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SIX09
Back to School issue
SEPTEMBER 2021
COMMUNITYNEWS.ORG
Love and safety in ‘plane’ sight for Code3
Up to the task Firefighter Dave Smolka is on call for disasters like 9/11 and the Surfside condominium collapse in Miami
Rescue aviation team helps pets in distress find new homes — no matter the distance
By Thomas Kelly
Most people run away from fires and natural disasters. Some run toward them, and some sign up for more. Firemen and women are those kind of people. Dave Smolka is a fireman. It is his calling. Not from birth or as a child, but from once he got a taste of the job and the satisfaction helping others brings. He is a battalion chief with the Trenton Fire Department, was a volunteer in the Hamilton Fire Station 14 for many years, and for the last 20 years has beeen a member of the New Jersey Task Force 1, one of 28 federal FEMA urban search and rescue teams established around the country. NJ Task Force 1 is one of 28 FEMA teams based throughout the United States that are regularly deployed in response to for natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods, as well as manmade disasters such as the recent Surfside condominium collapse in Miami, or the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. The 200-member team is nearly self-contained with firemen, police, engineers, logisSee SMOLKA, Page 16
FREE
By Rebekah SchroeDer
Jason Rusnock and Emily Rodia in Good Buy Supply, their store on East Passyunk Avenue in Philadelphia. Rodia, a Hamilton West grad, says Good Buy Supply is the first shop in Philly dedicated to the zero-waste movement.
Their courage and compassion inspire us all.
Good Buy, good earth stores, stopped buying plastic many of them women-owned. water bottles, and questioned Since then, Emily and Jason Around five years ago, the necessity of all of their have been running their store full-time in the hopes of reducforth,written “livingin chalk Emily Rodia and her fiance, Onepurchases morning, athus message appeared Jason Rusnock started their a little more minimalist,” as ing the amount of single-use in front of an RWJBarnabas Health facility. The words plastics and other nonbiodejourney toward a low-waste Emily says. couldn’t have been more soul stirring, gradable materials in their Quickly, theirsimpler, interestor in lifestyle. Living with roomor more accurate. producing less waste spiraled area and educating customers mates, they noticed how much trash their household in from a conscious effort into about the importance of proSouth Philly was putting out a new way of life when they ducing less waste. Rodia, who is from Hamzero-waste each week, and it bothered discovered the “Heroes movement, and they them. workbegan here.” to ilton, attended University What also bothered them dream of a retail shop to pro- of the Arts in Philadelphia, was the litter around Philadel- vide plastic-free alternatives where she studied painting, and where she met Jason, for their neighbors. phia, scattered on the ground Three words of gratitude and encouragement that In November of 2020, this who studied photography and and blowing in the wind, parcapture the courage and compassion of health dream came true for the cou- who also grew up in New Jerticularly the plastic bags that workers here and To share your The couple fell in Fredon. ple when they across openedAmerica. Good sey, seemed to be everywhere, thanks to support our Emergency Fund, in love with the city, and have BuyorSupply on East Passyunk Response including in their own cupon a street lined with essentially never left. “It has boards at home. They began visit Avenue, rwjbh.org/heroes businesses, to bring their own tote bags to independent See GOOD BUY, Page 18 By CaTherine BialkoWski
At the Trenton–Robbinsville Airport, Mark and Dylan House are in a building by the quiet runway outside, hoping to explain the virtue of saving animals. It’s a small team of dedicated people who volunteered this weekend, all eagerly waiting for the time to get to work. Mark House proudly shows off his sizable photo album of Code3 Animal Rescue Aviation Team’s success stories, recounting the hardships and emotional journeys thus far. There’s pictures upon pictures of dogs, cats, even raccoons, all with thankful expressions. Code3 is a nonprofit rescue organization that uses planes to transport animals in need free of cost, usually to other related groups or causes, like shelters. Being saved can be See CODE3, Page 20
SPOrTS – Futsal players welcome new turf field in Bromley Park, page 32.
And please, for them, stay home and safe.
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