TheJeffersonChronicle.com Print Edition - Mid-Summer 2020 Issue

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Print Edition • Mid-Summer 2020 • Volume 2, Issue 3

IT MIGHT LOOK EMPTY, BUT A PANDEMIC . . .

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Acceptance and Love • Scams • Joy in a Pandemic • Dashboard Cameras • Jefferson Pride • Parking Ease

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HERE’S THE THING…

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Welcome back, everyone! We know it’s been a long time since you’ve seen The Jefferson Chronicle, and believe me, we are thrilled to be back. We know that the pandemic has been an extremely trying time for all of us. Between being quarantined, job loss, home schooling, and whatever else we may have had to deal with, this has definitely been a time many of us would rather forget.

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Print Edition • Mid-Summer 2020

Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder

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Co-Chief Executive Officer, Chief Revenue Officer and Co-Founder

Christopher Bean

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Sue Toth

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Here’s the thing…for as dark as the pandemic cloud has been, there have been many silver linings. Dinners at home together, family movie nights, a slower pace…all of these have shown us a way of life we may not have seen for a long while.

We can’t forget how many silver linings Jefferson Township has given us. Think of the fire truck and ambulance parades to celebrate birthdays, Easter, and our graduating seniors. Remember the vintage car parade honoring health care heroes. Keep in mind all the people who made masks and delivered food to people who couldn’t go out. Don’t forget the nearly daily updates from our mayor keeping us informed on the latest numbers of cases.

And in the midst of a pandemic, Jefferson showed its best self by hosting a teach-in on racial acceptance and a raising of the LGBTQ+ Pride flag.

Jefferson stepped up in these and many other ways that we may never know about. It’s knowing that we live in such a caring town that should provide all of us comfort.

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CONTENTS

Contributors Jane Primerano, Kalen Luciano, Johnny Knox, Ulla Vinkman, Christopher Bean, Carol Punturieri, Tony Haryn, Janet Pfeiffer, Melissa Kiritsis, Jimmy Seretis

Articles: Teaching Acceptance and Love . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Don’t Fall for These Scams Against Grandparents . . . . . . . . 11

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Even a Pandemic Can’t Hold Jefferson Down . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Dashboard Cameras in Patrol Cars: A Picture of the Future for Jefferson Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Love is Love: Jefferson Shows Its Pride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Submit Content (Story ideas, press releases, and photos) newsroom@TheJeffersonChronicle.com

Parking to Become a Walk in the Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Here’s the Thing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 In Brief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

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For What It’s Worth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 J-Town Tidbits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Together We Can . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Insights and Expertise: Living Your Best Life Ever . . . . . . . . . 19 Anything Food . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Snapshots of History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

PrintSchool Edition • Mid-Summer 2020 (photo by Christopher Bean) Cover Photo: The empty campusTheJeffersonChronicle.com of Jefferson Township High during the pandemic.

Hours of Operation: By Appointment due to Government Regulations During COVID19 Pandemic

Sunday • Oct. 4 • 9 AM 22nd Annual

5K Wrobo Run/Walk Sponsored by the Junior Woman's Club of Jefferson Township

Proceeds this year will benefit: Blue Star Mothers of Northern New Jersey-NJ6 Jefferson Township First Responders High School Scholarship Award

Pre-registration must be received by September 24, 2020 7:30-8:30 am Onsite registration Jefferson Twp. Municipal Building • Weldon Road, Oak Ridge

For pre-registration, information or donations, please contact: Tricia Strasser 973.945.3530 or Linda Schrieks 973.906.4010 Or visit the Junior’s website at www.jeffersonjuniors.org From the Community, For the Community

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IN BRIEF WORKER DIES IN WEED HARVESTING ACCIDENT

By Jane Primerano (article and photo)

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fter four hours of work, teams from the state Forest Fire Service and Department of Environmental Protection removed the overturned weed harvester from Crescent Cove on Friday, July 3.

The harvester was taken to the Franklin warehouse where harvester maintenance is generally performed, Hopatcong Mayor Mike Francis said, for an investigation in to what caused it to flip. Both the Forest Service and DEP Public Information Office referred questions on the investigation to the State Police PIO, which has not returned calls from the press.

A weed harvester overturned, killing 68-year-old Curtis Mulch, who was trapped underneath.

The harvester capsized on Wednesday, June 24, killing Curtis Mulch, the operator.

SCHOOL SUPER ADDRESSES DIVERSITY CONCERNS

By Kalen Luciano

S

uperintendent Jeanne Howe offered a list of ways Jefferson Township schools promote diversity and inclusion at the Board of Education meeting on June 15. Her remarks came a week after JTHS alumni organized a racial justice teach-in where attendees questioned what the school district was doing to promote diversity and criticized Howe for her absence at the event.

Howe said that the district has plenty of diversity and inclusion resources. All social studies are equipped with resources to talk in-depth about race, and the supervisor of social studies, Daniel Papa, received additional training and resources to help his staff.

The Anti-Defamation League recognized Jefferson Township High School ( JTHS) as a “No Place for Hate” school for completing certain activities including conducting a school-wide pledge against hate. JTHS also has a diversity and inclusion committee — though a student on the committee acknowledged that it was small and couldn’t achieve as much as she would have liked.

POLICE DISCUSS HEADQUARTERS EXPANSION

By Kalen Luciano

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TPD Captain Paul Castimore and town business administrator Debra Millikin updated the township on the progress of the police building expansion project. The police department proposed this expansion in 2018 to obtain NJ Chief Association Accreditation, which would reduce their insurance costs.

Millikin estimated that the expansion project could cost the town about $2.1 million. These costs would expand the locker room to include a space for female police officers, secure evidence storage and prisoner processing, provide a victims’ safe area, build a confidential interview room and a second floor, and create a sallyport for police officers to securely enter when they’re taking in prisoners. This also includes additional costs of nearly $300,000 for flooring, furniture, and lockers. Castimore said that the expansion would include a muster room.

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TheJeffersonChronicle.com Print Edition • Mid-Summer 2020

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TEACHING ACCEPTANCE AND LOVE

By Ulla Vinkman (article and photos)

Top Left: A poignant moment when Jefferson resident Anthony Alexander and audience member Sarah ‘heard’ each other. Top Center: The moment of silence. Top Right: Keith Peters speaking about his hometown of Jefferson Township.

Bottom Left: Lynette Denson sharing her experiences of being married to a black man and raising bi-racial children in what should be a modern world. Bottom Center: Keith Peters comforting speaker Ina Joseph during her speech. Bottom Right: Chief Sean Conrad responding to a question about what Jefferson PD is doing to address issues of people of color being pulled over.

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n an evening for teaching, learning, and coming together, Jefferson Township residents, police, elected officials, and others gathered at the gazebo of the Township Municipal building to attend a peaceful teach-in. The event was organized by township residents Nina DePalma and Christine Anderson.

The evening’s peaceful event was designed to educate community members on racism that still exists in the community and what can be done to combat it and move forward. Christine Anderson opened the event, and the crowd observed an eightminute moment of silence in honor of George Floyd.

Four speakers, Kate Vialet, Lynette Denson, Keith Peters, and Ina Joseph recounted moments of overt, covert, and systemic racism that they and their families have experienced as citizens of Jefferson Township. There were poignant, powerful, and emotional moments as each speaker told their stories – all in the effort to be heard and to ask for others to try to empathize, learn, and gain a bit of understanding of what it is like to be a person of color in today’s society.

The evening ended with an audience Q&A session. One of the questions was addressed to the Jefferson Township Police Department: what does it intend to do about people of color being pulled over without cause? Chief Sean Conrad responded with an apology that it has happened, and he encouraged anyone with an issue to contact the department, and they will take care of it. JTPD is a community-oriented department continually looking to improve itself and its relationships with the citizens of Jefferson. Another impassioned question came as an audience member asked what the Superintendent and Board of Education planned to do to work diversity into the curriculum at large, so that children will feel safe and welcome in Jefferson.

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TheJeffersonChronicle.com Print Edition • Mid-Summer 2020

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From the Community, For the Community

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FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH

WHAT NEXT?

By Tony Haryn

W

hen I first moved to Lake Hopatcong, I heard all kinds of stories, starting with a person owning a World War II PT boat to strange amphibious vehicles driving on the lake. I have seen an airplane in the water, a plane on Route 80, and a cigarette boat along the median of Route 80 during a snowstorm. People have told me of weird lights going down the railroad tracks at night near Picatinny Arsenal.

Since I am a car guy, there were all kinds of those stories: missing vehicles (one was a Duesenberg), a graveyard containing only Chevy Corvettes, and several tales of young men who went off to war, never to return. Fifty years later, the new cars they left behind were still in their parents’ garages under covers of dust.

Then came the lake monster – whom I affectionately called Hoppy – that was sleeping in boathouses and popping up at picnics. We almost had a visit from a bear named Vinny that walked only on its hind legs, but never made it across Route 15.

I have seen the lake catch fire when lighting ignites the gasoline flowing on the surface. Last year, we had the algae bloom that shut down the lake. Business was bad for merchants around the shores, but people who live on the lake told me they loved the quietness. The water was clean of trash and it was easy to get a table at local restaurants. Boaters told me they had a great time, although the fishing was bad. No kidding! Even in busy years, the fish had octane ratings on them from all the gasoline in the lake, but people still ate them.

So, what’s next? What will the summer of 2020 bring to the largest lake in Jerz? Well, we have no UFO stories (that I know of ) in the surrounding areas. No one has spotted a swamp creature or Bigfoot-like being walking through Mahlon Dickerson Reservation scaring hikers. We have not discovered gold or oil, ancient temples from a lost civilization, or people missing like Jimmy Hoffa … at least, not yet. We don’t know what might be found on Liffy Island.

Picatinny Arsenal could accidently blow up something that lands in the lake and sinks a kayaker – or, worse, a senior citizen in his $100,000 Chris-Craft. No one has spotted a Russian submarine trying to park in a cove, but the year is still young. The Covid-19 virus has not stopped boaters or fishermen, but it has suspended eating in at local restaurants.

Vacationers have the problem of trying to find restrooms after consuming their take-out!

What do you think will be next for our little community?

Let’s hope for a good, long summer for all.

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DON’T FALL FOR THESE SCAMS AGAINST GRANDPARENTS

By Carol Punturieri

T

here are many unscrupulous individuals committing telephone fraud and/or theft by deception especially upon innocent senior citizens. Perhaps one of the most contemptible is the resurgence during this pandemic of a scam extorting grandparents where the perpetrator asks for money for a grandchild who claims he or she is in trouble. With many seniors currently quarantining at home amid Covid-19, the emotional impact of such a call, in addition to their already existing anxiety and isolation, can be devastating.

A telephone call usually begins with an individual posing as a lawyer, a law enforcement official, a hospital administrator, or maybe a bail bondsman contacting the senior citizen on behalf of a grandchild. He often refers to the individual’s grandchild by his/her real first name, immediately getting the attention of the grandparent.

In some cases, the panicked “grandchild” — identifying himself by the first name of a real grandchild — gets on the line, pleading for a large amount of money for an emergency situation he finds himself in, such as a motor vehicle accident or an arrest involving lawyer’s fees, hospital bills, bail, or another fictitious expense. He is ironically out of state or out of the country, has no access to such a large amount of money, and needs funds immediately.

However, there are occasions when the senior citizen unknowingly “fills in the blanks” for the thief. The senior answers the phone, the scammer says something like, “Hi Grandma, it’s me, your favorite grandchild,” and the grandparent guesses the name of the grandchild the caller sounds most like. Many times, there is a lot of noise in the background, making the situation confusing. From there, the scammer takes on that grandchild’s identity for the remainder of the call.

All these factors, obviously, make the call all the more realistic to a now frightened grandparent; and the scammers are currently adding that the “grandchild” may contract Covid-19 if he/she has to remain in a jail cell or in a hospital for several days.

Based on love coupled with fear for the well being of their grandchild, many grandparents immediately react and respond to the request after listening to a heartbreaking story of apparent serious circumstances and listening to that family member pleas for assistance. According to AARP, Federal Trade Commission Consumer Sentinel Network statistics indicate that there were over 20,000 imposter scams in 2019 and between January and March of this year, there have been close to 5,000 already.

Unfortunately, those senior citizens who believe that the situation at hand is real become victims of telephone fraud and theft by deception. They withdraw large amounts of money from a bank to pay the fine, bail, hospital bill, etc. Sometimes they agree to

allow the perpetrator to come to their home to pick up cash or agree to have a courier (sometimes unsuspecting Uber and Lyft drivers) pick them up to take them to the bank to make a withdrawal, obviously putting them in an even more dangerous situation. Other victims of such scams have sent money or gift cards through the mail to an out-of-state address where the family member is supposedly being held, sometimes instructed to hide the currency in a magazine. Others have wired large amounts of money through Western Union or MoneyGram to a person/ address as instructed or provided a bank account and routing numbers. On very rare occasions, the transfer can be reversed; but cash is ultimately lost forever.

If you receive such a call, it is suggested to take a breath, always be skeptical and cautious, and not act immediately. Try to verify the caller’s identity and ask questions that a stranger probably wouldn’t have the answers to. A savvy grandmother asked her “grandson” what his last name was and why he wasn’t calling his parents — the scammer hung up. In another situation, in an effort to stall the caller, realizing this was probably a scam but not totally sure, a woman said she needed some time to access the $5,000 requested. The scammer, in this case, said he would call back in a half hour and actually gave her a telephone number to call him back. In that time, the victim called her grandson who lived out of state to find out he was fine. The scammer didn’t call back.

When she reported the incident to her local police department with the telephone number she was given, it was explained that unfortunately, they were unable to trace the number because these perpetrators usually disconnect these telephone numbers as fast as they were set up or use burner phones.

The alarming part is that the scammers refer to the family member in trouble by an actual first name of the senior citizen’s grandchild, nephew, or neice. Obviously, many people post too much information on social media, allowing smart scammers to pick up on personal information. However, when a senior, such as the woman referred to above, doesn’t even own a computer or smartphone to be able to use any form of social media, it seems unexplainable. But rest assured, it happens, and those who do use social media should be careful what they post online.

Grandparent scams, whether by telephone or online through emails, are but one of many scams that criminals use to exploit the senior population. Fortunately, many of today’s seniors are not as vulnerable as some of these scammers believe. Other scams, many of which are aimed at senior citizens, are often inflicted on other age groups as well and include IRS impersonators, robocalls, sweepstakes scams/Jamaican lottery scams, computer tech support fraud, elder financial abuse, romance frauds, fake Social Security calls, lawsuit or arrest threats, and identity theft.

From the Community, For the Community

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J-TOWN TIDBITS

By Carol Punturieri

PAY YOUR PROPERTY TAXES ONLINE

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The Walk of Pride at the Jefferson Township Gazebo.

n August, Jefferson property owners will be expected to pay the next quarterly installment of their property tax bill. It’s safe and easy to pay online, and it takes only a few minutes to do. You can choose to authorize a checking account ACH (e- check) payment or charge your MasterCard or Visa.

Simply log on to https://www.jeffersontownship.net/197/ Bills-Payments. Scroll down to the Forms of Payment section, click on the bolded word online; and you will be directed to the on-line tax payment page. Read the directions and then click on the Begin Tax Payment box on the bottom. You will be prompted to enter your property’s block and lot number and qualification number if applicable and the owner’s last name or company name. The amount due for that particular quarter will be displayed for your review, and you then choose your online payment method.

There are no additional fees to use the e-check method. Enter your checking account number, bank routing number, and contact information as prompted.

If you choose to use your credit card, follow the prompts to add your account number, the card’s expiration date, and the CRV code on the back of the card. A convenience fee of 2.5 percent is collected to cover the costs associated with this service. The system will automatically calculate and inform you of the convenience fee you will be charged before proceeding.

Payments received after 3 p.m. each day will be posted as of the next municipal business day. Interest, if due, will be calculated based upon the same 3 p.m. cut-off time.

When you complete the online process, you will receive a confirmation number and a digital receipt. You should print this for your records. You will also receive an email confirming your payment through this online service. If you do not, call the Township of Jefferson’s Tax Collector’s Office at 973-2083627.

Whether you pay your quarterly property taxes online, by mail, or in person, taxes are payable on the first day of February, May, August, and November. There is a 10-day grace period where the payment must be received in the office by the end of office hours on the last day of the grace period (postmarks are NOT acceptable). After the grace period, taxes are delinquent and subject to interest back to the first day of that quarter. Payments received after business hours are posted on the next business day. Paying your tax obligation in a timely manner helps save the township money and keeps you in good financial standing.

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BUY-A-BRICK AT THE JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP GAZEBO (Photo courtesy of TheJeffersonChronicle.com)

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o maintain the Walk of Pride at the Jefferson Township Gazebo, the Jefferson Arts Committee offers the public engraved pavers for sale at a cost of $50 each.

Personalized paver bricks are 6” x 9” and are used to create a commemorative walkway to and around the Gazebo, which is located at the Jefferson Township Municipal Building complex, 1033 Weldon Road. The bricks may be engraved with a maximum of 3 lines of 15 characters each (including spaces).

To order a paver to commemorate an anniversary, birthday, graduation, in memoriam, in a company name, as a thank you, in a family name, etc., please go to www.jeffersonarts. org, click on Registration Forms in the upper right-hand corner, and print out the order form, complete it, and mail it with a check made payable to The Jefferson Arts Committee, Inc. to The Jefferson Arts Committee, Inc., Attn: Gazebo Committee, P.O. Box 2604, Oak Ridge, NJ 07438. If you prefer, you can email artscommittee@ jeffersonarts.org or call 973-697-3828 for an order form to be emailed or mailed to you.

Note – it can take a minimum of up to 8 to 12 weeks before your brick may be installed. Next time you’re at the Gazebo perhaps visiting the Public Library or the Municipal Building, be sure to stop by to take a stroll on the Walk of Pride and look down at the paving stones to see what a beautiful addition they are to the Victorian structure.

TheJeffersonChronicle.com Print Edition • Mid-Summer 2020

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The empty campus of Jefferson Township High School during the pandemic.

Even a Pandemic. . .

CAN’T HOLD J-TOWN DOWN TOWNSHIP RISES TO THE OCCASION

By Johnny Knox (photos by Christopher Bean Photography, LLC)

T

he Covid-19 pandemic has been the cause of cancellation of schools, athletics, and pretty much any other activity. Jefferson Township has been no exception to this rule. However, the town remained resilient and has made a continued effort of this town to make sure things and people do not go unnoticed. From honoring seniors, to celebrating five-year-olds’ birthdays, people and organizations in Jefferson have shown their strength and compassion.

A DIFFERENT WAY OF LEARNING It comes as no surprise that the pandemic was difficult for both the students and teachers when it came to maintaining patience and the willpower and focus to continue to work.

After trial and error, the Jefferson schools made some adjustments when heading into the last month of the school year.

First off, for high school students all finals were cancelled due to the pandemic. Also, the board decided to allow students to have “No Tech Friday,” nearly dismissing them from classes on Fridays.

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The town also decided to allow students to close their laptops for the year and end their school year on June 19, shortening the final date from the original June 23. This was done mainly due to the cancellation of finals, which would have taken place over that last week. The school scheduled return dates for laptops as well as locker cleanups the week after school was over. The students returned their laptops and gathered their belongings at scheduled times in order to keep students apart from one another.

Students continued on the same schedule as the original coronavirus set up. They were given their assignments at roughly 7:35 a.m. and had the day to complete their assignments for each class. Classes were recommended to assign 30 minutes’ worth of work daily. However, come June, the board also added specific times throughout the day which teachers were allowed to Zoom or Google Meet with their class. This was done to avoid controversy of schedule due to students having multiple overlapping meetings with teachers and other classes.

TheJeffersonChronicle.com Print Edition • Mid-Summer 2020

CELEBRATING ATHLETES OFF THE FIELD High school spring sports had been cancelled for quite some time. However, many coaches and teams were creative in finding possible ways to help athletes get their year back.

For the seniors, it was much more difficult to establish any way to save their last season for all of high school. Coaches honored their seniors in special ways based on the program.

“We received banners and t-shirts as a replacement for an end of the year banquet which would have been coming soon,” senior lacrosse captain Nate Thomson said about their attempts to honor seniors. “We were motivated to continue to help the underclassmen for their future and leave our mark that way.”

Other programs have also distributed t-shirts and banners as well as making videos for their teams with fellow athletes and coaches thanking the senior class and their efforts the past four years. “It got me emotional to see how much we impacted the younger guys over the years,” senior baseball player Justin Cece said about the team’s video thanking the seniors. “I’m going to miss playing with them and wearing Jefferson across my chest.”

While some coaches have been doing different things for the seniors, the Jefferson athletic director Bill Koch has been doing his own thing to honor the class of 2020.

First, he released a profile of the athletes on the Athletics Department’s Twitter and Instagram. In doing so, Koch recognized all of the senior awards and their future endeavors. Koch also made sure that the senior awards banquet would go on. While the planned live broadcast was not able to work, Koch uploaded the awards banquet for all to see on the Twitter page, which allowed the seniors to get some sense of closure from their coaches and fellow athletes.

One sport that didn’t give up on the season was baseball.

While most sports have accepted the spring seasons cancellation, baseball came up with a plan to get some closure for athletes starting July 7. The idea, which started on Facebook from a coach, was to group teams into a division and play three games, which would decide the division’s winner. After all division winners were decided, the tournament would begin as a north vs. south March madness type of setup, allowing there to be one team crowned as State Champion.

The Jefferson Falcons were in this tournament, which took place during the duration of June, giving the baseball players their final chance at closure for the 2020 season.

The final athletic decision that was made for high school sports during the pandemic has been the addition of a bridge year. This rule is giving the class of 2021 athletes the ability to attend their community college, or for Jefferson, County College of Morris and play another year of spring

Cars gather at the Warwick Drive-In to watch film of the class of 2020 graduating.

high school sports after graduation. This will allow the student-athletes to play their four years of high school sports, while getting a jump start on their college education and possibly allowing them to get recruited to a school more fit for themselves.

“It’s just a great opportunity for the seniors to get out there one more time and play for the town. Some of these guys have been looking forward to their senior year since they were eight years old, so at least they’ll get something out of this year,” said Jefferson’s head baseball coach Jason Kalish.

HONORING THE CLASS OF 2020 The class of 2020 lost the most out of its spring semester due to the coronavirus pandemic. Prom, birthdays, fun with friends, and even milestones such as graduation were all lost in the process. The town of Jefferson found ways to honor seniors, as well as ways to pull off the events which were postponed.

Most seniors’ first sadness when they discovered the cancellation of the school year was the cancellation of prom.

Many girls had already gotten their dresses and begun to plan for the exciting week of prom. This was undoubtedly the most difficult of all senior memories to restore due to the pandemic. Many venues are unsure of when they will be opening and even further, when they will open at full capacity, making it difficult for the senior class presidents, Olivia Oberman and Kaylin Kerr, to find a date for a rescheduled prom.

Since the school year ended on June 19, the prom funds had to be moved to another area so students could still use the money. That is why the Project Graduation group took on the prom funds in order to put it aside for a later date. The class advisors and presidents have looked into Thanksgiving or winter break for a possible makeup prom; however, dates are still not confirmed.

Although prom’s postponement saddened the class of 2020, the seniors had many different things organized to help make their senior year still feel special.

From the Community, For the Community

Continued on page 16

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First the Facebook organization of an Adopt a Senior page took full swing. Parents were able to sign their child up and then other parents in the town would choose to adopt seniors which they knew or didn’t know and get them gifts to brighten their moods. This campaign allowed seniors to receive gifts ultimately replacing the graduation gifts, but also just as a way to spread kindness in the community.

Many seniors also participated in door decorations. While most class of 2020 graduates have a sign up in front of their house, some went above and beyond by decorating their front door with mementoes of their accomplishments, their Jefferson experiences, and their future plans. This trend is extremely noticeable, especially when going through an area such as The Peaks or Waters Edge.

Another way seniors were celebrated was through a deed done by an anonymous town citizen. This person set up flags outside the town library, one for each senior. The flags were in alphabetical order next to the person with whom they would walk at graduation. The flags also included students who go to private schools from Jefferson, with their names and schools on the flag. Behind the scene was a sign which read, “Class of 2020, Senior Skip Day Champions.” This sense of remembrance as well as humor was a unique and memorable way to honor the senior class of 2020.

Finally, the class of 2020 was still able to have a graduation, which was arguably the most memorable one in years.

Students went to the high school at assigned times throughout May to be recorded while walking across the stage as they “graduated.” Later, these recordings were put into a long video which included speeches from students and advisors and was displayed at the Warwick Drive-In Theater on June 10.

The video also included special messages from celebrities such as Randy Jackson and James Murray advising the class of 2020 that they will be stronger than the rest and to continue to move forward. After a long night up in Warwick, NY, it was clear that the graduation for the class of 2020 was one that will never be forgotten.

Although the Covid-19 pandemic has taken the world by storm, the town of Jefferson Township has done better than most in maintaining a semi-normal life while also meeting state guidelines and restrictions. The way the town has treated students, teachers, athletes, and the class of 2020 has made many residents of J-Town honored to be a Falcon.

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TheJeffersonChronicle.com Print Edition • Mid-Summer 2020

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TOGETHER WE CAN

UNDERSTANDING RACIAL TRAUMA

By Melissa Kiritsis, JTConnect

S

imilar to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Race-Based Traumatic Stress (RBTS), or Racial Trauma, refers to the stressful impact or emotional pain of one’s experience with racism and discrimination.

It is the collective effect racism has on an individual’s mental and physical health. This could be from major forms of discrimination like being racially profiled or physically threatened, or collective smaller events like microaggressions.

According to the American Psychological Association, 23 percent of Black Americans report experiencing these events at least once a week, stating, “For many adults, dealing with discrimination results in a state of heightened vigilance and changes in behavior, which in itself can trigger stress responses — that is, even the anticipation of discrimination is sufficient to cause people to become stressed.”

Currently, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) only recognizes racism as trauma when an individual meets the DSM criteria for PTSD following a specific event, such as an assault. A study by the National Survey of American Life found that Black Americans show a 9.1 percent prevalence rate of PTSD compared to 6.8 percent in non-Hispanic Whites.

Experiencing frequent discrimination can lead to mental and physical health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, intrusive thoughts, anger, and low selfesteem. It may also cause a person to become hyper vigilant, avoidant, and leave them with a feeling of being unsafe and not socially connected and supported.

Black Americans overall experience higher levels of psychological distress than other groups, but receive less mental health treatment for various reasons, including stigma, cost, and lack of resources. If a Black person needs mental health treatment, they may feel more comfortable seeing a Black therapist because they understand their experiences and are more willing to have open discussions about racism. Those who are struggling may be reluctant to

seek help if they do not find a therapist they can connect with. A study conducted in 2015 found that 86 percent of mental health professionals are White, five percent Asian, five percent Hispanic and only four percent Black.

Melanin and Mental Health, an organization that connects individuals with “culturally competent” clinicians, makes the following recommendations for individuals who are considering a therapist: 1. Ask friends for a referral.

2. Search directories like melaninandmentalhealth.com that list clinicians creating safe spaces for the Black community.

3. Reach out to the therapist before scheduling a session and ask them how comfortable they are discussing race in session.

4. If it is a non-Black therapist, ask them what work they’ve done to be culturally informed and how their work contributes to dismantling racism.

5. Notice how you feel physically and emotionally while having this discussion and how the therapist is responding.

6. Ask them what their views are on micro-aggressions.

As is the case for most, even without considering race as a concern, not every therapist will be a good fit. It may take several tries to find one that best suits your needs. It is important to remember that a therapist is there to reduce the burden and stress, not to worsen it.

FOR A COMPREHENSIVE LIST of Black Mental Health Resources, please visit JTConnect’s Facebook page @JeffersonTownshipConnect or email us at JeffersonTownshipConnect@gmail.com.

From the Community, For the Community

17

DASHBOARD CAMERAS IN PATROL CARS: A PICTURE OF THE FUTURE FOR JEFFERSON POLICE

By Jane Primerano (article and photos)

W

ith an eye toward safety for officers and residents, all 14 Jefferson Township police patrol cars are now outfitted with dashboard cameras, but that isn’t all that’s new.

Captain Paul Castimore, who oversees the administrative and patrol divisions, is enthusiastic about many changes made for the safety and efficiency of patrol. “The cameras are huge,” he said, noting they were a five-year project and were purchased without incurring debt.

to provide evidence and also for the protection of an officer falsely accused of abusing an arrestee.

Jefferson buys four new cars a year. For 20 years they could reuse the center consoles but Ford finally changed them and the department had to buy new ones.

COMPUTERS The modern consoles have computers that can play the video from the dash cam. They store the video and can be used to check drivers’ licenses and registrations, Riena said. Castimore noted the patrol officers can do everything on the car’s computer they can do in the office. They are in the car 12 hours a day, he noted. Riena said the new, young officers get used to the computer quickly; the older ones, not so much.

The new dashboard cameras were installed in all 14 patrol vehicles.

The dash cameras are triggered when the officer turns the light bar on, Lt. Richard Riena said, so every traffic stop has audio and video recording. The camera needs to be turned off manually, he said. The dash camera actually starts recording 30 seconds prior to when the camera is turned on.

A second camera faces the back seat to record what happens when the officer puts a prisoner or passenger into the car, Riena said. That camera actually starts 60 seconds before the switch is thrown. The back seat features a half-cage for the protection of the officer and the person arrested. The back windows also have a metal screen so no one can kick the glass out.

If the officer is out of the car for a non-emergency and has not turned on the camera, double clicking the body microphone will turn the camera on, he said.

The camera is also activated when the patrol car’s speed reaches 90 miles per hour. Riena said that would mean the officer is in pursuit or on his or her way to an emergency, so the camera might be necessary. It also has a deceleration detector for sudden stops or crashes, he added.

Castimore said the department was at first looking at body cameras to be purchased before dash cameras, but council favored the dash cams first. He noted the cameras can be used

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The new computers in Jefferson police cars.

All of the cars now have new radios, Castimore pointed out, noting he pulled a 40-year-old radio out of one car last year.

It still worked. The cars have racks for shotguns and rifles and room in the back for traffic cones, fire extinguishers, life jackets, bullet-proof vests and a box of breech tools.

The old Crown Victorias had plenty of room for storage too, but the officers like the Sport Utility Vehicles for other reasons.

“Especially in Jefferson where you never know how much snow you’re going to get, the All Wheel Drives are appreciated,” Castimore said. He noted police don’t end up doing as many high-speed chases as they used to, so they don’t need the big engines of the Crown Vics.

When the police vehicles have between 60,000 and 80,000 miles on them they are transferred to another township department.

“The average vehicle lasts eight to 10 years,” Castimore said. He praised the Department of Public Works for their maintenance of the vehicles.

TheJeffersonChronicle.com Print Edition • Mid-Summer 2020

Most of the police cars are white with blue and gold lettering and the standard light bar, but there are two without the light bar and two black cars with “stealth” lettering. The lettering is a 3M adhesive that is hard to see during the daytime but reflects lights at night. In addition, the traffic bureau has a vehicle that isn’t a Ford to make it look less like a police car.

Captain Paul Castimore tries on a bullet-proof vest. The vests contain a ceramic plate that make them heavy and hot, but safe.

Castimore demonstrated various ways of adjusting the red and blue lights to eliminate glare at night or on construction duty. He said the township council seems amenable to the next project, renovation and expansion of headquarters.

Traffic Officer Rodger Davis installs a new sign asking drivers to slow down.

INSIGHTS AND EXPERTISE: LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE EVER

HEARTWARM-ING

By Janet Pfeiffer

I

’m not fond of bitter cold weather. However, I’ve logged over 140,000 miles in my thirty-eight years of power walking every day, so in frigid temps, I put on extra layers of clothing before venturing outdoors. Cold muscles don’t work efficiently so it’s important to take time to warm up. Moderate exercise increases blood flow to the tissues, raising muscle temperature and making them more pliable. Supple muscles also reduce the risk for injury, reinforcing the necessity of warming up first.

With over 650 muscles in the human body, there is one whose importance far surpasses all others: the heart. One cannot survive without it. Yet many fail to provide the proper care essential for its optimum performance. I’m not speaking of heart-healthy eating or taking measures to quit smoking or shedding unnecessary pounds. I’m speaking about monitoring the temperature of your heart. Is your heart warm or cold?

Sadly, there are many cold-hearted, unsympathetic, callous people in the world unwilling to embrace one another with love and acceptance. They’re insensitive to the needs and feelings of others--condemning those struggling with addiction or criticizing those who don’t share their beliefs.

They judge others based on the color of their skin and berate those who subscribe to opposing religious or political beliefs.

They refuse to understand and appreciate that which makes others unique, maintaining an arrogant, defensive, and selfrighteous posture.

Many of the major religions of the world teach that God created man in His own image. We know that the very nature

of the Divine Spiritual Being is one of compassion, kindness, forgiveness, and love. Those who proclaim being “spiritual but not religious” believe that we are loving spiritual beings navigating the human experience. The very disposition of agape (the Greek term for love) is one that refrains from judgment, condemnation, criticism, and arrogance. Love (agape) seeks fairness, justice, understanding, tenderness, inclusivity, and comfort at all times with all forms of life. To be fully human is to explicitly realize our loving nature, that of warm-hearted and tender beings.

An athlete who exercises with cold muscles is at increased risk for injury. Those who venture into the world with a frigid heart expose themselves and others to potential pain and suffering. Increasing the warmth of all muscles is essential for maximizing their effectiveness. Ditto for the heart.

Where would the temperature of your heart register on a thermometer? Consider engaging in a daily warm-up, ensuring your heart is functioning at its highest agape capacity. Each day, exercise five miles of compassion towards your friend who supports your political adversary.

Bench press 20 pounds of empathy for the homeless addict on the street corner. Do 100 push-ups of understanding for your sister who condemns minorities. Swim 15 laps of forgiveness for the father who abandoned you. In doing so, your heart muscle will become strong, pliable, and warm, protecting you and others from injury. And your capacity to love will expand exponentially.

From the Community, For the Community

19

ANYTHING FOOD

(SPECIAL CONTENT)

BASIC WINE PAIRINGS

By Jimmy Seretis, Co-Owner, Jefferson Diner and J. Towne Tavern

W

e have all experienced that last minute trip to the liquor store before going over to a friend’s house for dinner, a family gathering, or a byob restaurant, and the question is almost certain to be raised in your mind, which wine should I buy?

There are many ways to choose that special wine. For instance, you can simplify it by choosing a wine that you generally like, or a wine that is within your financial budget, or you can order the correct complementary wine to pair with your meal. We will cover some basics in the hopes that you will have an idea of what to bring to my house next time you are invited over for grilled porterhouses or whole bronzino. I promise you, the meal will be appreciated so much more.

Let’s get right to the meat and potatoes, specifically meat. We will not go through every meat because of the wide variety, but we will assume that you have all grilled steaks, cooked burgers, or barbecued beef. When grilling a porterhouse, you want to pair it up with a warm climate Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot.The porterhouse’s friend, the t-bone steak, can be complemented with a nice Malbec or Petite Sirah. A cool climate Cabernet Sauvignon or Sangiovese is my preference for a nice center cut filet mignon.

The most flavorful steak, the ribeye, absolutely needs a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah wine to accompany some of that tasty salty fat. Let’s move on to burgers.

Again, like steaks, burgers are great with Cabernet Sauvignon, preferably a cool climate Cabernet. I personally prefer a Spanish

Rioja or Malbec with my burger, even when beer is in play. Next time you eat barbecued beef ribs, try a nice silky Merlot with hints of strawberry or fruit, and you will drink it with your ribs every time.

Let’s move on to some poultry dishes. The wine pairings are endless with chicken dishes. An oaked Chardonnay with your grilled chicken is probably an easy one to remember, but would you ever try a Sauvignon Blanc with your southern fried chicken?

Go ahead, take a chance, you will not be sorry. Try adding Riesling to your list of wines to sip with any of your favorite savory chicken dishes. You may be surprised and wonder why you’ve never tried Riesling before.

Shifting gears to the beautiful world of seafood, we will touch on a few nice pairings. Riesling and Pinot Grigio are winners with grilled whole fish any day, along with any crisp rich aromatic white wine. For instance, Grenache Blanc, Pinot Blanc, and Moscato can also be wonderful choices for grilled whole fish. Grilled or seared salmon is paired well with a dry Riesling, Chardonnay, or a light Pinot Noir, as opposed to baked salmon which goes well with a Cabernet Franc because of its herbaceous qualities and notes of minerals. Do yourself a favor and only drink Sauvignon Blanc with sashimi grade seafood or SAKI if you must. Fish cakes anyone?

Yes, you guessed it, unoaked Chardonnay is the wine of choice.

Yes, we all know that there are phone apps for this, but then you would miss out on the beautiful pairing recommendation for windsor blue cheese and Dr. Loosen Erdener Pralat Riesling Ausiese.

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TheJeffersonChronicle.com Print Edition • Mid-Summer 2020

LOVE IS LOVE:

JEFFERSON SHOWS ITS PRIDE

By Sue Toth (article and photos)

L to R: Christine Clarke, head of the Jefferson Twp. Democratic Committee, Cara Parmigiani of Morris County Pride, Jefferson Twp. Mayor Eric Wilsusen, and Jayson Kohut, head of the Jefferson Twp. Republican Committee, pose in front of the Pride flag.

Lily Snow, a student at Jefferson Twp. High School, sings “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” with the Pride flag in the background.

E

“I’m so excited to be here,” Snow said. “This is a wonderful thing for our town, and it will make the gay community very happy.”

Christine Clarke, chair of the Jefferson Township Democratic Committee, told The Jefferson Chronicle that when she was running for NJ state assembly, she promised her supporters that she would commit to raising a flag to honor LGBTQ+ citizens. Even though she didn’t win the assembly seat, she wanted to keep the promise. “I was beyond grateful to ( Jefferson Township mayor) Eric (Wilsusen) that he said yes to us having this ceremony,” Clarke said.

Republican Township Council President Kim Finnegan was also at the event, saying that this is a very important cause to her. “My brother and my best friend are gay,” she said. “People are people. I’m proud that this community is so loving, caring, and dedicated to this cause.”

verything at the Jefferson Township gazebo – from the cloudless sky to the comfortable temperatures to the people standing around in small groups chatting amicably – everything about Saturday June 13 had an air of hope and promise. Amidst that hope came the raising of a rainbow flag in honor of LGBTQ+ citizens.

“It’s so important to bring the community out to celebrate Pride Month,” Wilsusen, a Republican, said. “Even though we are in difficult times due to the pandemic, we wanted to be able to gather for this moment. And the gazebo is the perfect place for it, because it is the gathering spot in Jefferson, and the best place to remember that we stand in solidarity against hate.”

The ceremony began with Pastor Amanda Rohrs of Hurdtown and Lake Hopatcong United Methodist Church leading a prayer. This was followed by an a capella rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by JTHS student Lily Snow.

Snow’s song was followed by words from Cara Parmigiani of Morris County Pride. “It’s hard to celebrate in the current climate, but it’s important to remain hopeful,” Parmigiani said.

“We can’t let our spirits be crushed by the adversity of hate.”

Republican Councilman Jay Dunham noted that, “Today is a day for all peoples of all race, color, creed, and sexual orientation. We need fairness and justice for all, just as the constitution of our great country asks of us.”

While this year’s celebration was small due to the limits of the pandemic, the town will host a bigger celebration next year.

There will be a Pride Day at Central Park of Morris County on September 5, with food trucks and entertainment. There was also a virtual pride parade on June 17 at 7 p.m. For more information, visit Pride Parade 2020 on Facebook. The flag remained in place throughout June, pride month.

From the Community, For the Community

21

SNAPSHOTS OF HISTORY

MEMORIES OF JEFFERSON’S BICENTENNIAL BALL

By Carol Punturieri (photos courtesy of Robert Keppel)

J

efferson Township celebrated its Bicentennial in 2004 with a year-long celebration involving many memorable events and programs celebrating the 200th anniversary of its formation in 1804. Many people were involved in making the celebration a reality, with Jack Kelly serving as chairman of the Jefferson Township Bicentennial Committee. Russ Felter, who was mayor at the time, said, “Those involved displayed true united patriotism and volunteerism.”

The Jefferson Chronicle has learned that the year-long celebration started off with a spectacular Bicentennial Ball on January 24, 2004. After months of planning, the event was held at The Jefferson House in Lake Hopatcong. The menu consisted of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres followed by a dinner buffet representative of the era including corn chowder, a green salad, carving stations offering Virginia ham and turkey, pork and sweet potatoes. Guests also enjoyed Chicken Francese, Seafood Newburg, stroganoff with noodles, scalloped potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and peas. Beer, wine and soda were available, and a Venetian table of delectable desserts concluded the festive meal.

The event was open to all residents and invited dignitaries, and a reasonable ticket price allowed 160 people to attend. Dignitaries as prominent as then President George W. Bush were invited!

In an effort to also raise funds for the upcoming celebratory plans for the rest of that year, several raffles were held including a 50/50, a charcoal rendering of the township gazebo drawn by Ron Weidel, and a large basket of bicentennial commemorative items.

The bicentennial commemorative articles were also offered for sale throughout 2004 and included an afghan created by John/Joan Crafts and Gifts in Mertztown, PA featuring nine depictions of significant events and places from Jefferson’s past and present copied from preserved black and white postcards on file with the Jefferson Township Historical Society. A celebratory 2004 calendar with beautiful photographs of the township taken by John Archibald, Robert Keppel, Sal Pisani, Ben Smead, and Richard West; the Treasured Recipes cookbook that featured real recipes from township residents; a t-shirt with a logo designed by resident Rosemary Bush; a baseball cap with Bush’s logo; a Thomas Jefferson bookmark with a gold tassel; a commemorative pin designed by Jefferson Township student Kristina Runne; and a beautiful holiday tree ornament were among the commemorative items.

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Committee members, township officials, and many guests came elegantly dressed in beautiful costumes indicative of the 1800s, while some came in formal attire. In an article written by Karen Maurer on behalf of the Bicentennial Committee, “The most daring of the group came in satin and lace, top hats and tails, and even a few wigs.”

Township Girl Scouts including Jess Arena, Ava Tews, Annamarie Amato, and April Sparling dressed in period outfits and conducted red carpet interviews as guests entered the venue.

As some girls from Troop 155 Jefferson North were working on pre-requisites for their Gold Award, Lindsay Kolvik from Troop 1012 came to help the younger girls as part of her own Gold Award requirements. Councilman Brooke Hardy served as Master of Ceremonies with the Rev. David Muyskens, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Berkshire Valley, leading the invocation; and Rev. Linda Prinz, Pastor of the United Presbyterian Church of Lake Hopatcong, lead the benediction that evening.

Mayor Felter gave the Bicentennial Toast; and numerous proclamations and resolutions including ones written by 25th District Assemblyman Richard A. Merkt, Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders Director Jack J. Schrier, NJ Congressman Rodney P. Frelinghusyen, NJ Governor Richard J. Codey, NJ Senator Jon S. Corzine, and even the President of the United States George W. Bush were read along with congratulatory letters from other New Jersey municipal dignitaries.

Following their prior extensive research, at the dinner, the committee announced the oldest living native-born residents born in Jefferson Township. Alma Moran at age 96 was recognized as the oldest living female native; and Charles “Wesley” Ackerson at age 88 was recognized as the oldest living male native. Ninetyfive-year-old Herman Eck was acknowledged as the oldest living non-native male resident while Wilhelmine “Minnie” Hammer at age 95 was recognized as the oldest living nonnative female resident. Both women were not in attendance as Moran had moved to a facility in Denville, and Wilhelmine was in a rehabilitation facility. Both gentlemen, however, were in attendance and were presented with a plaque and a special commemorative bicentennial afghan.

The oldest resident families of the township were recognized as were the supporters and donors to the ball, along with Jefferson’s own elected officials, including Council President Richard Yocum,

TheJeffersonChronicle.com Print Edition • Mid-Summer 2020

Top Left: Many guests came dressed in period costumes. Seated: unknown, Eileen Grady, Carol Keppel, Ada Felter, unknown, Christine Williams. Standing: Michael Melofchik, Patrick Grady, Cheryl Birmingham, Jack Kelly, Robert Keppel, Art Magnotti, Cliff Williams, Charles Ferraioli, Richard Willis, unknown, Peter Brennan, unknown, Lydia Magnotti Top Right: The 2004 Jefferson Township High School Men’s Ensemble under the direction of James Wynne performed for the guests. Bottom Left to Right: Chairman of the Bicentennial Committee Jack Kelly, Master of Ceremonies Councilman Brooke Hardy, and Mayor Russ Felter presided in the presentation of awards and recognitions / Ben and Deborah Smead were dressed to the nines / At 88 years of age, Wes Ackerson was recognized at the Ball by Jack Kelly and Mayor Russ Felter as the oldest living male native.

Council Vice President Robert Birmingham, Councilmen Brooke Hardy and Michael Sanchelli, and Councilwoman Debi Merz. The Bicentennial Committee chaired by Ada Felter and members Laurie O’Shaughnessy, Frances Slayton, Richard Willis, Christine Williams, Rose Kelly, Jack Kelly, Richard West, Thomas Kieran, and Julie Mastricola were recognized as well.

Guest speakers were Congressman Rodney P. Frelinghuysen, Senator Anthony Bucco, and Freeholder John Inglesino.

Classical music during the cocktail hour was provided by residents Judy and Tim Adriansen, choral selections were performed by the Jefferson Township High School Men’s Ensemble under the direction of James Wynne, and a dance performance of the Virginia Reel was performed by The Morris County School of Dance and included members of the Bicentennial Committee.

Dance music and entertainment was provided during the evening by the seven-piece band Scoot on Down (which included several musicians who were Jefferson Township residents). Art Bonito from Jefferson Highlights Community TV filmed the evening’s activities.

The Bicentennial Ball’s corporate sponsor was the law firm of Courter, Kobert and Cohen, P.C. Support and donations came from Gig the Florist, The Bicentennial Committee, The Jefferson House, Jefferson Highlights Community TV, Jefferson

North Girl Scouts, Jefferson South Girl Scouts, and West Photo Imaging.

A time capsule was buried on municipal grounds containing information about the Bicentennial celebration of 2004 and will be opened in 2054 for all to learn of this momentous Jefferson Township event firsthand. The capsule is said to contain a total of 75 items representing the township’s typical lifestyle at the start of the 21st century, including news events, popular culture, township information, local restaurant menus, a high school yearbook, submissions by local school children, an American flag that flew over the State Capitol, and personal items from the Wroblewski family in remembrance of their son Marine Second LT. John T. Wroblewski who died in 2004 while serving his country in Iraq. Tom DeSena of Lake Hopatcong won a lottery for a chance to include a personal item in the capsule.

It was indeed a spectacular event that will always hold a special place in Jefferson Township’s history.

Sources: Bicentennial Memories of The Township of Jefferson NJ 1804-2004; The 2004 Jefferson Township Bicentennial Ball program; Bicentennial Committee members Robert Keppel, Richard West, and Laurie O’Shaughnessy; the website http://www.jeffersonbicentennial.org

From the Community, For the Community

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TheJeffersonChronicle.com Print Edition • Mid-Summer 2020

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PARKING TO BECOME A WALK IN THE PARK

By Jane Primerano

A

dditional parking will soon be available near Alice’s and The Windlass restaurants, after the township’s land use board approved a variance application by a five to one vote at its Monday, June 22 meeting. This was the second time a variance for the property was considered by the board.

illustrating the two lots are compatible with the commercial uses. The two lots will provide a net gain of 29 parking spaces, McDonough explained. He presented diagrams illustrating the traffic circulation.

The various businesses are owned by separate limited liability corporations, the applicant’s attorney Bernd Hefele explained.

The Windlass restaurant is owned by Rusty Cleat LLC, Alice’s Restaurant is owned by Big Fish LLC, and the miniature golf course is owned by Lakeland Marine Base LLC. All three are under the umbrella of Camp Six Inc., Hefele said. Camp Six was the applicant for the variance.

The planner explained that rather than include handicapped spaces in those lots, the applicant will add one handicapped space each near the entrances to The Windlass and Alice’s. McDonough noted that makes more sense than putting handicap spaces farther from the restaurants.

As businesses on the point expanded, residents became angry about on-street parking, especially at the dead end of Nolan’s Point Park Road, which is quite narrow. The township instituted parking restrictions and the owners of the businesses purchased a residential lot to create off-street parking.

When Camp Six first came before the board for a use variance, Hefele told the board the parking lot would provide extra parking for Alice’s. The board voted down that variance in May, with members saying the parking problems involve all of the businesses on the point. Four members of the board voted in favor of the use variance in May, with three voting against. Under the state’s Municipal Land Use Law, five votes are needed for a use variance to pass. Camp Six applied for a new variance for parking to serve all three businesses.

Hefele’s first chore was to establish that the application represented a substantial change from the previous one. Board attorney Glenn Kienz said that the application cited all three businesses represented a substantial change in the application. The board’s other professionals, planner Jill Hartmann and engineer John Ruschke, agreed, but the final decision was up to the board.

Of the seven board members eligible to vote on a use variance, six agreed the addition of the other businesses represented a substantial change. Member Dennis DiFrisco disagreed. Under state law, the class I and III members of the land use board cannot vote on use variances, so Mayor Eric Wilsusen and Councilwoman Melissa Senatore were not included on either vote. DiFrisco agreed to not weigh in on the variance application since he didn’t agree it constituted a new application. Kienz said the remaining six members of the board could decide.

The new parking lot is to be constructed on two former residential lots. Camp Six purchased the lots and tore down the two houses that were on them last fall. Although the lots are in a residential zone, they are only 10,554 and 15,960 square feet.

The zone calls for 30,000 square feet, meaning even were the lots joined, they would be substandard. The applicant’s planner, John McDonough, explained the lots are adjacent to the commercial zone on the point. He showed both aerial photographs and plans

Because of the grade on the lots, the parking area will be divided in two. The upper lot will feature two rows of parking totalling 22 spaces with a 24-foot drive. It will be accessed through Alice’s current driveway. Three parking spaces around Alice’s will be eliminated to provide circulation. The lower lot will contain 26 spaces with one-way access into and out of the lot.

EXTENDED SIDEWALK The plan also includes an extended sidewalk across the front of Alice’s leading to a crosswalk serving the miniature golf course.

Ruschke reminded the applicant the previous pavers that will be used must meet best practices. Lot coverage far exceeds the percentage allowed in the zone. A variance was also granted for that.

The applicant’s engineer, Andrew Cangiano, said the stormwater discharge facilities would follow the township’s standards for green infrastructure. He also said the parking along Nolan’s Point Park Road, which currently exists, would be striped to be farther from the centerline. In addition, several diagonal spaces in front of Alice’s will be replaced by two parallel spots.

Public comment was extensive at meetings for the previous application, with residents concerned about sight lines to the lake and continued traffic problems, but only neighbor Timothy Becza spoke on Monday night. He thanked the board for responding to previous comments and said he is nervous about new businesses coming in needing the parking.

Cangiano said 2,800 cubic yards of soil will be removed in the construction of the lot, although some of that soil will be reused on the site. He said the proper permits will be obtained, including any needed permits for blasting or ripping of rock.

Board member Patricia Galfo asked if a project proposed by Camp Six for parking and retail on Espanong Road, if completed, would alleviate the need for parking on the point. Hefele said that lot would be designed to meet the needs of the construction there and parking for the Miss Lotta tours to be served by a shuttle bus, but he added, “with the state of the economy, we don’t plan on developing that right now.”

Galfo cast the lone negative vote, which left five votes for the application, the minimum necessary for approval.

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