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 7 • I s s u e 1
Ja n u a r y 2 0 2 2
Member of Mid-Atlantic Community Papers • Association of Community Publichers • Mt. Olive Chamber of Commerce AUDITED BY CIRCULATION VERIFICATION COUNCIL (CVC), ST. LOUIS, MO.
School Bus Cameras Making for Safer Roads in Mount Olive
BY GRACE MAGUIRE
Staff writer
MOUNT OLIVE TWP. Unfortunately, each of us can recall a time we have watched a vehicle drive by as a school bus is stopped to tend to children being dropped off and picked up. Every time this happens, a significant risk is being taken by the vehicle driving past. The parents and bus drivers should not have to question the safety of their students when going back and forth from school. The Mount Olive School District has seen and heard these fears and taken steps to help create change in its community. Over the past six months, the Mount Olive School District implemented cameras outside four of their school buses. After many bus drivers complained and voiced their
worries about vehicles illegally driving past their buses when taking care of the children, they knew a change needed to be made. Drivers did not have the time to record or write down the license plates. The next option was installing cameras. “We have cameras all over our school and cameras inside the buses. We should have cameras outside the buses,” Superintendent Robert Zywicki stated about the new bus accessory. So far, only four buses have cameras installed as a pilot test. These compact cameras are placed underneath the stop arm and are constantly recording. If the bus driver sees a vehicle passing illegally while they are stopped, they can simply press a button on their dashboard,
and the camera will get a clear shot of the vehicle and license plate in question. That video is then sent off to the Director of Security for Mount Olive School District, James Carifi. Just like the rest of the district, Carifi is invested in the well-being of the students and keeping the streets safer, “Motorists are passing stopped school buses everywhere, residential areas and side streets.” Carifi will then petition for a summons for the driver, and soon later, the driver will be asked to appear in court. Since implementing the first four cameras, Mount Olive School District has seen over 120 violations. These violators will get points on their PLEASE SEE SCHOOL BUS, PAGE 6
Photo courtesy of Mount Olive School District
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Mount Olive Remembers Renny Van Dine
For Rosaritas Mexican Grill of Mount Olive, It’s All About Giving Back
BY STEVE SEARS STAFF WRITER
MOUNT OLIVE TWP. Alex and Meg Fonseca didn’t just open Rosaritas Mexican Grill in January of 2021. They, with lots of wonderful help, have also spread giving. Since the ribbon was cut in front of their eatery, the couple and the community have been donating food to the needy with the Share-a-Meal program. Meg Fonseca explains. “I heard about the idea actually on Facebook. There’s a pizzeria in Chicago, and there’s a huge homeless population there. So, he (the owner) started doing post-its where anybody can come in and they can grab a slice of pizza. Their walls are filled with them (post-its) - the whole restaurant is filled with them. And I said, ‘You know, when we open the restaurant, I would really like to do that.’” And they have. In 12 months, the Fonsecas – and those who have purchased a Share-a-Meal for others – have donated over 500 meals. “It doesn’t matter if you are on the street, or if you’re a banker, or if you’re in between,” Fonseca states definitively. “If you need a meal, everybody can come
Share-a-Meal cards ready for the taking. Photos courtesy of Rosaritas Mexican Grill. and sit and have a meal.” And she knows the need from experience. “It’s really important, especially with me and Alex. We know sometimes what it’s like to not have $1 in your pocket, and I thought it was really important that we have that
sense of family and camaraderie in the community.” Here’s how the Share-aMeal program works. A donator will select and purchase a $10.66 meal (there are 10 options) either at the eatery or online, and he or she gets a
Your Chance to Win ShopRite Gift Cards with the “Find Moe Life Mascot” Contest
MOUNT OLIVE TWP. Check out our new mascot... Mr. Moe Life. Look for him in the ads in this issue and enter (no purchase necessary) to win a Free Reusable grocery bag or
a $25.00 ShopRrite gift card. It is easy to enter. Look through the paper and read the ads and look for Mr. Life in the ad. He will be located throughout the paper in 6 random ads. Then
What’s Inside...
go to www.mtolivelife.com scroll down and fill out the form to be entered. Winners will be notified and printed in the next issue.
postcard to write a nice wish or wording on the card. The card is then hung up on the Rosaritas Mexican Grill wall, ready for takers. If after a certain time a card or a group of them has not been chosen, the Fonsecas will gather them and prepare meals for delivery to Morristown’s Market Street Mission, the Mount Olive Food Pantry, and other spots where there is a need. Yes, people are being fed, but there’s the more personal side of this for those who get the card and meal. “And then you (the recipient) keep the card,” Fonseca says. “You keep the card and you have that moment of connection between a human and another human. And I think that’s really important.” And, if those who have grabbed a Share-a-Meal card at some point and have never used it can’t make it to the restaurant, call Fonseca. She’ll make sure it gets delivered. “We’re trying to get to those people that really do need these meals and that really just need a warm meal in their belly.” “It does take a village to work together, to raise our kids, to help each other, and to grow with each other,” Fonseca says. “That is something that we’ve always talked about, Alex and I. We have this platform - and I know it doesn’t seem like a platform like a celebrity or someone who has millions of dollars, because I don’t. But at the same time, I wanted that sense of community. I want you to feel like you are part of my family when you sit down PLEASE SEE ROSARITAS, PAGE 8
From the Mayor’s Desk ................................................................................................................................... Page 4 Newest Part Time Animal Control Officer for Mt. Olive........................................................................... Page 8 For your health .............................................................................................................................................. Page 10 Sports .............................................................................................................................................................. page 13 A New Year’s Day Story ................................................................................................................................ Page 15 NY Starz .......................................................................................................................................................... Page 16 Message From Council President ................................................................................................................ Page 17 Morris County News..................................................................................................................................... Page 18
MOUNT OLIVE TWP. - The Mount Olive community is coming together to support the Van Dine family after Lorenzo Van Dine, age 6, lost his life in a tragic car accident just days before Christmas. The Van Dine’s have set up a GoFundMe page to help with expenses, www.gofund.me/d1858589. According to the GoFundMe, Renny’s mother Ashley shared the following; “I’m a single mom with not much money to make something beautiful for him to celebrate his loving life. He was loved by many. He played lots of sports. He also was a kind hearted loving boy who wanted to be a cop when he grew up. He just started out wanting to be on Masterchef Junior and always tried to make new things. He was my family’s love and he knew how to make everyone’s day brighter.” Lorenzo, also known by Renny, was a first grade student at Chester M. Stephens School in Mount Olive. Also a trisport athlete, Renny played football for the Mount Olive Junior Marauders, and was also a wrestler and baseball player. The Junior Marauders organization shared the following on Facebook. “The Junior Marauders are heartbroken to learn of the tragic passing of our flag football player Lorenzo ‘Renni’ Van Dine. Renni was a fun loving kid, with the brightest smile and had the biggest personality. In addition to football, Renni was also a Mount Olive baseball and wrestling athlete. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Van Dine family.” As of this writing, the accident is still under investigation.
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