yes to the absence of fear, the embrace of love, and the happiness of the rest of our lives.” We are fortunate to have in our community the voice of this young woman, one of the many unremarkable people we see each day living truly remarkable lives.

Know a resident who has a good story?

Know a resident who IS a good story?

Recommend them to us at: newsroom@TheJeffersonChronicle.com

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13

Fall in School Aid by State Gives Rise to Local Fundraising Efforts Board, Educators, Parents Team up to Generate Additional School Funding

By Kalen Luciano Since Governor Phil Murphy passed a new state funding formula in 2018, the Jefferson Township school district has lost over $2 million in aid and is projected to lose millions more in the next five years.

Though the board passed the final budget for the 20192020 school year in April, it immediately started planning for the following year. The Finance and Building Needs Committee, which is in charge of drafting a preliminary budget, met in July to brainstorm ways to make up for lost funds.

“The board is trying to be creative, open to new ideas, and brainstorming as much as possible,” said Matthew Millar, the board president.

For more information on JTEF and upcoming fundraisers, visit its website (https://www.jefftwp.org/edfound) or Facebook page ( Jefferson Township Education Foundation). JTEF can also be contacted at JTEFinfo@gmail.com.

These cuts brought an unexpected challenge to a district already facing problems from a decline in enrollment.

They leave the Board of Education and Jeanne Howe, superintendent, to struggle with passing a balanced budget that both maintains old programs and implements the district goals for 21st century learning. “I’m going to be very honest with you. It’s going to be very difficult,” Howe told The Jefferson Chronicle.

But the board is not the only group involved in making up for these losses in state aid. When Howe and Daniel Papa, supervisor of Social Studies, Fine Arts, and Technology, approached longtime residents Harold Ramirez and Paul Castimore about creating a group to raise funds for the district, the two parents did not hesitate to take on the task.

Creative Fundraising

Shortly after the state aid cuts were approved last year, Ramirez and Castimore formed the Jefferson Township Education Foundation ( JTEF), a nonprofit organization that provides grants for support, technology, and educational facilities. “I really enjoy giving back to the kids,” said Ramirez, the president of JTEF. The group sends a grant request form and accepts a few projects to support throughout the year. In its first event, the raffle of a donated Jeep Renegade, JTEF raised about $28,000.

With those funds, the group distributed nearly $10,000 to the district, benefiting more than 1,000 students, and plans to give more in the future. Projects to date have included tools that teach programming, a digital piano to replace one that was no longer serviceable, a student ninja course for athletics, and educational resources for calculus.

Even with the help from JTEF, the district still faces many tough decisions. Howe explained that the board tries to look at ways to save money, cut costs, and bring in additional revenue as it develops the budget. When it comes to making cuts to programs, decisions are usually based on low enrollment.

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The Jefferson Chronicle DIGEST • October 2019

Insights and Expertise: Living Your Best Life Ever Get a Grip on Anger to Avoid Road Rage

By Janet Pfeiffer Anger and aggression have no place behind the wheel of a vehicle.

Each year, thousands of motorists are injured or killed due to road rage. Take a few moments to read this. It could save your life.

Several years ago, a woman was driving through a parking lot when a male driver cut her off. The woman became irate and approached the other driver, throwing soda at him. He exited his vehicle and an altercation ensued. Shortly thereafter, the man suffered a heart attack and died. He left behind a grieving family; she faced criminal charges, fines, and a lifetime of remorse and guilt. An insignificant incident turned fatal because both parties did not understand how to conduct themselves in a manner that would ensure a safe outcome.

One bad choice can have devastating consequences for everyone.

Too often, we react to a situation rather than contemplating the most intelligent way to handle it.

One of the most critical mistakes people make is to take personal offense to an incident. “How dare she do this to me!” But her poor judgment or bad behavior is not about you. All drivers make mistakes. Don’t blow things out of proportion. Give others permission to be human. Most of what angers us is relatively insignificant anyway. A simple shift in perception (our thoughts about the incident or driver) will change how we feel. “Thank God I was paying attention and avoided an accident.” Rather than feeling indignant and wanting revenge, we experience feelings of gratitude that nothing serious happened. Never engage with irate drivers. You know nothing about them or what they are capable of.

Also be especially mindful not to allow ego to eclipse intellect.

When one feels disrespected, it is easy to become defensive and seek to teach the other a lesson. However, that is not your responsibility.

Your primary task is to keep yourself safe at all times and to ensure the safety of those around you as well. Drive to Stay Alive is a simple mantra reminding us to do so. If our focus (thought) is on safety, we will make choices to keep ourselves free from harm. Do not concern yourself with what others think of you or what they’ve gotten away with. Such concerns have no relevant value.

Remember, thoughts generate feelings and people act out what they feel. Judging the other driver as an idiot will generate anger and arrogance. We run a serious risk of acting out our anger and exacerbating the situation. Consequences follow all choices and can prove deadly, as was the case with the aforementioned woman.

Conversely, we can view the other party as a decent person having a temporary lapse of good judgment, which will generate feelings of understanding instead. Consideration enables us to be more forgiving, thus prompting a dramatically safer outcome. Both parties leave unscathed and intact – able to avert potential tragedy while resuming their intended journeys toward a more worthwhile destination. www.TheJeffersonChronicle.com

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committee members, although they could perform weddings in addition to chairing meetings.

Snapshots of History 1804: How the Government of Jefferson Township Began

By Carol Punturieri In a year of new town leadership and on the eve of another election, here’s a look back at Jefferson governance from the beginning.

Jefferson Township was created on February 11, 1804, by the state legislature “as a political community by gerrymandering the boundaries of Pequannock and Roxbury Townships,” according to research by 1976 high school graduate Bob Opiekun.

Two months later, on April 9, the new township held its first meeting. The historic event took place at Seward’s Tavern on Union Turnpike, a toll road known today as Route 15 South.

“The taverns and inns of the time were gathering places to learn of what was happening, discuss crops, family matters, gossip, talk politics, and to vote,” wrote local historian R. Richard Willis during the township’s bicentennial celebration in 2004.

In 1959, Horace Chamberlain was one of only three Democrats to date to run for the mayor/chair position. He secured enough signatures for a ballot referendum on increasing the township committee from three to five members. While Chamberlain lost the election, voters approved the increase to better represent the growing population.

In 1960, Everitt Rhinehart moved up from committee member to mayor/chair. After the next election, Burkett was back in the chair with fellow committee members Arthur Mitchko, Albert Riggs, George Tweedley, and Wilbur Willis. Disbrow continued as clerk. After 10 months, Willis (who had served as chair from 1946-1957) was appointed to replace Burkett until 1963. As the township evolved, Mitchko was named the first vice chair in 1963. Subsequent mayor/chairs were Samuel Sutphen, Jr. in 1964, Arthur Mitchko from 1965-1968, and Ralph Atkinson from 1969-1970.

Those assembled at that inaugural meeting elected John Losey as president and tax assessor and John Kelso as town clerk.

The next meeting was held a year later on April 11, 1805. At the following meeting on April 14, 1806, John DeCamp was elected president with John Kelso retaining his position as town clerk. Opiekun noted that the town’s first three meetings were “basically the same with no tremendous revelations” and “the succeeding meetings were not much different.”

The township clerk’s office compiled “A History of Council/ Committee Members and Their Professionals,” which traces local government officials back to 1889. Leaders operated under the town committee form of government, which allowed three to five members usually chosen at large in partisan elections.

The committee selected one of its members to chair meetings.

Over the decades, changes made to assist the governing body included the addition of positions such as township attorney (as early as 1896) and township engineer (1936).

Who Was the First Mayor?

Although library director Seth Stephens found the term “mayor” first used in the 1956-1957 Morris County Manual, the county seems to have anticipated an upcoming change. The municipal record for 1956 and 1957 shows Wilbur Willis still designated solely as chair of the township committee. Several reliable township sources confirm that the mayoral title was not added until 1958, when Raymond Burkett was chosen to preside as the first mayor/chair. Recently retired township administrator James Leach recalls that “mayor” was initially an honorary title. Its bearers had no more authority than other 16

The Mayor and Council in 1976: (seated left to right) Alvin Gunneson, Mayor Horace Chamberlain, James Opeken, (standing) Joseph Florio, Richard Dunney, Grace Teese. (photo courtesy of the Jefferson Township Historical Society)

Mayor/Council Form of Government

Leach recalls that a charter study commission was formed to research changing to a mayor/council form of government with a strong mayor, in accordance with the Faulkner Act. Township sources confirm that a referendum to do so was passed in 1969. Until then, Leach noted, the tax collector, tax assessor, and clerk were elected officials. With the change in governance, they became appointees with four-year terms.

The position of administrator was added in 1970 in the person of Harold Christy. The following year, the newly elected leadership team consisted of mayor Ralph Atkinson, council president James Opeken, vice president Richard Dunney, and council members Horace Chamberlain, Jr., Joseph Florio, and Alvin Gunneson. Appointees included attorney Joel Murphy, administrator Harold Christy, and clerk Amelia Abriola.

The Jefferson Chronicle DIGEST • October 2019

Atkinson did not finish out his four-year term, said Leach, resigning in November 1974 due to personal legal problems.

Samuel Sutphen, Jr. was appointed by the council to serve as mayor for the remaining six weeks of the term.

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In 1975, Horace Chamberlain was successful in his mayoral bid. After having served on the Town Council for 15 years and the Board of Education for three years, he continued for 12 years as mayor.

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Women on the Rise

During Chamberlain’s initial term, Grace Teese became the first woman elected to serve on the council (1975-1978). Frances Slayton followed in 1977 and remained on the council until 1986. She was the “first woman member of the planning board and the board of adjustment,” wrote Jane Primerano in Aim Jefferson, adding that she also held the distinction of being “the first woman public safety director and the first woman council president.” Not surprisingly, Slayton was elected the first female mayor of Jefferson Township in 1987, serving in that capacity until 1994.

Evelyn Brown, born and raised in Jefferson, was a noted historian and lifelong educator, retiring as a middle school language arts teacher. She was elected to the Town Council and served from 1987-1994, defeating Slayton in her bid for a third mayoral term and serving in that position from 1995-1998.

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Next up in the mayor’s chair was Russell Felter, Jr. After serving four years on the Town Council and three years on the Board of Adjustment, he was elected mayor and held the position for five terms totaling 20 years (1999-2018) – the longest consecutive tenure for any committee chair or mayor in the township’s history.

Today

That brings our story to the present. Eric Wilsusen grew up in Jefferson and served in the Police Department for more than 30 years, retiring as the deputy chief. He launched a successful campaign to unseat Felter, a fellow Republican. Township administrator James Leach, who served throughout Felter’s two decades at the helm, retired at the same time. Wilsusen began his mayoral term in 2019 and appointed Debra Millikin as administrator.

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The current Town Council consists of five Republicans: president Debi Merz, vice president Kim Finnegan, and members Robert Birmingham, Jay Dunham, and Melissa Senatore. Together with Wilsusen, these elected officials are leading Jefferson Township into the future.

Sources used:

The Government of Jefferson Township 1804-1885 by Bob Opiekun, A History of Council/ Committee Members and Their Professionals provided by Michele Reilly, Township Clerk, Fran Slayton Was a Major Influence in Shaping Jefferson by Jane Primerano, Aim Jefferson, April 2016, History of Morris County by Edmund Drake Halsey et al., published by W. W. Munsell, 1882, Northwestern New Jersey: A History, compiled by A. Van Doren Honeyman, 1927, Horace Chamberlain, Nancy Chamberlain, Jack Kelly, James Leach, Seth Stephens, Jefferson Township Library Director, Christine Williams, Jefferson Township Historical Society President, R. Richard Willis, Jefferson Township Historian.

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They Don’t Remember, but Organize Tribute so None Forget Born After 9/11 Tragedy, Scouts Host Township’s Annual Memorial Event

By Ulla Vinkman (article and photos) Cub Scout Pack 49 hosted a memorial ceremony at the 9/11 monument in the municipal complex on the evening of September 11. The ceremony also brought out Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Falcons football players, cheerleaders, police officers, firefighters, rescue squad volunteers, and other members of the community.

Girl Scouts Natasha Jacoby and Evie Chalmers reading the poem written by Hannah Schoechert, a 7th grader, called “We’re Still Standing”.

The Pledge of A

Jimmy DaSilva, cubmaster for Pack 49 of Milton and assistant scoutmaster of Troop 151, led the evening’s event. The ceremony began with Emma Cieslik singing the national anthem. It continued with a reading of the timeline of events from the morning of that fateful day in 2001, followed by the poem “We’re Still Standing.”

Mayor Eric Wilsusen thanked the Scouts for hosting the somber event every year. He introduced Port Authority police lieutenant Joseph Macaluso, who recounted his memories of that day’s course of events. The story of how the relic and memorial came to Jefferson was also presented. ting for the

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The Boy Scout Honor Guard folding the flag for retirement.

Emma Cieslik performing the National Anthem.

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The Jefferson Chronicle DIGEST • October 2019

Hometown’s Christine Clarke on Campaign Trail Environment Advocate Brings Local Issues Forward in 26th District Race

By Kalen Luciano (Photo by Derek Boen)

Issue 9 • Volume 1, October 2019 m

hronicle.co

sonC www.TheJeffer

KEEP YOUR HEAD UP

Christine Clarke, with her son, James.

During her time as an environmental advocate, Jefferson resident Christine Clarke was inspired to run for the General Assembly by problems in her own life that reflect bigger challenges in the community.

Before the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, Clarke’s aunt passed away. She had postponed a CAT scan because it required out-of-pocket payment. Two days before the scheduled test – which would have led to a simple antibiotic and saved her life – she died in bed with her 6-year-old daughter. “It’s very powerful for me to think about the idea that some families have to postpone tests and ration medication because they can’t afford it,” said Clarke, a mother of four. “That’s wrong.”

Environmental Advocacy

When Clarke’s oldest son took an interest in marine biology, she helped him get as much hands-on learning as possible.

Through his education, she saw numerous environmental issues such as garbage patches in the ocean and how plastic pollution has resulted in humans consuming on average up to a credit card’s worth of microplastic each week. These are just a few of the problems Clarke spent years fighting to fix. “There are things you can’t unsee,” she said. “There are things I’ve learned in the course of activism that I cannot walk away from in good conscience.”

e• Climate Chang

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aising School Fundr

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9/11 Tribute

• Christine

Clarke • Events

• In Brief

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19

When Clarke was asked to run on the Democratic ticket for the 26th Legislative District, she described it as a natural extension of her work. If elected to office, she intends to fight for job growth and economic gains through the renewable energy market, investment in water infrastructure and clean water, and reduction of income inequality.

Clarke credits her background in advocacy as a powerful resource to bring to the statehouse. She is a Climate Reality Leader with the international Climate Reality Project.

In addition, she serves on the steering committees of the Jersey Renews coalition, the New Jersey March for Science, and the New Jersey People’s Climate Movement. She has worked with politicians to achieve shared goals, testified to the government on environmental issues and legislation, and made politics and policy more accessible to the public through Facebook Live broadcasts.

History Repeats Itself Residents Enjoy Another Festive Open House at Township’s Historical Museum

By Mara Weiskott (article and photos)

We All Care

While talking one on one to people on the campaign trail, Clarke has observed the power of community – regardless of party affiliation. “No matter what policy we may see changed or repealed at the federal level, when you talk to someone at the door, we all care about the same things.” She cited as examples families, good stewardship, the legacy left to children, good schools, and taking care of one another.

The campaign trail has exacted a toll. Though Clarke’s family was heavily involved in her environmental advocacy, she finds that campaigning takes away more home time than any of her previous work. “There are moments that are heartbreaking,” she reports. “My youngest son has gotten used to his mom leaving in the morning. That’s hard. But I married such an excellent man that knowing they’re in great hands with their father is also nice.”

Clarke’s children accompany her to events and help with canvassing. They are so integral to the campaign that she is making a blooper reel of funny moments. “They’ve been a part of this journey, and they know what we’re fighting for,” she said.

For Clarke, decency is on the ballot. She believes this election will determine the direction of the state and the future. “It’s important that we choose people, regardless of affiliation, who match our values,” Clarke said. “People in communities can get together and get work done, and we need representatives who work the same way. I think our government is too partisan and too broken, and that needs to change.”

Clarke and Democrat Laura Fortgang are challenging Republican incumbents Jay Webber and BettyLou DeCroce in the general election on Tuesday, November 5.

Polling places for each resident can be found on the New Jersey State Department website at https://voter.njsvrs. com/PublicAccess/jsp/PollPlace/PollPlaceSearch.jsp#.

20

Historical Society’s Garden Club members (from left) Sue Heilmann, Kathy Damerel, Anne Kipp, Gerry Harrell and Roberta Shaw.

The mood was as friendly as the day: sunny, bright and cheerful, with a healthy measure of awe. It was a true bluesky day Sunday as the Jefferson Township Historical Society swung open the doors of the former George Chamberlain residence, now the township’s museum. But an open house of the authentically restored 19th century Victorian home was not the only attraction.

Other highlights of the open house event included dedication of a new arbor in the museum gardens and release of a multitude of colorful Monarch butterflies in the garden.

Dozens of residents mingled about, discussing events of the summer, browsing Miss Elizabeth’s Shoppe, sampling homemade treats and touring the museum itself.

Inside the Museum Several society members served as guides – docents in Victorian dress – ushering visitors from room to room in the three-storied house, pointing out historical artifacts.

Outside in the Garden

The meandering guests eventually gathered in the garden area as the new arbor was christened with watering cans by Roberta Shaw, Gardener 1 of the museum’s Garden Club, and Historical Club president, Christine Williams.

The new arbor, noted Carol Keppel, the museum’s director, is dedicated to the Garden Club. She applauded the club’s work in keeping the garden authentic to the Victorian era, reflecting

The Jefferson Chronicle DIGEST • October 2019

Adios, Monarchs!

Much to the delight of kids in attendance, the afternoon was capped off with the release of Monarch butterflies nurtured and raised by former Jefferson school teacher, Eileen Grady.

Society president Christine Williams and Roberta Shaw, gardener number 1 christen the new arbor. the authenticity of the museum itself. Shaw thanked members of the club for their gardening passion and the Historical Society for providing room for the garden. She remarked that maintaining the garden is a year-round endeavor, with proceeds from the club’s flower sales going back into garden maintenance.

Township mayor Eric Wisusen, on hand for the ceremony, thanked all for preserving the integrity of the museum and its grounds. “I’m a lifelong resident of Jefferson,” he told the crowd, noting he remembers what the site looked like before it was refurbished by the society. And with a nod to his mom, the mayor congratulated the Garden Club and the dedicated work of its members, noting that his mother is a master gardener as are club members.

Grady told The Chronicle that when teaching, she always started the school year off for her class with release of butterflies, no doubt putting students in an upbeat frame of mind. Some butterflies flew off immediately, while others lingered on the hands or clothes of their temporary handlers, much to everyone’s delight.

Eventually, all the butterflies headed south for the annual flight to Mexico; but not before lingering around the garden for a while enjoying the blue sky of a late summer day, much like the rest of us.

Editor’s Note: The Jefferson Township Historical Society and its Garden Club welcome residents to join the society as members. Connect with them at a meeting or program, enjoy the camaraderie and learn more about how the society supports the history of Jefferson Township. For further information, refer to the Jefferson Township’s Historical Society website at www.jthistoricalsociety.org, or call Christine Williams, Jefferson Township Historical Society President at 973-697-0258. The museum is located at 315 Dover-Milton Road in Oak Ridge.

www.TheJeffersonChronicle.com

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Event Calendar Events are subject to change or cancellation without prior notice.

LH = Lake Hopatcong OR = Oak Ridge

Event

Date/Time

JT Farmers Market Firemen’s Field

Sundays through Oct. 27 10 am - 2 pm, 973-919-5657

JT Annual Fall Festival Camp Jefferson

Sat., Oct. 19, 10 am - 3 pm 973-663-8404, ext. 4

JT Haunted House Camp Jefferson

Sat., Oct. 19 81 Weldon Rd. LH Kids Matinee 3:30 - 5 pm/Scary 7 - 9:30 pm

JT Haunted House Camp Jefferson

Sun., Oct 20 81 Weldon Rd. LH Kids Matinee 3:30 - 4:30 pm/Scary 6 - 8 pm

Our Lady Star of the Sea Tricky Tray

Fri., Oct. 25, 6:15 pm 973-601-3028

Lake Hopatcong Grand Prix Lake Forest Yacht Club

Fri., Oct. 25 & Sun., Oct. 27

Donagels Donut Chase 5K Horseshoe Lake Pavilion

Sun. Oct. 27, 9:30 am Register: www.donutchase5k.com

Where 750 Rt. 15 South LH 81 Weldon Rd. LH

204 Espanong Rd. LH 35 Yacht Club Dr. LH

Schedule: www.lakehopatcongrace.com/schedule.html

Berkshire Valley Presbyterian Sat., Nov. 2, 10 am - 3 pm Women’s Holiday Craft Show Vendor Info: 973-697-3409

72 Eyland Ave. Roxbury

635 Berkshire Valley Rd. Wharton

Country Auction - Milton United Methodist Church

Sat., Nov. 2, 5 - 9 pm 316 Dover-Milton Rd. OR Register: 973-697-3194 (Space limited.)

Sparta Holiday Craft and Vendor Fair

Sat., Nov. 2, 10 am - 3 pm spartasovendorfair@gmail.com

Comedy Night to Benefit JTFD #2 Sat., Nov. 2, 8 pm Our Lady Star of the Sea Tickets: $25 pp, 973-713-7112

Sparta High School 70 Mountain Rd. 204 Espanong Rd. LH

Rt. 15 S & Edison Rd. Sun., Nov. 3, 10 am - 3 pm JTFD #2 Ladies Aux. Craft & LH Vendor Sale - JTFD #2 Firehouse Vendors: jtfd2ladiesauxillary@gmail.com 125 Landing Rd. Landing

FREE LHF Fall Program: Native American Stories of the Lenape LHF Enviro. & Cultural Center

Thurs., Nov. 7, 7 pm Registration required:

Gazebo/Municipal Grounds Lighting

Fri., Dec. 6, 7 pm www.jeffersontownship.net

1033 Weldon Rd. OR

14th Ann. Christmas in the Village Sat., Dec. 7, 10 am - 4 pm Historic Village of Milton Info: www.jeffersonarts.org

Intersection of Milton & Dover-Milton Rds., OR

lakehopatcongfoundation.org/2019-fall-programs-3/

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The Jefferson Chronicle DIGEST • October 2019

In Brief Join in the Fun of the Holiday Season at Christmas in the Village

Airman, Brother Reunite at Camp Jefferson Photo provided by Jefferson Recreation

Photo by Ulla Vinkman

The Village Marketplace at Jefferson Township Fire Co. No. 1 was full of gifts, treats, and shoppers.

The Jefferson Arts Committee will host the 14th annual Christmas in the Village event on Saturday, December 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Village of Milton in the Milton/Oak Ridge section of Jefferson Township.

Events include:

• The Milton First Aid Squad’s Pancake and More Breakfast • Tours of the Jefferson Township Museum • Live entertainment at St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church and the Milton United Methodist Church • Annual Gingerbread House Contest, with cookies and cocoa available • The Village Marketplace at Jefferson Company No. 1 firehouse • Oak Ridge Martial Arts demonstration • Live Christmas trees sales • Radio play from the Jefferson Community Players • Visit from Santa at Camp Jefferson

Airman Anthony Smith and his brother, Alex Mears The Camp Jefferson Summer Day Camp staff took part in a surprise reunion between a camper and his brother who came home on leave from the Air Force. Airman Anthony Smith was home from Texas and wanted to surprise his brother Alex Mears at summer camp.

Smith was escorted with his mother Kim Mears near where Alex was playing soccer. It took Alex a moment to realize that this was his brother who he hadn’t seen for months.

Not wanting to abandon his goalie post, he ran over for a quick embrace, then returned to his soccer position! When counselors convinced Alex that the game was suspended momentarily, he ran over to his brother for a much longer reunion.

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