Mt. Olive ife September 2023

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M t . O l i v e’s H o m e t o w n N e w s p a p e r

MOUNT OLIVE LIFE Vo l . 1 8 • I s s u e 1 0

October 2023

Member of Mid-Atlantic Community Papers • Association of Community Publishers • Mt. Olive Chamber of Commerce AUDITED BY CIRCULATION VERIFICATION COUNCIL (CVC), ST. LOUIS, MO.

Nicastro Hopes to Fill Hole When Long-time Mayor Leaves

BY CHERYL CONWAY STAFF WRITER

MOUNT OLIVE - Crafted with passion and expertise, a perfect bagel is really what a mayor brings to a table as leader of a community. Baking bagels before sunrise, selling ads daily for his publications and serving Mt. Olive residents as a civic leader for more than a decade, Joe Nicastro undoubtably brings on his passion and expertise, working hard to get the job done. He thrives on new challenges, community connection and keeping busy — so when he saw the opening for a new mayor of Mt. Olive Twp. he knew he must run. Nicastro is vying on the Republican ticket against his Democrat opponent Dr. Antoine Gayles in the upcoming general election on Nov. 7. “Following my years of service on the council and discovering the immense satisfaction in assisting our residents, I came to the realization that I am eager to take on more responsibilities when the opportunity arises,” says Nicastro of Budd Lake. “I have a set of fantastic new ideas that I’m eager to present, which will be of significant assistance to the residents of Mt. Olive. I’m enthusiastic about diving into action from day one once I’m elected.” As an elected leader, Nicastro has served on the Mt. Olive Twp. Council for three terms since 2012. The governing

body has selected his as council president for the past eight consecutive years and one year as vice president. He has served on the Economic Development Committee, as Board of Health chair and has been a member of the Mt. Olive Republican Committee for the past eight years and its current chair. “I take immense pride in the collective accomplishments of myself, my dedicated fellow council members and our steadfast mayor,” says Nicastro about his time on the Mt. Olive Council. “These achievements are a testament to our commitment to the community and include several noteworthy milestones: Fiscal Responsibility: We›ve successfully maintained an extraordinary 11-year streak without a municipal tax increase, demonstrating our prudent financial stewardship. Property Acquisition: The acquisition of the old Tarn property has been a significant achievement, ensuring that this valuable land is preserved and utilized for the benefit of our residents. Enhanced Recreation: We’ve made substantial improvements at Turkey Brook Park, introducing popular amenities such as the Splash Pad and Pirates Cove, enhancing recreational opportunities for our community. Sports Field Upgrades: Our comprehensive turfing of all

Free Thanksgiving Dinner 2023

Please come and Be Our Guest on Thanksgiving Day! We will be hosting a Traditional Thanksgiving Family Dinner for anyone who will be alone or any individual or family facing financial hardship on Thanksgiving Day at the Mt. Olive Senior Center starting at 1:00 p.m. Meal deliveries will also be available for drop off on November 22. MUST CALL TO RESERVE! Please call or text Mary Lalama at 973-768-1815 or email at mary.lalama@gmail.com to reserve your seat now. If anyone is interested in volunteering please contact Mary Lalama as well.

athletic fields has not only elevated the quality of sports facilities but also contributed to our town›s overall appeal. Transparent Communication: Prioritizing transparent communication with our residents has been instrumental in keeping them well-informed about ongoing developments within our township. Shared Services: We’ve expanded our reach by providing shared services to neighboring towns, generating valuable revenue for our community. Innovations in Waste Management: We’ve modernized

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MOUNT OLIVE - Students at the Mountain View Elementary School in Flanders will have a new place to relax, tune in to their senses and connect with nature at a new garden being planted there. Kenneth William McGovern of Frelinghuysen is constructing the Mountain View Elementary School Sensory Garden with Scout Troop 249 which is stationed in Budd Lake. A senior at Warren County Technical School, McGovern is working on the garden as his Eagle Scout Project. “The main purpose of this project is to provide a calm learning environment for the students, and give them an area to relax and enjoy nature,” explains McGovern. “It will also help bring up topics to learn about with the butterflies it will

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PLEASE SEE NICASTRO, PAGE 4

PLEASE SEE EAGLE SCOUT, PAGE 4

MOHS First Football Coach Celebrated With Scholarship

BY CHERYL CONWAY STAFF WRITER

MOUNT OLIVE - The Mt. Olive Education Foundation has established a new scholarship in honor of Alfred Nicholas, the first head football coach at Mt. Olive High School. Nicholas died this past July, but family and friends gathered to honor and pay tribute to him on Sunday, Sept. 17, at MOHS, for the Coach Nicholas Memorial Service and Celebration of Life. Hosted by the Nicholas family, more than 100 people — including his family from Ohio, friends and colleges from all over —attended from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., to speak about him and learn about the scholarship. Nicholas was MOHS’s

first football coach, when the school opened in 1972, and he ran the program through 1982. The school’s football field has since been named in his honor, shared Howie Weiss, president of the Ed Foundation. Weiss introduced the scholarship which will be awarded to a student who most represents those characteristics of Coach Al Nicholas. He will be working with the Nicholas

family, committee of friends and the MOHS Guidance Department to determine recipients of the scholarship. Multiple people also spoke about Nicholas’ life and accomplishments. The service was open to all at no cost. Contributions were collected for the scholarship. “Significant money was raised to fund this new scholarship,” shares Weiss.

More on Nicholas Alfred “Alf” E. Nicholas was born in Highland Park on June 30, 1935. He died July 10, 2023, at the age of 88. Alf attended Highland Park High School excelling in athletics playing football, basketball and baseball, graduating in 1953. He attended Rutgers University continuing his baseball caPLEASE SEE COACH CELEBRATED PAGE 8

Lalama Ready To Serve Fresh Ideas on MO Council

BY CHERYL CONWAY STAFF WRITER

MOUNT OLIVE - When it comes to Mary Lalama of Budd Lake, it is always fresh. From her hot-out of the oven bagels, to her community Thanksgiving meals, the Sponsor a Child During the Holidays Program and her newsy ideas and artistic design, Lalama plans to bring that same flavor as a candidate to Mt. Olive Township Council with some fresh ideas in mind. As a Mt. Olive resident for

the past 19 years, Lalama has decided to jump into the political arena as a first-time candidate for the town’s governing body. She is excited for the race and is ready to run. “Last spring, I decided I would run for the open council seat,” explains Lalama, 61. “I feel I have a lot to offer as a business owner and a woman. I feel I could bring fresh ideas PLEASE SEE LALAMA, PAGE 2

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“I’ve heard from many fellow residents, especially those in the older demographic, who wish to remain in our town

hopefully attract.” McGovern has been involved with the scouts since his youth. “I have been doing Scouts with my grandfather, who lives in Budd Lake, since I was a Tiger Cub, or around the age of 7,” shares McGovern. “My now eagle beneficiary thought of the idea for the project around mid-April. She is also the female Scoutmaster of the troop who works for the school. Before the project, the troop helped her with the creation of the outdoor classroom that my eagle project is next to.” McGovern started designing his project around late June and started working on it in early August. “I wish to be able to com-

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Joe Nicastro

BY CHERYL CONWAY STAFF WRITER

Alfred Nicholas

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just a portion of the many outstanding achievements realized through our collaborative efforts,” says Nicastro. While he has been an integral part of these accomplishments, Nicastro realizes that challenges still exist. “There are a range of concerns within our community, and I am committed to addressing them to the best of my abilities,” says Nicastro. “Some of the issues that I find particularly concerning include the need to improve Route 46, enhance highway safety, and address the various challenges our residents face.

Eagle Scout Plants Sensory Garden at Mtn. View Elementary

Please Help Support Our Neighbor

Quinn Hanson, with the help of her family, have created this go fund me page. We are neighbors to Regina and Adam Buga. As many of you know on Saturday, September 16, around 10:20am their home was destroyed by a fire including their beloved dog and cat. Regina and Adam have lived in their home for over 20 years. All of their possessions and memories have been lost. While they are not the type to ask for help, we, as a community, are putting together this go fund me to help offset some of the burden they are facing. Please consider donating anything you can to help this family.

our waste management system, transitioning from oldstyle garbage trucks to the more efficient “one-armed bandits” currently in use. Community Engagement Initiatives: I›ve personally spearheaded initiatives like the recycling program for plastic bags and the installation of mailboxes at town hall and Turkey Brook, providing convenient locations for residents to dispose of old flags. “These accomplishments reflect my unwavering commitment to improving our community, and they represent

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