Mt Olive Life Jan 2020

Vol. 3 • No. 1 • January 2020

FREE, Please Take One

Teachers at Tinc Road Elementary School Promote Positivity Also Inside: • Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce Torch of Presidency Passed • Chief of Police Monthly Column • Mount Olive councilwoman speaks out for injustice and rights of all who are vulnerable • Learn More about YOUR Mount Olive Township Historic District

• New Beginnings Bible Church Living Its Pillars of Faith • Recalling Steve Slattery’s Historic Exploits at Mount Olive High School and Beyond • Mt. Olive Township: Think Spring! Garden plots available at the Community Garden at South Branch preserve

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T

Learn More About YOUR Mount Olive Township Historic District

By Steve Sears

he quiet, the stillness, the desolation, the emptiness on a cold, day-after-a-snowstorm morning is so apropos here.

The corner of Mount Olive Road and Flanders-Drakestown Road, heading down to the Flanders section of Mount Olive, is a part of the Mount Olive Village Historic District. It is here where Mount Olive had its beginnings.

What stands here now, separated by a tiny cemetery, parking lot and an empty plot of land once home to a Presbyterian Church, are a tiny, one-room schoolhouse known as the Mount Olive Academy, and the Mount Olive Baptist Church.

At one time, children attended classes here, church services were celebrated. The school is now long closed, the church abandoned in 1970 as the congregation moved to a newer facility up the road, both buildings having been shuttered (especially due to age of the buildings) to new generations.

You can stand here and take it all in, try to envision the past, and wonder what’s to be done with the structures. The answer?

Something positive.

Kathy Murphy, Vice-President of the Mount Olive Historical Society, says while pointing, “This is part of it, the cemetery up here. This is where the Presbyterian Church was,” she says, indicating a snowcovered plot of land next to a parking lot, an empty cement set of stairs ascending slightly the empty spot. “It burned down.

Now, here’s the schoolhouse, and then the old Baptist Church.” The latter sits at the corner, down a slight hill. It is the third building on the site, the first being a log cabin, the second a wood frame building at the beginning of the 19th century.

The third structure was built beginning in 1853. Murphy believes it is the eighth Baptist church in New Jersey.

“This whole area makes up the Mount Olive Village,” she says.

Murphy and others have secured both structures and are working on prepping both to be reopened to the public.

Murphy talks about the cemetery adjacent to the church, which was originally called Schooley’s Mountain Church. “The earliest stone here is Elizabeth Cozad.” On this cold morning, Cozad’s stone is snow-covered. “She died in her 80s in 1812.

She lived here during the (American) Revolution, and her father had established the (iron) mines and everything. It goes back, and of course there’s more than half a dozen Civil War, and at least three or four Revolutionary War (soldiers buried here) that we know of – and there may be more. And, of course, there’s a

bunch of headstones missing.”

The whole corner, per Murphy, was all part of the absolute earliest settlement in the area. “All the little village clusters were after this.”

Exiting your car and trying to walk either towards the schoolhouse or church, you sense the hardship that folks had in inclement weather in earlier days. Young kids trudging to school maybe had fun among the flakes on the way to their studies, while congregants carefully stepped in ankle-deep snow, on their way to perform their Sunday constitution of studying God’s Word.

Back then, the churches and mines prevailed, and all the founding families of the area are buried here.

The Baptist Church remained for a period after the congregation moved, using it for their youth group for a period before leaving the building entirely. The building had no bathroom but just an outhouse, and parking was in a not-so-spacious gravel lot.

When Murphy moved to Mount Olive, as a volunteer

1

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she was able to get grants for the town. She then was hired part-time and transitioned to full-time, a job she loved. And there was the history aspect, which she loved and majored in during college.

While in the township’s employ, the Baptist Church (labeled “Meeting House” on the front of the building) roof was discovered to have a leak. Murphy, then-Mount Olive Township Clerk, Lisa Lashway, Mount Olive Historical Society President Thea Dunkel, and high school History teacher Noreen Risko (she and her group instrumental in getting a roof put on the schoolhouse in 1980), sought a way to buy the building for the town. A deal was worked out, a purchase price was secured from Morris County, and the group now owned the few acres that belonged to the Baptist Church across from Town Hall, the old church itself, and the schoolhouse. “You have to be creative; you have to make it work,” says Murphy when asked what her feelings were when the buildings were acquired. “We had done some research and we knew that this was important for the town.” Also, when the church was abandoned, the building reverted back to a clause in the original deed from the 1700s

that said if the church fails to use it as church property, it goes back to the family.”

Murphy then looks at the cemetery downhill. “Colonel (Peter) Salmon (Captain of the Western Battalion of Morris County, New Jersey) is buried here in the cemetery, and there is a family association that still meets, and it was going to revert to them!

We had to have – I can’t tell you how many people had to sign off on that!”

The town gave its okay, and the powers-that-were at the church were approached and approved of the idea, and the county at via its Preservation Trust expanded past open space and included historic preservation. “The timing was right,” says Murphy. “2004 was when we acquired it. We did an application to the Preservation Trust to purchase the property as open space, which we got the money for, but then right after that we went back to the Preservation trust for the historical component, and what you needed to do was start getting it on the National Register (of Historic Places).” The first step was the exterior, where the steeple was falling off, that was rotted, and a new roof. Certain criteria have to be followed to remain on

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the National Register. “It has been a real learning experience for us, too,” says Murphy.

The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in the summer of 2015.

The ultimate goal with both properties is to open both to the public; unveil a window to the past. It is hoped that the church can be opened to the public next year (2020). It will be used to see what it was like to have a church experience therein, but also to be used for small meeting and conferences. “It would make a lovely wedding chapel,” says Murphy. “We want the community to appreciate it. We want the public to be able to use it. And at the same time, it would be nice to raise enough funds to cover the operating costs.”

“We’ve done some terrific things.”

One very interesting tidbit was the uncovering of a painted canvas ceiling in the church, which Historian Dunkel had researched and discovered was done back in 1870. Because the roof leak had damaged artwork, rather than rip the ceiling down, in 1890 a then-installed tin ceiling covered up the canvas…to an extent. “They covered up the painted ceiling, which had lavenders and blues,” says Murphy, a touch of pain in her voice.

“Yellows and everything – real color. No realized that it had this paining until the tin ceiling got the bad roof leak, and you can see where the tin was damaged, little bits of fabric were hanging out there.” The tin ceiling has now been removed, and the worst damage revealed is over the choir loft.

It will remain in its current condition for now. There is beauty there, even in its poor condition.

As for the 1837 one room schoolhouse, Murphy has a few of the old desks now inside the building. In the future there will be “History of Mount Olive” displays, but obviously returning it to is 19th century classroom setting would be ultimate. “We can get kids to try and sit down and experience it.”

The stained glass windows in the church have been removed (“They were from the 1940s, they didn’t match the church, and they weren’t in the best shape anyway,” says Murphy), and have been returned to the original glass windows that appeared in a 1930s newspaper article about the church that showed a picture of the side of the building. “There were shutters at that time, covering the windows. But one of the shutters was broken and you could see the frame of the window inside. From that, they were able to determine how many panes of glass were in it.”

The roof on the school must be replaced. “When the old Presbyterian Church (originally built in 1857) – which at the time was turned over to a private resident - burned to the ground ten years ago, the heat curled up some of the roofing tiles. We want to get a new roof on there.”

“Historical” to Murphy means the following. “Once you get people in, I think they’ll make a little more of a connection. That’s why we want to see buildings like this preserved, otherwise every town just becomes this nameless blur of strip malls and chain stores. People don’t have that connection to their community unless there’s something unique about it. I hope this helps provide more of that.”

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Mt. Olive Township: Think Spring!

Garden Plots Available at the Community Garden at South Branch Preserve

N

ow entering its seve n t h y e a r of operation, the Community Garden at South Branch Preserve has plots availabe for the 2020 season, which runs from April 1st through November 30th.

An informational meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 19th at 7 p.m at the Mt. Olive Township public library, 202

Flanders-Drakestown Rd, Flanders, NJ 07836. Free vegetable seeds will be available to interested gardeners, and sign ups for plots may be completed at this time.

“The camaraderie and friendships among the gardeners has been amazing, and the gardeners donated over 350 lbs of excess produce in 2019,” said Barbara McCloskey, the Garden Manager and Membership & Outreach Manager for the Land Con-

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The annual membership rate for Mt. Olive Township residents and/or members of The Land Conservancy is $35 per 10’ x10’ plot and $45 for non- residents.

There is a one-time irrigation fee of $30 for each plot. servancy.

The annual membership rate for Mt. Olive Township residents and/or members of The Land Conservancy is $35 per 10’ x10’ plot and $45 for non- residents. There is a one-time irrigation fee of $30 for each plot.

The Community Garden is located at the intersection of Wolfe Road and Route 46 West. It is part of South Branch Preserve, which totals over 200 acres in this location. Preserved by The Land Conservancy and its partners (including Mt. Olive Township) this land was purchased to protect the headwaters of the South Branch of the Raritan River, a drinking water supply source for over 1.5 million New Jersey residents.

The garden is surrounded by fencing, to keep out deer and rodents, including rabbits and groundhogs. A shed is located onsite, which houses some gardening supplies. Gardeners are encouraged to bring their own gardening tools. Water is provided by The Land Conservancy by individual spigots and hoses throughout the garden. Only organic gardening practices are allowed at the Preserve.

For additional information, contact Barbara McCloskey at The Land Conservancy of New Jersey at (973) 541-1010, x14, gardenmanager@tlc-nj.org or visit our website at www.tlc-nj.org.

Founded in 1981, The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is a member supported, non-profit land trust dedicated to preserving and protecting vital natural lands and water resources throughout the State. The Land Conservancy has preserved over 27,000 acres of land and helped towns secure $235 million in county, state, and federal grants for their land conservation projects.

Accredited by the National Land Trust Accreditation Commission in 2009, and reaccredited in 2015, The Land Conservancy of New Jersey has worked with 100 municipalities in 13 counties and is recognized for meeting the highest quality standards for protecting open space, upholding the public trust, and ensuring that their conservation efforts are permanent.

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Mount Olive Councilwoman Speaks Out for Injustice and Rights of All Who Are Vulnerable

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By Jillian Risberg t’s in her blood — and a labor of love for Councilwoman Colleen Labow to help others and she’s been doing it all her life.

So it would seem only natural that she chose a life of service. But it didn’t start out that organically.

Back in 2001, one of Labow’s friends urged her to apply for the town’s newly formed Ethics Committee.

The councilwomen felt it was a bad idea.

“Judy, you know I can’t stand politics,” Labow told her friend. “I really don’t want to get involved with that stuff. But she kept after me saying, ‘you really need to.’”

After two months of back and forth — Labow says she finally agreed, submitting her application and was actually chosen by the council for that committee.

“In the meantime, the council race was coming up,” she says. “And I decided to run for the Mount Olive Township Council.”

But they informed her that she couldn’t be on the Ethics Committee if she was going to run for council, even though there was no selection criteria.

“So they decided to make changes to the selection criteria and violated the Sunshine Act actually,” Labow says. “John Dorsey (Republican State senator, assemblyman), the township attorney at the time told me if I didn’t like it I would have to sue.”

According to the councilwoman, she didn’t want to sue the town, but she says they were doing everything illegally.

“I did file suit and had an attorney pro bono and I won,” Labow says. “It took two years and he told me it cost the town like $1200 in legal fees.”

She didn’t win that initial election but two years later the councilwoman ran again and secured a seat on the council. “I started my service in January 2004,” Labow says. “And it became like a joke after that whenever we were talking about ordinances or

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“Everybody is very respectful of others opinions, ya know we don’t always have to agree.”

And the councilwoman says that none of them have any problem agreeing to disagree. things you could do with a resolution vs. an ordinance.”

“John Dorsey used to kid around and say, ‘You gotta ask Mrs. Labow, she’s the ordinance expert around here.’”

When it comes to politics, the councilwoman says you like to think on a local level that everybody, including your fellow residents are concerned about the township.

“They always say there’s no Democratic or Republican way to plow the roads or to pave the roads,” Labow says.

Council President Joe Nicastro echoes that sentiment, adding that when he looks at an issue he only sees a Mount Olive issue and what the right thing is to do for the residents. Working with Labow they are able to make that determination.

“Colleen is very knowledgeable and passionate and I enjoy our time together serving on council,” he says.

The councilwoman tries to stay as informed as possible so when a resident comes to her with a question or concern, she is able to direct them to the proper channels.

“But sometimes things do become very political,” Labow says.

Fortunately for the past several years, especially since Rob Greenbaum’s been there, the councilwoman says they haven’t experienced those political games and it’s been great.

“Because my dreams of how government should run, our government is running about as best as it could be,” Labow says.

“Everybody is very respectful of others opinions, ya know we don’t always have to agree.”

And the councilwoman says that none of them have any problem agreeing to disagree.

“I love that we all listen to each other and want to hear what the other one has to say,” Labow says. “Sometimes we change our minds, sometimes we don’t.”

She says they’re not fighting about it, instead staying focused and realistically looking at how to perform the most effectively for the township.

“It sounds like it doesn’t seem possible but it’s really exciting that it’s actually working,” the councilwoman says. “That’s why I think when you keep politics out of it you can get things accomplished.”

She calls it an honor to be a member of the council and can’t think of a better government entity to work with than Mayor Rob Greenbaum and all the commissioners.

“We have a rare mindset,” she says. “We all keep what we believe is in the best interest of our community the priority.”

According to Labow, even if you don’t like whoever’s elected, try to work with the person during their term to see what you can get done.

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That type of collaborative effort has paid off for the council.

“We have worked very hard to improve roads, programs and services, reduce debt, increase our financial rating and (always) look for more ways to make improvements and keep municipal taxes stable,” the councilwoman says.

Looking ahead to 2020, there will be new tenants in town, as Amazon intends to repurpose the old Sam’s Club (ITC Crossings Mall) into an e-fulfillment center sometime in the new year, the company announced.

Stunned workers were greeted with locked doors when the Budd Lake site closed abruptly in early 2019 due to nationwide budget cuts, along with 175 jobs.

When the giant retailer moves into the space, they plan to hire hundreds of full- and part-time employees.

“They’re contemplating putting a flex warehouse,” Labow says. “Of course they’d have to improve the cap for the landfill and all that other stuff. So all these things are really nice items that are happening.”

On the other hand, the councilwoman says you get the frustrating end of the job and you have to have a lot of patience.

“We had this nice donation of land in the ITC for the section of the Morris Canal piece,” Labow says. “Our insurance company is concerned because of some waste material that it cost us about $30,000 to have an environmental company come to the state-owned access road to get to this junk, clean it up so we can get this really nice donation. But he wants to charge us $8,000 in permit fees.”

Labow says it’s the only section in what’s left of the Morris Canal that actually has water.

“I don’t know if that part is part of it or if it attaches to it but I’m fortunate that I’ve taken a hiking course over in that area and it’s just gorgeous,” the councilwoman says.

She says it’s been three years trying to get this piece of property in the township’s name.

“Then you have people in the public who are constant-

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LOSE 20-35 POUNDS IN JUST SIX WEEKS. Individual Results May Vary Dr. Supervised Weight Loss ly complaining, why isn’t our government doing this or that,” Labow says. “Just because you’re not seeing something completed doesn’t mean we’re not working on it.”

“There’s no class to take that teaches you how to be a legislator, you really need to educate yourself and you have to care enough to want to learn.”

According to the councilwoman, whenever there is an accomplishment— you just relish those moments.

“Anytime you’re able to help somebody it’s very, very rewarding,” Labow says.

As chair of the Mount Olive Board of Health, Labow oversees anything related to wellness for the council.

“I’ve been fortunate enough that my colleagues have voted for me to be the chair,” Labow says. “Joe Nicastro was before me and I think Ray Perkins was before Joe and then I was it before Ray — so you kind of switch off and on.”

The council president is proud to serve with Labow.

“She is such a caring person,” Nicastro says. “No matter what an issue is Colleen will give her all to try to help.”

In 1999 to 2001 Labow did just that, joining the Mount Olive Police Department’s Crisis Response Team to become an advocate for victims of domestic violence.

“There’s a big anonymity thing,” Labow says. “If I were to run into somebody that I advocated for in the store you can’t even say hello. Then I realized as an elected official running for office you start to become known, people recognize you and I didn’t want that to interfere with anybody finding their path to a healthier, safer way of life.”

And the councilwoman’s years as a real estate agent have allowed her to share extensive experience with numerous issues related to septic systems and wells.

She also enjoys working with the Board of Health, including Animal Control (with free rabies vaccinations twice a year), the Senior Center/township nurse, septic installation projects and well water testing.

In 2009, she helped launch the Mount Olive TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) Project, a grassroots effort to manage the feral cat population in the township.

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Celebrating Our 33rd Year!

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Page 22 • January 2020 • Mt. Olive Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

“The volunteers are fantastic people,” Labow says. “That evolved where all of a sudden people who needed help with having their cats (or even their dogs) spayed or neutered, resources, make connections — find homes for some of the pets — it was wonderful to keep that group going.”

And she’s especially passionate about the Mount Olive Health Improvement Coalition, trying to find better ways to connect with the community on wellness related issues.

“Sometimes we have our seniors and disabled population, which is really hard for them to get out as much on their own,” Labow says. “And there are a lot of people who are lonely.”

According to the Board of Health chair, having a healthy life isn’t all about physical health. So in one of the coalition meetings they discussed meeting up for various activities, possibly (with Labow saying she loves this idea) a crochet or knitting class at the library, book of the month club, holiday cookie swap and go back to basics.

Labow recalled a time when there were quilting parties and whole communities would get together, sharing snips of fabric to make a great big quilt.

“I’ve been collecting all these patterns for mittens and hats,” the councilwoman says. “I used to crochet with my grandmother — she taught me how. And my sister, niece and I went to that place in Hackettstown; Pinot’s Palette and made chunky afghans.

It was really cool.”

When Labow first became chair of the Board of Health a couple of terms ago she volunteered for Meals on Wheels, even going on apartment inspections because she’s all about having a hands-on approach — to get a feel for what everyone in the department does.

“I’ll never forget as long as I live that in some cases people have to wait for somebody to come by and take out your garbage or change a lightbulb,” Labow says. “Probably not supposed to do stuff like that but what are you gonna do, I’m right there.”

So they’re trying to set up a program for those who don’t have family close by who can visit on a regular basis to check on them and help with the little things.

“Get volunteers and we have to vet the people and make sure they are on the up and up plus reliable that they will actually be there,” the councilwoman says. “I think it’ll work out just fine; it’s that everything takes so long. I’m more of the, if something needs to be done — let’s just do it.”

And they have to be very conscientious to make sure to follow that line and not waver because Labow says there’s too much at stake.

“It’s always nice to get that reassurance and people give you the thumbs up and want you to keep going,” the councilwoman says. “I’m out there doing everything I can.”

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • January 2020 • Page 23

From The Chief

A

belated Happy New Year to all!

Welcome to the 2020’s.

The Mount Olive Township Police Department embraces the concepts of Community Policing and Data Driven Intelligence in addressing public safety issues, and these concepts are behind the bulk of our continued and new initiatives.

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) Community Oriented Policing Service (COPS) has recently published “Law Enforcement Best Practices; Lessons Learned from the Field”.

You can view the report from the following link: https://cops. usdoj.gov/RIC/Publications/cops-w0875-pub.pdf The DOJ COPS Office advocates for a Community Policing approach for police agencies. Their report focuses on what they consider seven key aspects to Community Policing: de-escalation; crisis intervention; first line supervisors; early intervention systems; internal affairs; recruitment, hiring and promotion; and data systems.

The Community-Law Enforcement Affirmative Relations (CLEAR) Continuing Education Institute was initiated in 2016 under Attorney General Porrino; and continues under the watch of Attorney General Grewal. It is intended to help bridge the gap between communities and law enforcement. To date, training topics have included de-escalation techniques; cultural

awareness; implicit bias; and sexual assault crimes and victim impact. All officers in the state must complete CLEAR training on an annual basis.

In addition to the Attorney General required training, Mount Olive Officers annually receive supplemental training that has a bearing on de-escalation and crisis intervention.

Mount Olive officers utilize the training available through the Morris, Union, Somerset, and Monmouth Police Academies; the Morris County Police Chiefs Association; the Morris County Sherriff’s Office; the New Jersey State Police; and the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police. The Mount Olive Police Department’s training function is in the Support Services Division under the command of Lieutenant Philip Lucivero.

First Line Supervisors are important to Community Policing because they are the ranking officers at the point of contact and delivery of services to our community, businesses and those who visit. The Mount Olive Police Department’s First Line Supervisors consist of Sergeants. In the absence of the Sergeant, the First line Supervisors are the Corporals. First Line Supervisors communicate job expectations to our police officers and provide feedback on performance. They are an

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Page 24 • January 2020 • Mt. Olive Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

integral part of Mount Olive’s Community Policing as they turn concept and vision into action. Sergeants and Corporals are in each Division of the Police Department.

In 2018, the Attorney General of New Jersey issued a Directive establishing a statewide policy requiring all law enforcement agencies to establish early warning systems. The intent is to address problems before they become major issues and gain or maintain the community trust. The Mount Olive Police Department utilizes the “Guardian Tracking Software” to track and review incidents. The following categories are tracked on all Officers of the Mount Olive Police Department: Internal Affairs complaints, whether issued by another officer or civilian; civil actions against officers; criminal investigations and/ or complaints against officers; any use of force determined to be excessive, unjustified, or unreasonable; domestic violence in which an officer is an alleged subject; an arrest of an officer; vehicular collisions determined to have been the fault of the officer; a positive drug test by the officer; cases brought to court by officers that are dismissed; cases brought to court by an officer where evidence is suppressed; insubordination by an officer; neglect of duty by an officer; unexcused absences by the officer; and any other indicators the Chief of Police may deem appropriate. Any of these instances, in and of themselves, may involve notification to the Morris County Prosecutors Office (MCPO) Professional Standards Unit. But, any three (3) instances within a twelve (12) month period necessitate

an early warning review at the MCPO. In addition to the Early Warning System, Mount Olive staff officers (Lieutenants, Captain and Chief) conduct reviews of all bias, use of force, pursuit, and police crash incidents; consistent with the accreditation standards established by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police. In addition to the Early Warning System that was mandated in 2018 by the Attorney General; random drug testing of police officers, post academy, was required. Ten percent (10%) of the Mount Olive Police Officers must be randomly drug screened twice annually. Officers have never been more scrutinized in New Jersey. High expectations are set to gain or maintain the community trust. The Internal Affairs function in the Mount Olive Police Department is the supervising unit that tracks all of this and reports to me regularly on any flagged incidents or issues. That function is currently held by Detective Lieutenant Luis Sanchez.

The quality of our officers determines the quality of service the community receives. The Mount Olive Police Department considers its most critical task to be recruiting and hiring the best possible Police and Communications Officers to deliver those services; and once hired, to hold those officers to a high standard and to train them well. The Selection and Recruitment Coordinator is Captain Michael Spitzer.

When police recruits test; they take a written examination administered by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police. The top fifty percent (50%) move on to the

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • January 2020 • Page 25

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Page 26 • January 2020 • Mt. Olive Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

The last key aspect to a successful community policing police department is data systems, leveraging technology to provide for greater efficiency and capabilities.

Physical Assessment. All candidates must be cleared by a medical doctor at their choosing and expense, to participate in the assessment. The physical assessment includes a 1.5 mile run; 300 meter run; pushups; sit ups; vertical leap; and bench press.

The top fifty percent of the physical assessment move on to the interview portion. On their assigned date for interviews, recruits attend a Pre-Objective Employment Interview. During this process, interviewing officers determine if there are any issues which disqualify the applicant for hire. Should the recruit receive a pass, they next attend a seven officer Panel Interview.

Once all recruits are interviewed, the Panel ranks the top ten recruits. I then interview three candidates; per ranking, for each available position and make a recommendation for hire to the Mayor. Mayor Greenbaum has recently approved the appointment of John Simonetti and Anthony LaManna as recruit officers. They will attend the 92nd Basic Police Class from January 14, 2020 until May 30, 2020. Should they graduate, they will then enter the Mount Olive Police Departments Field Training Program for three (3) months. During that time they must successfully meet (597) training objectives. All of the officers presently on our police department have all gone through this arduous process. The Promotion Processes for each rank within the Mount Olive Police Department (Sergeant-Lieutenant-Captain) are challenging as well. The Patrol Commander is presently Lt. Craig Austenberg.

For Communications Officers all candidates must take Criticall Testing. Criticall is a software program that tests decision making while taking simulated phone calls and radio communication; dispatching simulated officers, and record entry. Following Criticall, the candidates appear before a Panel of Communications Officers and Police. This is followed by an interview with a Sergeant and the Commander of the Communications and Records Division. The Communications and Records Commander then recommends a candidate for hire. This candidate is then recommended to the Mayor for appointment. If the candidate is approved for hire, the Communications Officer must complete eighty (80) hours of Emergency Medial Dispatch and 911 Training; and then four hundred (400) hours of training at the Communications desk. During that time, Communications Officers must successfully meet (331) training objectives. The goal being to provide an exceptional workforce to deliver the highest level of police services to the community. The Communications and Records Division Commander is Lt. Michael Cordileone.

The last key aspect to a successful community policing police department is data systems, leveraging technology to provide for greater efficiency and capabilities. All front line patrol cars have in car computers and digital video cameras; automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) are in two (2) patrol cars; officers have computers at their headquarters workstations, a Laboratory Information Management System called the Bar

Coded Evidence Analysis Statistical Tracking (B.E.A.S.T.) system tracks our evidence; and the Enforsys System for report writing, record keeping and data. Mount Olive utilizes Twitter, and Facebook accounts to communicate with our community and we maintain a web page. The Mount Olive Police Department has a partnership with Ring that allows the police department access to the Neighbors Portal of the Ring Neighbors app that civilians can opt into. Police can share information with those on the app and vice versa at no cost. The police department has a Memorandum of Understanding Agreement with CarFax for access to their database and is another avenue by which civilians can request accident reports. Mount Olive also has a Memorandum of Understanding with Business Watch International that allows us to track precious metals and second hand goods that are sold in or out of town.

The Mount Olive Police Department includes all seven (7) key elements in our Community Policing and endeavors to continue to following federal and state law enforcement best practices in our mission to provide our community with the best possible police service.

Sincerely, Stephen Beecher Chief of Police

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • January 2020 • Page 27

Recalling Steve Slattery’s Historic Exploits at Mount Olive High School and Beyond

F

By Steve Sears or Steve Slattery, it was always about the love of running.

“It’s one of those things where I was always a kid who grew up and played a lot of sports and was pretty athletic. So, you need the right combination of being able to run, being a strong miler or two-miler, and be athletic enough to hurdle or be able to jump over the water jump and be a good Steeplechaser. For me, it was something that came pretty naturally, and it was something I gravitated to.”

For the record, Slattery was a national champion in middle school, a four-time All-American during his Mount Olive High School days and was a big part of the University of Colorado winning its first national title in Cross-Country.

It all started in Mount Olive. “Yeah, it was a great place to grow up,” says Slattery. “I was really lucky to grow up in Mount Olive. I grew up in the Flanders part of Mount Olive. We had good schools, there was a lot of stuff to do, and it was a pretty safe and quiet place.”

Slattery, who ran Steeplechase in college, was interested in another type of running in his early days. His love of running was ingrained early in his life. “I ran the mile and Cross-Country and the two-mile in high school. I really got started running in middle school. I was on the middle school cross country team, and I was the national champion for the 3,000 meter and 1,500 meters (which is the mile and two-mile metric measurements). So

I was the national champion in 8th grade and I went to Mount Olive High School and I was a state champion in Cross-Country (mile and two mile) and track, and then I went to the University of Colorado, where I was actually still the school record holder in the mile, but then I started getting into the Steeplechase as well.

I ran both the mile in Steeplechase and also the two-mile, which were my main events as a professional.”

Slattery’s move up to the high school level was greeted happily by Dave Sulley, who was Slattery’s high school coach. “Steve came into high school with some outstanding accomplishments already at the middle school age group level. He dominated the local league and established many records in Cross- Country and track. He also competed at the regional and national level and won several titles. Recognizing that their son was special, his parents encouraged him at this point to consider developing his talent.”

“I had already known coach Sulley for a long time,” says Slattery. “He was a great coach and having someone like him who had a lot of success at the high school – he eventually retired from Mount Olive and then coached at Delbarton and had a lot of success there -- it really helped. A lot of times you need the combination of a talented athlete who is also going to work hard, but you also need the right coaches to guide them, and for me I was just lucky that all of those things came together. Growing up in Mount Olive where we had a very good coach and I had some talent, and I was willing to work hard -- all of that came

1

Page 28 • January 2020 • Mt. Olive Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

together for me.”

Slattery had success right away. “Steve immediately set his stamp on the high school level his freshman year,” said Sulley, who Slattery says didn’t overwork him but did enough to help the youngster’s progress. “He won the Morris County Cross-Country championships. He went on to win all four years, which no boy has ever done. He went on to win both the county 1600 and 3200 in indoor track four years in a row and the outdoor 3200 four years in a row as well as two 1600 titles.

Arguably, he was the greatest male distance runner in Morris county competition.”

What did Slattery have that perhaps other runners didn’t? Sulley elaborates.

“Steve was totally dedicated to the sport.

He set ambitious goals and followed through on training to achieve them. He never had any serious injury, other than a sprained ankle once, and I attribute that to his paying attention to detail in his training. He worked on the essential aspects of running and was focused on learning how to achieve at the highest

level. He spent time learning the sport through reading and research and began to develop a strong sense of direction in doing what would make him succeed.”

Then, there was his competitive nature. “Naturally, he was and has always been extremely competitive. He was gutsy and fearless on the Cross-Country course and track. While he won so often, he took losses with grace and philosophical analysis and immediately looked ahead to how he would do better the next time. He developed many enduring friendships in the sport and was a good sportsman throughout his career. In that sense, he became a great ambassador of the sport. He was willing to help others and had a great sense of humor. He demonstrated leadership in both action and words.”

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • January 2020 • Page 29

Sulley and Slattery maintain a special friendship to this day. “It’s my pleasure to say that Steve and I developed a great relationship and it has moved beyond the coach-athlete one to lifelong friendship. I attended meets where he competed beyond high school, including the Olympic Trials. I always look forward to hearing from him and seeing him and knowing his wife Sara and their children. Through Steve’s collegiate and professional career, I was able to get a glimpse into higher levels of the sport as well as meet some of the great elite runners that he and his wife knew at the professional level.”

A top recruit in his class, Slattery received quite a few scholarship offers. He chose the University of Colorado because every year they were one of the top schools in the country, but also because he wanted to run professionally after college, and coaches there had much success in prepping for runners for that. Also, the Buffaloes had never won a national title, but with Slattery now on board, they hoped the plan would reach fruition – and it did. In his junior year, the Buffaloes won their first Cross-Country national championship.

Mark Wetmore, Slattery’s Head Coach at the University of Colorado, was ironically enough a teacher at Mount Olive High School before heading west. He also attended high school in Bernardsville with Sulley.

“We are always excited when talented athletes choose us,” he says when asked about Slattery ultimately choosing to be a Colorado Buffalo.

Slattery his first semester got acclimated to both collegiate life with his classes, but also to the altitude in the state. His second semester he ran indoor and outdoor track, and Wetmore quickly got him to compete against the best in the country.

And Slattery’s contribution was huge, especially in his junior year in the championship race.

“2001 was the first year C.U. won a national title,” says Wetmore. “Steve passed about 20 opponents in the final kilometer.

We won by one point I believe.”

“It was really good,” says Slattery, “to be with a great coach and a great program, but also to help the program reach its first national championship and the excitement around that.”

And excitement when he renewed a friendship with someone very special: his future wife, Sara. “We actually met briefly in high school at the high school national championships.

I was two years older than her, and at the University of Colorado she ended up coming (there) as well. We knew each other from then, we were friends, started dating right away in college. She’s been probably the biggest influence on my life. She’s just a really talented, hard working person and she’s very dedicated. Having someone in your life who has similar goals and work ethic really helped me.” The couple has been married for 16 years and have two children, a 6-year old son named Steven, and 4-year-old daughter named Cali.

Both Slattery and his wife ran professionally after college, he winning a national title at the USA Outdoor Championships in 2003, and she in 2007 won an international gold medal at the Pan American Games. “We got to compete for our country and travel all over the world. It was a really awesome experience and we’re just really grateful that we got to experience that in our lives. It’s not something a lot of people get to do.”

Sara is now a head coach of the Men’s Cross-Country and Assistant Track and Field coach at Grand Canyon University, and Steve is an area sales manager for Cutera.

Slattery has said many times he “worked hard” with regard to his running career. He was asked to define that. “Many times, when you want to be good at something you need to be dedicated. And for running you have to run a lot, but not just run a lot but run hard. There’s a big difference between running kind of hard and running really hard. You know that if you need to be good you need to run a lot and run hard and push yourself – every day.”

“I was one of those people who was willing to do that.”

Page 30 • January 2020 • Mt. Olive Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Teachers at Tinc Road Elementary School Promote Positivity

T

By Michele DiPasquale he power of positive thinking is not a new axiom, and over the years, many people believe that with daily conscious practice, enforcing positive thoughts throughout the day can help promote regular positive thinking and thereby a kind of peaceful contentment. Positive thinking has become so celebrated that teachers in elementary schools are taking it on with a happy fierceness in the hope that positivity in everyday life and social interactions are improved by making it a commonplace start to one’s day.

The teachers at Tinc Road Elementary School in Flanders are all about positivity and to help promote it they start their day with the Morning Meeting.

“Each and every morning, our teachers set the tone for the students by starting the day off in a positive manner. They recognize the importance of building a community of learners that respect one another and appreciate each other’s interests and opinions,” said Tinc Road Principal Scott Lipson.

Each and every morning, the staff at Tinc Road School holds its morning meetings in their classrooms from 8:40 until 9:00 a.m.

“All staff members participate, so on any given day, the music teacher might join in on a third-grade-morning meeting, or the PE teacher will sit in with a first-grade class. I make it a goal to take

part in as many morning meetings as I can,” said Principal Lipson.

Tinc Road School embraces what’s known as SEL, social and emotional learning, which is the set of skills, knowledge, and behaviors involved in understanding and managing emotions, setting positive goals, feeling empathy for others, engaging in positive relationships, and solving problems effectively. By embracing the daily Morning Meeting, positivity becomes a happy practice.

The Morning Meeting is based on four components: the Greeting; Sharing; an Activity: and News. Teachers interpret the Greeting portion in their own way; some have the students stand in a circle to greet each other, while other teachers stand at their doorway and greet their students in a variety of ways as they walk in.

Examples include handshakes, high-fives, thumbs-ups, and hugs.

For the Sharing component, students share interesting stories or information that prompts questions from their peers. The Activity portion of the meeting brings students together in a shared exercise. The final News and announcements component of the meeting comes from the teacher to inform the students about the day.

Character education is an important element of instruction, and creating a school culture where children feel safe and accepted is essential to a child’s well-being. Tinc Road School focuses on good character education and a climate where everyone is accepted and has a voice, and where everyone is treated fairly with kindness and respect.

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • January 2020 • Page 31

Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce Torch of Presidency Passed

C

By Steve Sears

huck Aaron, soon to be the new President of the Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce (MOACOC), is living the dream.

He has always wanted to own his own business, and for 5 years he has done so, he and partner Mike Bigger in 2014 opening Jersey Girl Brewing Company in Mount Olive.

Aaron worked for number of companies, all the while educating himself by working various positions. “Distribution, manufacturing, sales, finance – it all comes into owning a business.

I became a student of business, so now that I run my business I understand how to build teams, how to finance growth, how to network for sales, and build relationships – that’s been helping us grow a lot the last four years of being open.”

Aaron assumes the Chamber helm from three-year President Harry Browne. “I became an active member the first January after we were opened, ran for an open Board position, so I’ve been on the board now for two years.” Aaron was initially recording secretary, worked on rewriting the bylaws, and has recently served as Vice-President. He will initially serve a one-year term.

“Vice President was a great job, and I’m looking forward to the challenge of being President – big shoes to fill with Harry. He’s very active, engages, and has done a lot to grow the Chamber.

So, I’m excited by the challenge.”

Aaron, 51, had reached the point in his life where he was either going to take the self-employment plunge or not. He dove in. “We decided ‘this is what we’re going to do,’ and it’s been great. When you say ‘great’ it’s like a lot of other businesses that start up. A lot of nights of not sleeping, very long days, the worries of day to day when you start up, you have to cut things you wish you didn’t have to, but just out of necessity of keeping the business alive to the next cycle. You’ve got to make those tough decisions.”

Aaron isn’t originally from Mount Olive. He was born in Louisiana, lived in Europe for three years, and has also lived in Virginia.

He has lived in the Garden State the longest, since the 7th grade, residing in Morris Plains, attending high school in Madison and college at Seton Hall University, and got his master’s degree in Finance Technology from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

He met his wife, Angela, while in college in the late 1980s. The couple has two sons, Andrew (age 17) and Michael (age 15).

The MOACOC is, per Aaron, ‘more Mount Olive than the surrounding towns. Hackettstown being the largest of the surrounding towns, the membership is typically made up of Mount Olive and Hackettstown businesses members, but there are some that are a little further bit reaching than that.” He then adds, “We are at 170 members now. Harry will give you the exact numbers. I know he’s pulled some data. Since he’s been President, there’s probably been about a 40% growth in membership in the last three years.”

Chuck Aaron Browne, 58, a former 12-year Mount Olive resident, now resides in nearby Independence and has been a financial and insurance advisor 20 years. He currently works for One Legacy Financial Group. He and his wife, Mary Rose Ryan, are proud parents of a daughter, Sharon, and son, Harrison. Browne, who is remaining on as a Trustee, says, “41%,” regarding the increase in membership that past three years. He cites a few reasons for that success. “I was fortunate enough to surround myself with Board members and committee members who wanted to roll up their sleeves and actually do something. We truly wanted to contribute to the growth of the businesses of our members. A lot of the things we focused on was, ‘How do we improve the value of being a member?’ Granted, nobody is spending a lot of money to be a member of this Chamber of Commerce. It’s only $125 a year. It goes more beyond that. It’s participating, getting involved, making the connection.” Browne relates it to his own business “I got to know people, and then trust develops, and then a relationship develops. And then you’re doing business.”

“You invest the time; you make the relationships. It’s a whole different level of prospecting, and it may not be the person you’re talking to. It could be one of their contacts.”

Page 32 • January 2020 • Mt. Olive Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Aaron’s biggest challenge as Vice-President was organizational design. “Running the Chamber Board as a Board. One of the first things I did coming into the Chamber was to rewrite the bylaws and establish a core set of rules for operating. That went over really well. It took quite a bit of time to put together. I didn’t do it alone; I was working with a team but was kind of the lead on that. More recently, we started to focus on Board meeting agendas, roles and responsibilities of each of the members. The President typically, when Harry started, was THE guy; did everything, led everything. It’s too much. When you have a Board of nine or ten people, everyone needs to contribute, everyone needs to take responsibility. I think that’s been a nice transition over the last year. “ As for 2020 and his first year of Presidency, Aaron believes the focus has to be on consolidation and delivery of value.

“Our members expect two things: the ability to network with other businesses to help their business grow or find other like-mind- Harry Browne ed businesses to communicate with – whatever their need is in their business. We need to connect to other business to help them achieve their goals. Two, we need to educate; we need to provide some type of education that helps our smaller businesses get access to information. This teaches them those things that help them take that business to the next level, whether it’s marketing related growth, financial education, business planning, how to network, how to present your business. We have a lot of large service business manufacturing in the Chamber. I think we need to focus in on diversity of membership. As we build this value piece, we need to bring more brick and mortar, the small shoppe guys, the guys that are running operations on the corridors that run throughout the Mount Olive Chamber. We can’t forget them: those are the ones that are the aces of the business community, the ones where people shop day to day. If we get them involved, and we maintain our current membership, and we begin to offer focused platforms every month that people can attend and schedule up and know about as we go through the year, we can’t help but become stronger and stronger as a Chamber -- which is only good for the community businesses, because now were growing – now we’ve put our businesses in a growth mode. We need to focus on these things, and that’s where I believe our challenge is going to be next year.”

Short term goals are streamlining events, combining them.

Marketing in the Morning is a popular business networking event held on Wednesday mornings, but there are others called Women in Business, Young Professional Group, and Lunch and Learn. All take a lot of effort and energy to create platforms.

Aaron is pushing for consolidation of the last three, to have in

his words “one really strong meeting every month that is guest speaker-oriented, that has networking involved in it. It’s two hours long, and we take the people that were running those three events and they (will) run this core event. Two events a month, and members have a chance to engage and participate, and that’s where they’re going to get value back from being members. That’s absolutely important to me.”

Browne envisions certain things for the MOACOC, and one is Aaron taking the momentum and strength created the past three years and raising the Chamber to the next level. “Not only of volunteers but of membership. You know, I’d be happy with a 20% increase -- get us to over 200 members. And have a realistic goal. Continue to improve the value of being a member. He (Aaron) already has mentioned to us at a Board meeting some ideas about streamlining our networking events that show some real promise. So now there’s getting the right people, the right boots on the ground, who share that vision, and they’ll do it.”

Aaron encourages non-member businesses to give the Chamber a shot. “The only reason we do what we do is to be able to provide businesses with a place where they can go and learn and network and come and be a part and see what we do. Come as a guest: you don’t have to be a member to attend events. Try it before you buy it.”

Browne also touts the vastness of the area and opportunity.

One of the things he focused on was developing the Hackettstown area, the latter with a Main Street area of doing business.

Browne’s goal was to try and get some of those businesses to become Chamber members. Himself living next to Hackettstown while also formerly living in Mount Olive and being MOACOC President, he did his best to speak to businesses about getting involved. He brought events over township lines, and Mount Olive members were exposed to the opportunities in Hackettstown, and vice-versa. The largest growth area in membership came from Hackettstown. “I see continued growth,” he says, “from the Hackettstown and Mount Olive areas.”

“I think,” says Browne, again knowing well the potential of Chamber membership, “any viable business – whether it’s someone working from home who could use advice, guidance, or leadership; or a Main Street business, Route 46, 206, or Main Street, Hackettstown – get involved. Join. It is the shortest marketing money you could ever spend.”

“If you are feeling alone as a business, like you’re out there by yourself, you’re really not,” says Aaron. “There’s a community of businesses out there waiting and looking to help you be successful.”

Visit www.mountolivechambernj.com.

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • January 2020 • Page 33

New Beginnings Bible Church -

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Living Its Pillars of Faith

by Elsie Walker

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he church began on June 14, 2007. A few people from another church felt as if God was calling them to start a church led by (at the time) Pastor Robert Dalsing. Our first services were actually held in one of the member’s backyard,” shared church member Matt Keir of Landing. The church met in a variety of places before finding a permanent location.

Today, New Beginnings Bible Church, a non-denominational church, calls 104 Bartley Flanders Road, in Flanders, its home.

The current pastor is Stuart Swicegood, who became the church’s pastor in March 2018. Swicegood grew up in south Alabama and at age 11, while at a summer camp, confessed Christ as Lord. He has been a minister for 20 years. The ministry is a second career for Swicegood. His first career was as an executive account manager working at the second largest payphone provider in the United States.

He got the call to ministry just as the payphone industry was about to see major changes. He said the timing was good.

Besides being the pastor of New Beginnings Bible Church, Swicegood teaches at the American Christian (High) School in Wharton. Among the courses he teaches are the New Testament and logic. He has three daughters, one of whom attends the American Christian School. Swicegood’s hobbies are reading and listening to music. The family has two cats, named by his youngest daughter after bands: Pantaloon and Killjoy.

Swicegood noted that the church has five pillars (principles): Proclaiming the authority of God’s Word without apology, lifting high the name of Jesus through worship, believing firmly in the power of prayer, sharing the good news of Jesus with boldness, and pursuing Christ-likeness together in sincere communities – small groups. These pillars can be seen throughout the life of the church.

Worship at New Beginnings Bible

Church is at 10 a.m. each Sunday. The style of worship is contemporary with a small praise band. Keir shared, ”there is a worship leadership leader who sings and plays guitar, a few singers and a bassist.“ People can listen to sermons from the pastor’s current sermon series by visiting this page, www.nbbcnj.org/listen.

“The church is a family. We all love each other and spend time with each other on more than just Sunday mornings. I’ve had several friends come to this church and tell me it is one of the few places they can go and feel loved and not judged, no matter what,” said Keir.

Kids Ministry is for children from birth to third grade. Children participate in age appropriate education and worship, which prepares them for when they join in the worship in the sanctuary (starting in the fourth grade).

After church, Swicegood said there is an informal time of fellowship where people will mingle, pray for each other, and converse about the service. Once a quarter the church’s hospitality team organizes a meal during which members get together and share in fellowship.

“We all fellowship before and after church. We also stress the importance of small groups and becoming closer and accountable with, and for, one another,” said Keir.

There are mutual ministries, which consist of small groups which meet for a short Bible study and then break out to talk. Attendees ask each other about what is happening in their lives and to see if they are living the Christian life. “We care for one another and encourage one another to live the Christian life. We recognize that we’re all broken and God has brought us all together to help each other,” shared Swicegood.

Prayers and scripture are important to this church and its website shares ways

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Page 34 • January 2020 • Mt. Olive Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

in which people can share and grow in each one. For example, the church’s website notes that there is a Friday Morning Prayer time at 6 a.m. at the Starbucks near the Target by the Rockaway Mall.

Also, its website notes, “as a church, we need to be constantly coming together before the Lord to pray for one another and those whom the Lord has called us to reach.

Our prayer gathering meets on the second Tuesday of every month to pray together as a corporate body of Christ. We begin at 7 p.m. and pray for about an hour.”

The Ironworkers, a men’s ministry, exists to encourage and equip men to walk as faithful disciples of Jesus, leading their families as servant leaders, and impacting their workplaces, neighborhoods, and friends as living examples of the power of God’s grace. It meets the first Friday of the month from 6:30– 8:30 p.m.; it includes meal, study, and fellowship. “We also have a few people that go to a Goodwill Mission (Goodwill Rescue Mission) in Newark and preach the gospel,” said Keir The pastor shared they are looking into launching a young adult ministry in 2020, noting the number of young single parents around.

The New Beginnings Bible Church congregation reaches out to those both near and far.

“Currently, we are heavily involved with the Mount Olive

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Food Pantry,” said Keir. “The whole church collects whatever items the food pantry needs for the month, then a few people go there and help.”

In addition, the church has helped another food bank as well, with food donations. Swicegood shared that they’ve taken food donations outside a Chester supermarket.

Congregation members are also encouraged to practice intentional neighborliness. Swicegood explained that members are asked to get to know their neighbors, and once a quarter pick a neighbor and do something for that person, whether it is invite him/her to dinner, bring him or her a dish, or help in some other way.

Finally, the church supports missions and ministries locally and around the world. The church supports a mission in New Guinea which is bringing the word of God to people who have never heard the gospel of Jesus. Another ministry they support is in the Middle East where there are places closed to the gospel. Additionally, the church supports the Lighthouse Pregnancy Resource Center, The Transformation Life Center, and through World Vision, the church supports a 12-year-old girl in Lesotho, Africa who hope to be a nurse one day.

For more information on New Beginning Bible Church, visit its website www.nbbcnj.org/ or phone: 973-584-3698.

2020 Green Communities Achievement Award Request for Nominations

he New Jersey Green Communities Achievement Award recognizes those nominees whose outstanding efforts have greatly contributed to the field of urban and community forestry in New Jersey. Exemplary work, whether public or private is eligible for the award program.

The Green Communities Awards recognize up to 4 recipients per year in the following categories: • Individual • Municipality • Business/Tree Care Industry • Non-profit/Non-governmental organization The criteria for nomination are: • Improving the environment in New Jersey’s communities through wise management of the trees and forest resources, and the development of a self-sustaining local urban and community forestry program.

• Raising awareness of the value of urban and community trees and forests in New Jersey through education and outreach.

• Enhancing the beauty of New Jersey’s cities and towns with

programs and projects for trees and forests.

• Providing exceptional effort and meritorious contributions to the field of urban and community forestry in New Jersey.

Please provide a brief nomination narrative providing justification for the nomination based on the categories and criteria described above. Nomination must state the Name, Title, Organization, Email, and Telephone Number of both the nominator and the nominee. Nomination narratives should not exceed two (2) pages in length. Self-nominations are accepted and encouraged.

Winners will be asked to present and share their work during a session at the 2020 Shade Tree Federation Conference.

Nominations for the 2020 Green Communities Awards are due by 5:00 pm, Saturday, February 15, 2020.

Nominations must be emailed to Shannon Hart, NJ Urban and Community Forestry Program,Shannon.hart@dep.nj.gov. The subject of the email must state 2020 Green Communities Award Nomination. Questions may be directed to Ms. Hart at the email provided or 609-292-6512.

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • January 2020 • Page 35

4 Myths Regarding Dental Implants

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By Ira Goldberg, DDS, FAGD, DICOI ental Implants have revolutionized modern dentistry. Whether a person is missing a single tooth, multiple teeth, suffering from pain due to infections or gum disease, or looking for a solution to stabilize dentures, dental implants can come to the rescue! However, over the years I see certain misconceptions repeat themselves.

Myth #1: My dentist told me I have to see a specialist / implant specialist.

Dental implants may be placed by any dentist who holds a license. Typically, they are placed by general dentists, oral surgeons, periodontists, and prosthodontists. It’s not so important as to what type of dentist places them, but rather how much training and experience they have. Also, don’t forget that there is a second part to the implant once it is placed: one or more teeth have to be placed on top of the implant. If an implant is placed while ignoring this second part of the treatment, disastrous results may follow. I have had to correct situations like this too often.

Myth #2: My friend has an implant placed for a certain amount, and your quote is much more!

When comparing fees, be sure you are comparing apples to apples. If your friend had an implant placed into a location where the tooth was already missing, the amount of available bone is excellent, and the angles for that implant are ideal, the cost of that implant is going to be a lot lower than where a tooth currently exists and requires extraction, a graft is necessary because of a poor amount of bone, and the implant is off-angle. Location in the mouth is very important, too: an implant in the front of the mouth has a much higher esthetic demand than the back of the mouth.

This will affect cost, too.

Myth #3: It is always better to keep a natural tooth than to remove it and place an implant.

When a tooth has been diagnosed with a very poor prognosis, it is not always better to hang onto it: recurring infections can develop which cost time and

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money, the disease can affect adjacent teeth, and over time, they can cause additional bone loss. Removing infected teeth and placing an implant can eliminate the recurring infections, restore health to adjacent teeth, and preserve bone in your jaw.

Myth #4: Once I have an implant, I don’t have to see the dentist anymore.

This is not true. Although problems with implants are rare, they require observation and maintenance.

Most of the time problems will develop within the first two years. Failure to recognize and correct these problems often leads to implant If you are in need of one or more dental loss, and worse, loss of adjaimplants, the information available on the cent teeth. Expect to return to internet can be a bit overwhelming. It’s the dentist 3 to 4 times within also difficult to get a sense of your own the first two years for maintepersonal situation unless you understand nance. all the facts that apply specifically to you.

If you are in need of one or more dental implants, the information available on the internet can be a bit overwhelming. It’s also difficult to get a sense of your own personal situation unless you understand all the facts that apply specifically to you. If you would like to speak with Dr. Goldberg personally and determine the best course of action for your specific situation, please give the office a call. As a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology / Implant Dentistry, he will be able to give you great insight.

Dr. Goldberg is a general dentist located in the Roxbury Mall in Succasunna, NJ. He provides general dentistry for the entire family, including: cleanings, checkups, whitening, veneers, crowns, root canals, dentures, periodontal (gum) services, dental implants, and much more. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Implantology/Implant Dentistry, holds multiple degrees and is recognized as an expert in dental implants. You can find additional information on his website:www. morriscountydentist.com. The office can be reached at: (973) 328-1225 or via email: frontdesk.mcda@ gmail.com

Income Tax Assistance at the Mount Olive Public Library

ORWESCAP will once again offer free income tax assistance to senior citizens, disabled, and income eligible New Jersey residents at Mount Olive Public Library.

Tax assistance is offered beginning Thursday, February 13th and runs every Thursday through April 9th from 10am-3:15pm.

There will also be appointments available on the following Saturdays: February 22nd; March 7th; and March 28th from 9:30am-1:15pm.

TAX ASSISTANCE IS OFFERED BY APPOINTMENT ONLY! Appointments this year will NOT be made through the library!

To make an appointment, call NORWESCAP at: 973-784-4900

Ext. 3502 The library will still provide access to tax forms and instructions, reference materials to help demystify the tax filing process, and online access for e-filing.

NORWESCAP is a private, non-profit corporation established to serve the low-income population of northwest New Jersey.

The agency employs about 300 persons, both full and part time, dedicated to housing development, energy conservation, child care, Head Start, volunteerism, and much more. Community Action remains an important local resource for families with NORWESCAP and other agencies across the state demonstrating their cost- effective service delivery method which creates thriving communities.

Page 36 • January 2020 • Mt. Olive Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

I Remember Dad - Chapter 3

So Proud the Airman

By Richard Mabey Jr. Deeply etched in the heart of America, are the sacrifices made by the U. S. veterans of the Second World War. Sadly, the number of living veterans of World War II has been dramatically decreased in most recent years. Many of their stories, their remembrances, their heart-felt sacrifices will never be known to us.

For a multitude of reasons, many of the veterans of the Second World War spoke very little of the horrors that they endured to defend the honored principles of democracy and freedom. Many of the World War II soldiers returning to America’s shores, simply wanted to forget the nightmares of the war. Many were truly modest of their selfless and heroic deeds. And, for many others, what they endured was simply too painful to talk about.

My Dad was a veteran of the Second World War. He served at Hickam Air Field, right next to Pearl Harbor. My father served in the Seventh Army Air Corps, which was the precursor to today’s Seventh Air Force. Dad was one of many, many service men who were sent to clean up the disastrous results of man’s inhumanity to man.

The painful memory of Pearl Harbor deeply haunted the good people of Hawaii. Dad would often tell me about the incredible stress that the men of the Seventh Army Air Corps endured, always anticipating another catastrophic attack from the Japanese.

I remember those years, when I was in grade school. After supper, I would be

My Dad in his U. S. Army Air Corps uniform.

With each condensed chapter of “I Remember Dad” I try to bring a bit of the flavor and culture of my Dad’s generation, that of the men and women who grew up in the Great Depression and survived the sacrifices of World War II in their time of coming of age.

playing on the floor with my Lincoln Logs or building a car model. From time to time, Dad would be looking at his old photo album of pictures of his years of service at Hickam Air Field. Sometimes, I would look up to my beloved father and see an expression of sadness befall upon his face. I remember one time, I’m pretty sure that it was when I was in the third grade, that I saw tears fall from my Dad’s eyes as he looked at the pages of his photos from his days in the Seventh Army Air Corps.

Dad never talked much about his time of service in the Army Air Corps. In recent years, I have done some research about the Seventh Army Air Corps’ role in the Second World War. I was amazed and justifiably proud of my dear father. The United States was very much concerned about Japan assaulting Hawaii with another all-out attack.

One of my deepest regrets is that I never told my father just how proud I was of him for serving in World War II. And, it saddens me deeply to admit that I never really thanked my Dad for defending America, at a time when he was just a young man.

Although my father and I were very close and shared many common interests, I never simply said thank you to my father for his great sacrifice. I truly wish I had.

Coming Next Month: Chapter 4

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Mt. Olive Life • January 2020 • Page 37

he Mount Olive Maniacs girls travel basketball program spent much of their holiday break participating in the Wayne PAL holiday tournament. The program sent 4 teams to the tournament in grades 4th through 7th, traveled many miles, participated in about 20 games over a week and a half, and made it to the championship game in the 6th and 7th grade divisions.

On Monday December 30th both the 6th grade and 7th grade teams played in the finals. The 6th grade team gave a great effort and came up a little short against a tough Ridgewood team. The coaches were so proud of the 6th grade team since the year before they came to the same tournament and did not win a game. Nice job girls! The 7th grade team would take on a tough Montville team that had defeated Mount Olive 3 times over the last 2 seasons, twice in overtime and once on a buzzer beater. After so many heartbreaking losses to Montville, it was the Maniacs time to come out on top! The Maniacs

Back row left to right:Coach Schwartz, Madison Rauh, Mia Zebi, Layla Blakey, Sydney Cerasoli, Allison Rambo, Coach Tilves, Coach Misener Front row left to right... Taylor Heinemann, Giselle Acevedo, Jordan Notaro, Maggie Tilves, Jenna Scheuten, Bella Cefola. Not Pictured... Demitria Watkins

were crowned 7th grade champions of the Wayne PAL holiday tournament by a score of 31-21! Congratulations girls! You can follow the Mount Olive Maniacs program on Instagram and Twitter @MOmaniacs.

Page 38 • January 2020 • Mt. Olive Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Mount Olive’s Theater Dance Center Set to Give Back

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By Megan Roche or Theater Dance Center, it’s time for their annual Fighting Children’s Cancer Foundation Gala. On January 25th, the groups that make up the TDC company will once again come together to raise money toward the FCCF. “The Gala started in 2010 because I had a young friend who died from bone cancer in the fall. I started a conversation with my dancers about how we could help, have an impact or make a difference. Our Ballet mistress had gone through a fight with breast cancer only 2 years before. What I did not know was that I too had breast cancer and would go through a double mastectomy and chemotherapy as we performed our first Gala in January of 2011. Our dancers have now raised more than $85,000 for cancer charities and veteran services since our first gala.” Milene Schetlick, co-owner of Theater Dance Center said.

Schetlick, who has been dancing since the age of three, grew up in a family that loved dance. Her parents, two accomplished ballroom dancers, put her and her three siblings in dance classes at very young ages. Milene moved to New York City at the of 18 on a full scholarship to Joffrey Ballet School. She opened Theater Dance Center in 1991 with Mary Ellen Volz after meeting Volz while teaching at her childhood dance studio. For Schetlick and Volz, the gala holds many emotions.

“We are proud of what we have accomplished with many of our dancers pursing dance. The gala features memorable moments with talented dancers performing for their friends, family, and community.” Schetlick said.

The night of the gala can be an emotional one, for everyone.

From the dancers, who do special dedications to loved ones fighting cancer, to the staff who have battled cancer in their own lives. The Gala also lets the dancers feel out their competition routines, all while raising money for a great cause.

“The dancers perform their competition dances for the very first time. We try to raise awareness about our charity and how our audience members can help. This year (as it has been for a few) we are supporting The Fighting Children’s Cancer Foundation, A NJ based organization that helps local families whose children are fighting cancer. This charity is very special to our dancers, because they are helping other children like themselves.”

Schetlick said.

Theater Dance Center is very grateful for all the community support, especially from their sponsors for the gala’s evening.

It’s because of the community support that TDC is able to host a gala year after year.

“Thank you to all our sponsors who have supported our dancers and helped to make our event a success. Burke Contracting, ADD Systems, The Orthopedic Institute of NJ, Maximum Health Physical Therapy, Sal Salafia Construction, North Jersey Aquatics, INFLUGroup, Ambient Event Group, Shaffer Steel Corporation, Falcon Safety/Dust-Off and Dr. Jennifer Kastner at Advanced Performance and Rehabilitation Center.”

Tickets for the gala are available by calling (973) 584-5020.

The Gala will be hosted at Mount Olive High School’s Performing Arts Center on January 25th at 6:00 p.m. To learn more about Theater Dance Center, visit www.theaterdancecenter.com.

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