MO ONLINE 5-1-2022

Mt. Olive Online Publication September 26, 2023

Local Woman Starts Next Chapter As Life Coach

By Cheryl Conway

Every person has his or her own story to tell, but for this one local woman, she has just started a new chapter and her pages keep on turning.

Entrepreneur, medical coder, certified spin instructor, award winning speaker, former contest winner of the 2009 Mt. Olive Recreation Biggest Loser Contest and a mother- Denise Washington of Hackettstown is spinning her wheels to greater and newer adventures. The 67-year-old just began a new venture- Your Next Chapter- to help older women physically and emotionally.

By learning from her own trials and tribulations, and examining the journey of other women, Washington has taken on a new role as a life coach for women.

Her purpose is “to help women who are over 65 years young who are physically and emotionally tired of their lives,” says Washington. To coach them so they can “step into their next chapter with renewed confidence and purpose.”

Life-Changing Trip

Washington’s idea for her new venture “became solidified” in February, just after she returned from her solo birthday trip to Sedona, Ariz. Speaking with people, listening to others, spending some quality time alone and perhaps being treated like a celebrity was probably the spark that helped Washington connect the dots that have been following her all along.

“A lot happened on that trip that I became aware of,” says Washington, a 30-year Mt. Olive resident prior to moving to Hackettstown. “I had a marvelous time, spoke with people, met a family from Newton.”

She explains: “I actually became more aware on the trip. I hiked every day, wrote in my journal and spent time listening to my thoughts. This focus on self, helped to bring this idea into a reality. Plus, I found my vortex; it was a place on a trail, and I had to sit down on a rock; I just allowed myself to “be.” This one spot was powerful.”

A last-minute trip, Washington flew out to Arizona on her birthday, February 16, arriving at 10 a.m., spent the day shopping for healthy snacks, visiting the Botanical Gardens, Grand Canyon and then to Sedona.

Instead of spending her intended one hour at the Botanical Gardens, she stayed there from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., causing her to lose her hotel room at Los Abrigados Resort and Spa in Sedona.

"It’s a beautiful place,” says Washington, about the Botanical Gardens. “I saw everything; it was gorgeous. I talked to everybody.”

When the hotel gave her room away since she was so late, they ran out of rooms. The hotel wound up putting her in the Celebrity House, with her own private gate, private parking, two bedrooms, two patios, full kitchen, private outdoor jacuzzi and private pool, with memorabilia signed pictures of celebrities such as Richard Prior and Stevie Nicks, in every room.

Washington thought for sure the hotel made a mistake.

“They are going to throw me out when they realize I’m somebody else,” says Washington.

She stayed there from Wednesday through Thursday and already booked to stay at the Celebrity House next year. “You have to know that it even exists,” she says, adding she is saving up now for her return trip.

Live Life To The Fullest

Just like her trip, Washington is living her best life and is now motivating other women her age to do the same.

It was her trip that sparked her new venture, but she realizes she had the tools all along.

“I’ve been doing life coaching for at least 20 years,” she says.

Washington has been working in medical coding since 2010. As a certified teacher for the American Academy for Professional Coders since 2017, Washington teaches a 10-week coding program to others through her own coding business.

Over the years, individuals would come in with coding questions, but their discussions would lead to health questions such as better eating habits and exercise.

“It would always morph into something else about confidence,” says Washington. She says 80 percent of the people, mostly women, who came into her office for some coding lessons, wound up talking about health and wellness.

“I’ve been doing this for a long time,” she realizes.

With a bachelor’s degree in psychology, which Washington earned summa cum laude in 2020 from Rutgers University after earning her associate’s in liberal arts from the County College of Morris in Randolph in 2014, Washington is blending her counseling background and her fitness coaching skills to help women physically and emotionally.

Ready For Business

“I have opened my doors already,” says Washington, adding that her initial start date was April 1. “I’m open and ready for business.”

She spent some time interviewing 20 women formally and 10 others informally, and used her research to establish her goals. From those conversations she learned how women are set back from injuries, lost confidence, live with pain or are “eating themselves into a spot they don’t want to be” thus causing their health and wellness to plummet.

Some are holding onto anxiety from COVID-19, causing extra stress and excuses to not join a fitness program. “It’s not as deep as it was two years ago, but people are still reacting the same way,” says Washington.

Washington already has her first client. She hopes to work with two to three women each month. With a virtual world, she notes these women can live anywhere.

As the group grows, she hopes to offer a group session and possibly a retreat.

“Their time with me will be six months,” says Washington. “After six months they’ll be ready to go to their next chapter, but I’ll always be there to support them.”

As a woman who has two grown children, lost 100 pounds, became a widow, and then learned how to redefine herself by returning to school, following her career goals and interests, Washington uses her own personal stories and challenges to guide other women along the way.

She says life experience and patience to understand are the qualities that will help her succeed in her new role.

“When people speak, I not only hear, I listen and understand,” says Washington. Also having “the patience to try different methods; patience to understand something may not work the first time but use that experience and apply it to the next attempt.

“There’s a whole lot of universal things that women think and feel,” says Washington. When one potential client “realized I lost 100 pounds, she backed up and said what!”

When listening to women and their struggles, Washington says “weight is always related to something else, confidence, less than, feeling they should be doing something else. They still want more.”

Women aged 45 to 50’s, may still have children at home, are working in their career and are married. But the older women get, they may think “What’s next for me?” Children grow up and leave, some women never pursue their career as full-time moms; wives become widows.

“Either you are going to explore what’s more for you or you are going to push it down,” says Washington.

Why Pursue That Next Chapter

“I felt a tap and I did push it down a bit,” Washington says of pursuing personal interests.

She looks at her mom as a role model of attempting the impossible and her husband’s motivation, advice and support.

Washington’s mom- Eileen Carson of Queens- was a big influence.

“She retired early; she lived her best life,” says Washington about her mom before losing her in 2011. “In her 60’s she began tackling things that eluded her,” such as swimming. Carson became a “senior Olympian; this was a woman who was terrified of water,” says Washington. “When I saw her jump in six feet of water, I was amazed.”

Washington's husband of 27 years, George Washington, motivated her to live once he was gone.

“I was not ready that he was going to die soon,” says Washington. “He accepted it.” He had “a goodbye tour,” in which he called family members “and told them how much he loved them.” He told her, “Now you are going to have time to do all the things you put on the back burner when you married me and became a mother. I want you to go forth and do all those things.”

Washington admits, “I didn’t want to hear it and he passed away a month later,” on Father’s Day 2016. “He had a smile on his face,” she says. “A year after is when I got my nose over the grief,” after she and her two grown kids went for grief counseling.

“That next year, I went back to school; I put that on hold,” she explains. She got certified for hospital coding, certified to teach coding in 2017 and then in 2020 earned her bachelor’s degree. In 2019, she also got certified to teach spin classes although she had been taking spin classes for 10 years and was running in marathons.

From there she grew her coding business and got involved with Toastmasters and speaking engagements, despite her fear with public speaking. Last year, she won first place in Toastmasters District 83 Table Topics Contest; and in 2019 was selected Outstanding Continuing Education Student Award Winner for the UPCEA Mid-Atlantic Region, an association which supports the changing needs of the diverse student body of college students.

Goals With Helping Women

In her latest role, Your Next Chapter, Washington says “I want your next chapter to be the safe place for women to reveal themselves and take techniques not just exercise classes.”

She mentions some methods such as breathing, tapping and singing bowls, which involves teaching with vibrations and frequencies using water to help a person relax and gain clarity.

Washington will also provide one on one hourly conversations with her clients, either virtually or in-person; and will serve as a personal fitness trainer.

She explains why she set the age bracket to over 60. Many may get stuck in the mind-set that “Once you hit 60, you have nothing left to offer,” says Washington. “You are married or divorced; you raised your children. There’s nothing out there after 60. You are a widow, or you are put on a shelf.”

Washington found that according to a study conducted by the New England Journal of Medicine, the most productive time for individuals is between the ages to 60 and 70, even 70 and 80.

She cites that the average age for Nobel Piece Prize Winners is 61; writing a book is 71; and the average age of a Pope is 76.

Besides being 65, Washington wants to work with clients who “have to be aware they have a problem and aware there is a solution.” She wants those who have tried other solutions.

She will work with them one on one to determine “What are we going to tackle first? What exercises do you like? They need to commit to some sort of schedule to say, ‘I’m going to work out on these days.’ You don’t have to go hard five days in a row,” but rather commit to a start for 30 minutes, or walking, weight training, yoga.

“Can I help this person?” Washington says she will consider. “They are interviewing me as well. Is this going to be a good match?

“They have to be interested in regaining their health and that will be determined in their goals,” says Washington. There “has to be some type of movement involved. I’m using exercise as a bridge.”

The other part of the program, she would not refer to as a diet, but rather “healthier eating.”

“We are eating to support health,” says Washington. “They may want to lose 20 pounds.” Others may want to improve or prevent health issues such as hypertension or prediabetes.

“Once you start seeing those numbers turn around, people keep going,” she says.

Chronic conditions improve first, then loss of inches, followed by pounds, says Washington.

Women need to keep in mind that percentage of body fat will lean out, and clothes will start to fit better. A body that has more muscle will weigh more.

Her goal is to encourage clients to weight train two days a week.

“We need to weight train for our bones and to challenge our balance,” says Washington.

For exercises, Washington- who is studying to become a personal certified trainer through National Academy of Sports Medicine- will provide her clients with a series of exercise formats to start with.

Clients can spin virtually, take walks at various times outdoors or on a treadmill.

Total services include an initial interview; one on one weekly discussion to discuss goals and ailments; and a fitness assessment such as a long walk through town or on a trail to monitor their heart rate.

She may encourage them to attend a spin class, where she says “I’ll see a lot there, your core strength. I’ll see balance; I’ll see correct form."

She plans “to analyze what you’re eating, when and how. Are you standing up while looking at the TV; did you get hungry at night? We’re going to discuss what you like. I can give them a diet plan, but will you follow it? I can suggest you eat more greens but what if she doesn’t like greens? Me telling her to buy a bunch of spinach, that’s not going to work.

“What you eat, when you eat, how much water do you drink, do you confuse thirst for hunger?”

Washington also plans to introduce some methods to relax and reduce blood pressure such as breathing techniques and tapping, which is used to disrupt that signal of negative thoughts and actions by tapping with one’s fingertips on meridian parts of the body such as the wrists or over the eyebrow.

“It opens you up to another thought pattern,” says Washington. “If you interrupt it enough times, you can rewire yourself to think differently.”

Washington did not discuss her fee for her coaching services, but she did say her clients “have to be willing to invest in themselves.” They “will have to do it later on, take care of themselves.”

“There is value to what I’m doing,” says Washington, whose true intention is to help women. “I’ve priced it accordingly. You are either going to pay now or you’re going to pay later cause insulin is high.”

When asked how many clients she hopes to help, Washington responds “as many people who can find me. If only one person I help, then I’m good; 200 I’m good. I’m here for the service.”

Washington’s website is under construction. For more information or to sign up, contact Washington at www.yournextchapter60@gmail.com

Charging Stations, Revamping Beach, Talk of Town

By Cheryl Conway

Last month the community learned about charging stations and this week will hear about plans to renovate Budd Lake Beach.

The Mt. Olive Council meets twice a month to pass numerous resolutions and ordinances, listen to presentations and spend tax dollars. The landscape of Mt. Olive is constantly growing and changing and more residents may want to listen in on these meetings, which are still being held via ZOOM since COVID-19. Others who may want more of a say and involvement in these decisions should consider running for mayor and council as seats that have been filled by long-time incumbents are soon expiring. Three council seats and the mayor’s term will expire December 31, 2023. Mayor Rob Greenbaum has served as mayor for the past 10 years and 20 years as an elected official.

The next meeting is set for this Tuesday, May 3, at 7 p.m. Register in ZOOM by visiting: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Gk2pdBp0RoeRHAjcHd8vPQ

A presentation of the preliminary design of Budd Lake Beach is expected to be given at this Tuesday’s meeting. Public input is welcomed during the meeting.

The purpose is to provide information to the N.J. Department of Transportation and the Department of Environmental Protection to review the permit process and address any concerns, explains Mt. Olive Twp. Business Administrator Andrew Tatarenko in a press release.

“Specific dates, site-furnishings etc. will be handled in the final phase later in the year,” he writes.

The following concepts will be presented: Rehabilitated parking lot for 77 spaces; reconfigured egress/ingress; proposed food truck area; new stone boat launch for small boats; kiosk for kayak rental; large pavilion for picnicking; larger dock with shade structure for sightseeing; increased sand area with room to accommodate volleyball court; restroom storage facility; ADA compliant boardwalk.

Residents have some concerns about revamping Budd Lake Beach that stem from additional noise; foul smell of the water; better use of tax dollars such as fixing pot holes; and increased flow of traffic.

Others are happy that there will be an option for swimming and making use of a lake that was used years ago for swimming lessons and other recreational activities.

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

At the April 19 Mt. Olive Twp. Council Meeting, Tatarenko presented to council an update about charging stations for electric vehicles.

He explains how the state is encouraging towns to increase the number of charging stations it provides for electric vehicles. He says the town has three options: AC Level one which is residential; AC level two which is residential/ commercial/municipal use to provide two to six hours of charging; or DC Fast Charges which provide ½ hour stations, that can be costly.

The township, which has been considering the concept for the past three years, would obtain a grant, install equipment and benefit from revenue generated. It would also be responsible for upkeep and maintenance.

The other option is for third party leasing to provide the equipment and site work, which Tatarenko recommends as the best option. This would involve small revenue sharing. "They are using our property to offer their service,” says Tatarenko.

Tatarenko suggested several sites for charging stations: Two dual port stations with four spots at the Mt. Olive Twp. Municipal Building. The power source would be at the Senior Center.

Two ports with four spots at the Mt. Olive Public Library. Three ports with six parking spots at Turkey Brook Park. One dual port with two parking spots at Flanders Park.

Residents or people visiting from out of town would pay to charge their electric vehicle. The vendor would collect the charge. A small portion would go back to the township, Tatarenko explains.

“I’m for it as long as there is not a net cost to the residents,” says Council Vice President Alex Roman, who thinks these charging stations will be primarily used by upper class who can afford these electric vehicles.

Greenbaum says he is “wholeheartedly in favor” of a third-party contract. He does not see residents using the charging stations as much as those who come into Mt. Olive and then need to leave.

He says the “cost of vehicles is very expensive right now but like big screen TVs, will be coming down” years down the road and that electric cars “will most likely be” the type of cars that will be used the most.

“This is a no brainer,” says Greenbaum. “It does not cost the town anything. I urge the council to adopt a policy for a third-party contractor. It’s an excellent opportunity for the township to move forward.”

Religious Boundary

At the April 5 meeting, the council passed a resolution to authorize public right-of-way to a religious congregation. Congregation Kolel Vyashkem Avrhom Inc. has requested permission from Mt. Olive Twp. for municipal consent to use the public rights-of-way to place lechis comprising an ERUV on certain Verizon and JCP&L utility poles.

Roman had asked Tatarenko if there were any complaints for this request to install a boundary.

Tatarenko says there were no complaints from anyone for the request that came in March from the congregation.

An Eruv is “An area enclosed by a boundary which symbolically extends the private domain of Jewish households into public areas, permitting activities within it that are normally forbidden on the Sabbath,” Tatarenko explains.

The organization requested to place the ERUV within the township right of way “(ROW) on Drakestown Road,” explains Tatarenko. “It may also be installed within private property and the States ROW but the township is not authorized to approve that placement. The utility companies also need to approve as it gets attached to their poles.

“The boundary is typically marked by a wire or plastic strips attached to utility poles,” says Tatarenko.

He confirms there is no cost to the township.

“Once the utility companies approve the request, I would assume it will be installed,” he says.

Flanders Fire Dept. Donation

The council also approved a donation of several items to the Clifton Fire Dept. which is conducting a nationwide collection of gear for Ukranian firefighters.

Tatarenko shares a list of items that were donated.

On a spreadsheet labeled as “Out of date gear: Firefighter turnout gear is only good for 10 years,” were 17 bunker coats aged from 11 to 35 years; 11 fire helmets aged 18 years; eight pairs of rubber boots in sizes from 8 to 10; 13 MSA air paks listed as 20 years old; five medium masks; one large mask; and 13 MSA air bottles from 1998 to 2004.

Tatarenko did not know the value of the equipment.

“Can’t really put a figure on it,” he says. “It’s all equipment that can no longer be used.”

Properties in Question

The council got updates on a few properties in town.

Tatarenko reports that 5 Pond View Lane in Flanders, an historic abandoned property, is still up for acquisition.

"The attorney representing the state has been non-responsive,” says Tatarenko.

The property is out for bid with an architect to complete some exterior maintenance. He plans to present to council what those costs would be.

Recreation, conservation and preservation will all be considered once the township closes on the property.

The abandoned house is known as The Tarn, and also as the Bartley Foundry/Mill, says Tatarenko. On site sits a 4,100 square foot building, a pond with small island which feeds into the South Branch Raritan and a boardwalk encircling the pond.

The development of Valley Brook Park in Flanders has been “slow to develop,” says Tatarenko. The future park is located on 100+ acre horse training facility across from the Flanders Golf Course.

With wetlands conservation and utility easements, Tatarenko says the township needs DEP to review the regulations before moving forward.

The Old Mill Shop in Flanders was set to be demolished if the property owner did not respond to the council by May 1. Another historic property, The Cherokee Trading Post on Rt. 46 in Budd Lake, will also be renovated and converted for a different use. The former Mt. Olive School District Administration Building, also on Rt. 46 in Budd Lake, will also be demolished with plans for a storage facility.

The township owns 57 acres located at 3100 Continental Drive adjacent to the old BASF site. Usage of that property is still being decided.

“The intent when the property was acquired, was not to use Green Acres funds so that the township can encourage development at a later date,” says Tatarenko. “However, there is a deed restriction on the property including one providing that if we sell the property that it only be used for office space. The township recently went out to bid and the contract purchaser would like to install a warehouse which would require the DEP to relinquish the deed restriction in exchange for financial compensation.

“The DEP has an official application to lift the deed restriction,” he adds. “This is usually a lengthy process but I hope to hear back from the DEP within 30 days of receiving our application.”

Village Green Acres

The council also had a lengthy discussion about nine acres of land on the left side of Village Green in Budd Lake.

At the April 5 council meeting, the council voted to approve an ordinance to correct a boundary mistake which had placed a commercial zone right through an apartment building, explains Chuck McGroarty, Mt. Olive’s director of planning.

The nine acres was always part of Village Green, says McGroarty but “at some point in the past” its zoning was changed.

In 1975, the Mt. Olive Twp.’s Master Plan recognized the area as a residential multi-family use, he explains. But then in 1978, masterplan revisions were made that placed that same zone to commercial.

“There was no explanation for that,” says McGroarty. “There should have been some recommendation that we are taking away nine acres from Village Green.”

In 1986, another master plan was conducted and identified those acres as open space with future land use to be used for commercial use, adds McGroarty.

So from 1970, it changed from garden apartment, to open space to now commercial,” he says, and “there it sat” ever since.

In the resolution, the council modified the zoning back to its original use so Village Green can now have the option to build more apartments.

Some discussion at the meeting shared concerns about increase in storm water regulations and run off onto other properties; effect on school district with more growth in student population; additional traffic exiting onto Rt. 46. Alan Fulton spoke of his concerns of water run off onto his uncle’s property who lives right next door to the Village Green acres.

“Storm water runoff is something we still experience,” says Fulton. “It’s something we still continue to face. It’s a great concern, great fear of mine,” being at the bottom of the hill. With more homes that runoff will be even greater.

With nine acres, that could be 110 units, says Fulton. “That’s not small potatoes. I know that’s hypothetical. That run off will be detrimental; will have impact on properties on Waterloo Rd.”

The manager of Village Green Apts. attended the meeting and “gives blessings to the amendment.”

The manager assures the township that it “will not exploit anything of which is not legally permitted.”

He says “what happened in 1986 is a mystery to us,” and he does not know how nine acres became a commercial zone. “We will be exemplary citizens,” and will go before the planning board if it does plan to build more units.

“We have no plans, we have no proposal to build any buildings yet,” says the manager.

McGroarty did remind the council the township’s obligation to provide a certain number of affordable housing units. “We look for good opportunities to provide affordable housing,” says McGroarty. Remaining land in Mt. Olive consists of 80% Highlands property which cannot be built on.

Village Green consists of 105 acres and 1,172 units, say McGroarty. With the addition of nine acres, that is 114 acres zones for residential use; 12 units per acre could allow for 108 more units to be built.

He explains that the planning board would have to consider building coverage and lot coverage.

“Just because numbers yield that doesn’t mean we will get anything close to that,” says McGroarty, remaining optimistic.

As far as storm water runoff, McGroarty says “any new development will not drain back into their properties. I’m very certain that will not be a problem.

“If there’s exiting problems, let’s see if we can fix them,” says McGroarty.

With all of these developments in town, Greenbaum thanks Tatarenko for all of the updates and concludes “I’m really excited about all of these projects. Government moves slow.” In other news, he shares that LongHorn Steakhouse has planned its reopening on May 17.

“It’s been a big loss to the township,” says Greenbaum. “We wish them the best in their continued operation.”

N.J. Governor's 2022 STEM Scholars Look to Change The World

By Dawn M Chiossi

Flanders resident, Siya Kulkarni, top left, and Emma Fylstra of Bridgeton, on right, have recently been named New Jersey Governor's STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Scholars for 2022.

Writer Kurt Vonnegut asserted, "Science is magic that works.” That same magic stems from a natural curiosity and a love of learning. It's about discovering how things work and how they can be made better. When people have a passion for what they are doing and are intrigued by what’s to come, there are no limits on what they can accomplish.

The Governor’s STEM Scholars Program (or GSS) helps scholars like Kulkarni- a senior at Morris County School of Technology in Denville in the Academy of healthcare Sciences- and Fylstra- a junior at Cumberland Regional High School in Bridgeton at the STEM Academy- soar beyond their own imagination.

Founded in 2013, this innovative program was designed to engage the next generation early, knowing that they are tomorrow’s researchers and innovators. So, GSS not only introduces them to the STEM workforce, it engages them in it.

The program is comprised of approximately 100 diligent students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher from 20 N.J. counties. Ages range from those in 10th grade to those on the doctoral level.

Although 68% identify as persons of color and 52% as female, all of them have one thing in common: They are high achieving, goal-oriented, passionate people seeking to make a difference in their fields.

The Governor’s STEM Scholars Program is dedicated to enhancement. The team encompasses a public-private partnership among the Research & Development Council of N.J., the N.J. Office of the Governor, the N.J. Department of Education, the N.J. Office of the Secretary of Higher Education and private employers.

As Vonnegut would have claimed, these students are the seekers of magic within science.

More than a standard program, The Governor’s STEM Scholars Program not only celebrates the talents of its students but also celebrates N.J. Many creative and scientific minds have their roots deep in N.J. soil. After all, this is where Thomas Edison, “The Wizard of Menlo Park,” developed the electric light, and Albert Einstein delivered lectures on his theory of relativity. Even today, the state is home to 13 of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world.

Is it any wonder then that GSS seeks to keep the talents of these future leaders here?

Bringing the industry together with these talented and curious students, the Governor’s STEM Scholars Program encourages a relationship and connections with each other.

Since its inception, the Governor's STEM Scholars Program has hit all the right notes by engaging, enriching and attracting a diverse population of students. Scholars attend quarterly symposiums, field trips and site visits. They enjoy fireside chats with STEM leaders, master classes and other events and produce viable research projects. Boasting thousands of applicants, GSS has graduated approximately 500 scholars.

More than this, the program is all about communication with other students and professionals. It’s about an opportunity to dream bigger and better, blowing the doors off anything they could imagine.

GSS Scholars have a passion to become leaders of the future. Leaders like Kulkarni and Fylstra are looking beyond the four walls of their school to what’s to come. Passionate about STEM in general, they envision what they can do to make the world better and have the diligence to do it.

“Every advancement we see today unmistakably has its roots in some STEM field,” states Kulkarni, who aspires to enter healthcare and empower more women to join STEM-related fields. “There is a lot of power in what STEM can do and what youth can do (with it).”

Fylstra adds, “STEM is the basis for improving our world, and it’s important to continue developing in all aspects of it. There’s a lot we can make better in the world.”

Bright and enthusiastic, Kulkarni and Fylstra are elated about the GSS program because education between four walls can only go so far.

"I haven’t seen any similar programs,” they disclose. “There are plenty of STEM talks and large-scale projects, but GSS ties everything together in a way that’s genuinely helpful.”

Finding out about the program was relatively simple, as both teens were encouraged to apply by teachers. Much more than the work involved, it is the energy and collaboration with others in the GSS Program that they are responding to.

Kulkarni can’t say enough about the collaborative community of researchers, educators, students, and mentors.

“I wanted to be a part of a cohesive community of creators and innovators,” said Kulkarni. “That’s exactly what the Governor’s STEM program is!”

Adds Fylstra, “It lets me meet incredible people and learn more about STEM than I ever have in a classroom.”

They both are thrilled by the chance to share their passions with others and learn from other STEM students.

Innovative and formidable, there’s much to enjoy about this year-long program, especially the challenges.

Fylstra mentions coding and how she had to teach herself quite a bit of it, while Kulkarni notes feeling overwhelmed by so many STEM issues and how much needed to be done to solve them.

“This program and its research projects have inspired me to take risks, think outside of the box, and not be afraid to speak up about issues I am passionate about!” Kulkarni enthuses.

But the GSS program is much more than four walls, learning, conferences, field trips, or any other offerings. It’s about empowerment and confidence in the students. It’s about the students taking these qualities out in the world.”

When asked what they would tell an unconfident young person about going into the STEM fields, both teens are quick to answer.

“Embrace change,” says Kulkarni. “One moment can change the course of your life and help you meet people and have experiences you otherwise would never have had.”

Fylstra advises, “The things you put off today, your future self will be disappointed at. Don’t be afraid to take risks- you can always say no later. You should never forgo an opportunity to learn.”

Perhaps the whole objective of the GSS program could be summed up with one moment that Kulkarni shares. “One moment that stands out to me is taking our first picture together as a collective group at our first conference. In that moment, we weren’t just scholars; we were just curious about the people around us and the parts about STEM that intrigued each other. It was a moment of realization that we were all in this together- and that one day- we could change the world.”

Kulkarni and Fylstra are so passionate, about STEM and the N.J. Governor's STEM Scholars program, they even wrote an OP-ED, sharing their experience with one particular program.

“As New Jersey high school students, we understand the importance of STEM education both in and out of school,” they assert.

Siya Kulkarni and Emma Fylstra’s OP-ED

"Beyond Our Four Walls: The Importance of STEM to Support Next-Gen Careers"

A future electrical engineer who aims to change how the world uses technology from Middlesex County. An aspiring psychologist dedicated to making a difference through the human mind from Toms River. An enthusiast for medical innovation and patient-centered care from Morris County. These interests and incredible high school and college students all met at one place - the Governor’s STEM Scholars (GSS).

Out-of-school STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs - like the Governor's STEM Scholars - are important for encouraging students to aspire towards STEM careers and supply a much-needed workforce. They help close gender and race gaps in STEM fields, where different perspectives strengthen innovation. And, these additional STEM experiences provide students with hands-on experiential learning that prepare them for careers in and out of STEM professions. To continue to prepare New Jersey’s students for their futures, programs that enhance STEM learning must be supported.

GSS is an innovative program that helps to secure the state’s STEM talent pipeline by showcasing what the state has to offer in STEM academic and professional opportunities to New Jersey’s high school and college students. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly one million STEM jobs will be added to the economy in the 2020s. And in New Jersey, there are 1.4 open STEM jobs in the state for every unemployed person. New Jersey has a long history of innovation, and to maintain that, it must keep and attract talented STEM professionals.

GSS consists of quarterly conferences, field trips, and masterclasses. The conferences provide Scholars access to leading STEM voices in the state and to gain a greater understanding of STEM career pathways in New Jersey. Scholars build relationships with leading STEM professionals working in New Jersey, making connections that will carry them through their academic and professional lives.

STEM education helps bridge racial and gender gaps found in math and science fields. The gap in minority STEM representation is easy to see only 8% of STEM workers are Hispanic, and 9% are Black; women constitute only 34% of the workforce, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. STEM innovation is strengthened when diverse people with unique perspectives tackle problems. GSS hopes to close these gaps by selecting a class of Scholars as diverse as the state. Out of the 100 current Scholars, 66 identify as female, and 82 are students of color. The speakers are as varied as the Scholars, coming from different backgrounds, making sure every Scholar can see themselves in the STEM field.

In GSS, each Scholar participates in a research project to provide hands-on STEM learning. Current Scholars are tackling projects such as using machine learning to track online misinformation to coding artificial intelligence that identifies crop disease. This is where STEM programming - like GSS - provides the greatest benefit to students. Experiential learning opportunities help students put theories and lessons into practice, making for more productive problem solvers, who are able to create more capable solutions. The GSS research projects combine learning, technical skills, and cooperation that allow Scholars to reach past the four walls of a classroom.

March is New Jersey STEM Month in New Jersey. Designated by Governor Murphy's gubernatorial proclamation, it is a dedicated time to reflect on the state’s STEM accomplishments and look towards a future of innovation in New Jersey. It’s also during this time that GSS opens its applications for the 2022-2023 class of Scholars at www.GovSTEMScholars.com.

Many might say that New Jersey schools are the place for students to gain the passion for a STEM career, but it is programs - such as the Governor's STEM Scholars - that validate those passions and give students access to meaningful connections to propel them into their futures. The Governor’s STEM Scholars has connected us with mentors, peers, and resources that will guide and support that future. What's the most beautiful part? We all met at one place at the right time.

For further information or details on the New Jersey Governor’s STEM Scholars Program, visit https://www.govstemscholars.com/.

AVM Prays For Volunteers To Prepare Site & New Garden

Reflection Sanctum

2022 Remembrance Day Ceremony

The All Veterans Memorial plans to hold its Semi-Annual Spring Clean-up on Saturday, May 14 and Sunday, May 15 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the AVM Ceremonial Complex at Turkey Brook Park in Budd Lake.

Organizers will be working on the final phase of the complex: The Reflection Sanctum or better known as prayer garden. Refreshments and lunc

The All Veterans Memorial plans to hold its Semi-Annual Spring Clean-up on Saturday, May 14 and Sunday, May 15 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the AVM Ceremonial Complex at Turkey Brook Park in Budd Lake.

Organizers will be working on the final phase of the complex: The Reflection Sanctum or better known as prayer garden. Refreshments and lunch will be provided.

The sanctuary will consist of five 8 feet granite benches. There is still one bench available for sponsorship. Sponsorship is the “cost of the bench” itself which is $1,000 and can be sponsored by a private individual or organization in memory of. An application is attached for consideration.

There will be a variety of activities going on for all ages, strength and energy level; including but not limited to setting pavers, spreading mulch, raking, sealing the monuments or serving drinks and food etc.

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2022 Remembrance Day Ceremony

If any organization is interested in participating in the Memorial Day Dedication/Ceremony or have any questions, call AVM Founder Charlie Uhrmann at 973-479-4959 or email info@allveteransmemorial.org.

“This is going to be an amazing event!” says Uhrmann.

Save The Date May 30, 2022

Local & County News

MO Recreations Rakes In Awards

Bag Up NJ Campaign Begins May 4

On Wednesday, April 20, Mt. Olive Recreation was presented with a citation from the Senate and General Assembly as the recipient of the Community Award from the Morris County Park Alliance. In addition, Mt. Olive Recreation was also recognized for the 2022 Community Award- Outstanding Program more than 18,000 in population for its 150th Celebration of Mt. Olive .

Bag Up NJ Campaign Begins May 4

The "Bag Up NJ" campaign is the New Jersey Clean Communities Council’s new single use plastic and paper bag ban outreach campaign, which has a simple message: Bring your own reusable bag(s) when you shop.

This campaign educates and reminds consumers about their options for sustainability at the checkout counter. Consumers can bring their own reusable bags when they shop and recycle their plastic bags.

On Nov. 4, 2020, N.J. Governor Phil Murphy and the N.J. Legislature enacted the most progressive bag ban law in the country. The law prevents litter and encourages the use of reusable bags by phasing out single-use plastic and paper bags.

While one hears about the environmental impact of disposable plastic bags, it is important to remember that disposable paper bags have a significant impact on the environment too.

Bag Up NJ Campaign Begins May 4

Church Plans Clothing Drive

Papermaking requires large inputs of water, energy, chemicals, and wood, and produces various wastes and emissions that must be controlled or treated. Additionally, paper bags require ten times the number of trucks to deliver the same quantity of bags, resulting in increased truck traffic and diesel emissions.

The statewide ban on disposable bags goes into effect on May 4 and will create an effective and uniform sustainable policy for all shoppers and business owners in N.J.

Reducing waste and litter statewide is a good thing.

“This smart, uniform statewide law preempts all local ordinances,” said New Jersey Food Council CEO Linda Doherty, who is also president of the New Jersey Clean Communities Council.

Mt. Olive DPW has purchased several reusable bags for the community. They are FREE while supplies last. In addition, there are two boxes at town hall for residents to drop off plastic bags as well as Weis Markets in Flanders.

Questions, contact Lisa Brett lbrett@mtolivetwp.org.

Church Plans Clothing Drive

Morris County Adopts 2022 Budget Without Tax Rate Increase

Church Plans Clothing Drive

First Presbyterian Church Of Hackettstown has planned a Clothing Drive for Saturday, May 14, from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. in its church parking lot on Washington Street.

Accepted are: Shoes (please put in separate bags); hats; belts; purses; towels; bedding; curtains; tablecloths; stuff animals and clothing. Please bring items in plastic garbage bags.

The Arc of Warren County Plans 32nd Radiothon

Morris County Adopts 2022 Budget Without Tax Rate Increase

The 68-day countdown started April 1 for The Arc of Warren County’s Radiothon with WRNJ! Sixty-eight days signifies the 68th anniversary of the Agency and a goal of raising $68,000 for this initiative.

The Arc of Warren County in Washington continues to be committed to providing services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The children enrolled in its Early Intervention program are receiving services which enable them to achieve their best developmental outcomes. The residents in the Community Living Arrangements programs receive quality care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Essential services are provided to many individuals who live independently in the community. In addition, the Agency will be holding in-person camp at Camp Warren in Knowlton Township this summer. It offers a variety of recreational and social opportunities.

The Arc of Warren County has consistently maintained a high quality of services since its founding 68 years ago and especially during the past two years when faced with challenges related to navigating the Covid-19 pandemic. The Arc of Warren County continues to need assistance to help maintain and improve existing services. Consider making this year’s Radiothon for The Arc of Warren County with WRNJ an astounding success once again.

The countdown has begun and will continue until June 8, when WRNJ radio will devote the whole day to sharing stories about the impact of The Arc of Warren County’s work with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, from families, consumers, community leaders and employees. This initiative is a 32-year tradition that was the inspiration of longtime Arc Foundation Executive Director, Kevin Guyette, who passed away in October 2018. The emphasis will be on peer-to-peer fundraising through the following website page: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/arcradiothon2022 or through The Arc of Warren County’s main website at arcwarren.org In addition, donors can text-to-give by typing 50155 and then a keyword of Radiothon 2022.

The Arc of Warren County is seeking members of the Radiothon team to help with this initiative by contacting their friends and family to ask them for their support. In addition, any business donation of $500 or more will be considered a sponsorship. Sponsors will be announced during the Radiothon broadcast and the company’s logo will be featured on the event leaderboard. Select businesses in Hackettstown, Phillipsburg and Washington will display donation jars on behalf of Radiothon and will be publicly thanked on WRNJ on the day of broadcast.

The 2022 Radiothon will be co-chaired by Jim Travis, of SASCO Otterstedt Insurance, and Norman Worth, of WRNJ Radio. Both Travis and Worth have advocated for the organization and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities for more than 30 years. Travis serves on the Board of Directors for The Arc of Warren County. Both Travis and Worth are long-time members of the Hackettstown Rotary Club and serve on the Advisory Board for Atlantic Health’s Hackettstown Medical Center. “Words cannot describe how thankful The Arc of Warren County community is that WRNJ has provided our Agency with the vehicle to be able to conduct this fundraiser for 32 years,” says John Whitehead, CEO of The Arc of Warren County. “I also want to express how grateful I am that Jim Travis and Norman Worth will serve as co-chairs for Radiothon for the fourth consecutive year. Their support has been instrumental in Radiothon’s success. Also, the community-at-large has been so receptive and that continues to make this project one that has stood the test of time.” During this period leading up to Radiothon, members of the Radiothon team will be contacting their peers to encourage donating to the organization through phone calls, letters and online giving. On June 8, the actual day of Radiothon, the Radiothon team will continue to call their friends and colleagues in the comfort of their own homes or offices to encourage them to donate. The Arc of Warren County will utilize an online giving tool that will allow supporters to donate, plus share the page with individuals in their network. Results from the efforts will be reported on-air throughout the day of the event. “The Arc of Warren County provides essential services throughout Warren County with 17 group homes throughout the county and two locations right in Hackettstown itself,” says Norman Worth. “It is a longstanding tradition to support this organization in this manner and it continues to remain an initiative that is important to me. Listen in on June 8th and you will learn more about the far reaching positive impact of this organization.”

Interested individuals can read about the 68-day countdown to Radiothon online and, again, individuals can utilize The Arc of Warren County’s giving tool by visiting https://secure.qgiv.com/event/arcradiothon2022

Those who are interested in supporting Radiothon or becoming members of the Radiothon team are also encouraged to contact Annamaria Lalevee, director of Public Relations and Fundraising, at The Arc of Warren County, at (908) 223-0884 or at ALalevee@arcwarren.org

About The Arc of Warren County

The Arc is a national organization that serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their family members since 1950. The Arc of Warren County is one of 700 chapters of The Arc and serves more than 1,100 people annually for the past 68 years. Programs include residential group homes and supervised apartments, day services, community-based supports, advocacy services, recreation and summer camp, Special Olympics training, early intervention and a wide variety of additional social services.

Morris County Adopts 2022 Budget Without Tax Rate Increase

Morris County’s 2022 Budget was adopted on April 13 by the Board of County Commissioners, who held the tax rate stable for another year as they expanded funding for public safety and health, infrastructure projects, human services, education and economic development.

“Our 2022 Budget provides the high level of services Morris County residents have come to expect, especially since the pandemic hit, yet it also delivers the type of fiscal prudence demanded by tax-paying families dealing with historic inflation in America,” said Commissioner Deborah Smith, a member of the Board of Commissioners’ Budget Committee.

“This is the third consecutive year we have prevented an increase in the county tax rate,” she added. “Still, we were able to increase spending on public health and public safety.”

The $331.1 million 2022 Budget includes a $62.5 million Capital Spending Plan for the calendar year, which will be offset by $30.4 million in grants, and the budget buffers the county against unforeseeable economic changes by anticipating a $57.9 million fund balance. That balance marks a $1.7 million increase over last year, solidifying the prospects of Morris County maintaining an AAA Bond rating, which it has held for 46 years. “Maintaining our AAA standing is important to every resident because it enables our towns and school districts, as well as the county, to borrow funds for our important infrastructure projects at the best possible finance rates, saving everyone money in both the short and long term,” said Commissioner Deputy Director John Krickus, chair of the Board’s Budget Committee.

The 2022 spending plan also includes an estimated $34.3 million in educational, cultural and economic development incentives, and dedicates $68.3 million to public safety programs and another $36.6 million toward health and human services programs.

“Community-based human service initiatives, such as programs for mental health and drug addiction treatment, along with senior nutrition programs, veteran services and even employment training, are heavily supported by this budget,” said Commissioner Kathryn DeFillippo, a member of the budget committee. The budget includes Morris County’s contribution to the $24.8 million creation of the Morris County Vocational School District’s new Career Training Center at the County College of Morris in Randolph. The two-story, 45,940 square-foot Center will be financed by $6.2 million from the county and $18.6 million from state under Securing Our Children’s Future (SOCF) Bond Act. The Center has the potential to add 500 more students to the school district, providing them with the skills and training leading to lucrative careers, while expanding the diversity of the county’s workforce and helping leading industries in the region to grow, prosper and improve the area’s economy.

Critical Community Investments Among the educational, cultural and economic development incentives included in the 2022 Budget are:

• $18.9 million to support the County College of Morris, Morris County Vocational School District, the Rutgers Cooperative Extension and the Morris County Superintendent of Schools Office

• $8.9 million to support the 20,394-acre Morris County Park System

• $5.7 million for the Morris County Library and Morris County Heritage Commission

• $816,000 for Economic Development and Tourism

Critical Infrastructure Investments

The $62.5 million Capital Spending Plan prioritizes road resurfacing with $14 million earmarked for work on 25.6 miles in 15 towns. Another $2.8 million is slated for intersection improvements, and $6.83 million is dedicated to bridge and culvert projects.

Road Resurfacing Projects Include:

• 2.5 miles of Park Avenue from Columbia Turnpike to Route 124 in Madison, Florham Park and Morris Township

• 2.5 miles of Village Road in Harding Township

• 2.2 miles of Fairmount Road in Washington Township

• 2.2 miles of Green Pond Road in Rockaway and Jefferson townships Intersection Improvements Include:

• Boonton Avenue at Taylortown Road, Montville Township

• Flanders Netcong Road and Main Street Intersection with Route 206, Mt. Olive

• Guide Rail Upgrades and Installations throughout the County Bridge & Culvert Projects Include:

• Dickson’s Mill Road Bridge in Harding Township

• Hurd Street Bridge in Mine Hill Township

• Pleasant Hill Road Bridge in Mt. Olive

Morris County Ranked “Healthiest” in New Jersey Again

Morris County has been ranked again as the No. 1 healthiest county in New Jersey in an annual, national study released this week by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

"This is wonderful and welcome news, and I think we earned it,” said Tayfun Selen, director of the Morris County Board of County Commissioners. “The report says Morris County ranked very well on many factors, such as a long life-expectancy, high education levels and opportunities for social associations, while having some of the lowest rates in New Jersey of unemployment, violent crime and child poverty.”

The “2022 County Health Rankings,” a national study of counties in all 50 states, annually places Morris County at the top of its list. Leading community factors examined in the study are crime, education, environment, financial success, disease and mortality rates, lifestyle habits and the availability of nutritional foods, medical care and opportunities to exercise.

“The County Health Rankings model illustrates a broad vision for health,” according to the report. “The model shows that policies and programs at the local, state, and federal levels play an important role in shaping health factors that in turn, influence a community’s health outcomes. By implementing strategies that target the specific health challenges of a community, there is an opportunity to influence how long and how well people live.”

The Commissioners celebrated the report, adding that the No. 1 ranking is a product of decades of work by committed public servants and residents throughout the county.

“We’re naturally appreciative and proud of this continuous top ranking as the healthiest county in New Jersey,” said Commissioner Deputy Director John Krickus. “Most people who live here already know we are one the best places anywhere to work, raise a family and live, and that did not happen by chance. Morris County can point to generations of residents who have worked and pursued opportunities for themselves and their children by increasing the quality of education, creating a strong economy and employment opportunities, leading New Jersey in open space preservation and with the number one county park system.”

The Board of County Commissioners cited a few recent pursuits undertaken to maintain the public health, including: Continued protection of open space, 17,682 acres to date, and enhancement of the largest county park system in New Jersey, with over 20,394 acres of parkland, 38 recreational facilities and more than 253 miles of trails. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, residents took refuge there, with park and trails visitation increasing fourfold.

Long term investments in education, specifically the County College of Morris and the Morris County Vocational School District to enhance skills development, continuously improve the career opportunities and incomes of the local labor force, and to attract business investments. The MCVSD will be expanded by 30 percent after construction begins this year on the district’s new Career Training Center on the college campus, which is designed to provide students and adults the technical skills demanded by the state’s leading industry clusters.

Morris County is consistently ranked as having the lowest or second lowest unemployment rate because of its business-friendly relationship with leading employers and the educational and employment opportunities created here.

Morris County’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic was heralded as a model in New Jersey by state officials and financial rating houses alike for several reasons.

Emergency management leaders were recognized for their strategic distribution of personal protection equipment, successful set up and operation of a regional vaccination center and local testing sites; the county launched several programs to assist the county’s most vulnerable populations with access to food, shelter, healthcare, vaccines and testing; and the commissioners formed a task force to continuously examine the economic and financial impact of the pandemic, resulting in rating houses continuously maintaining Morris County’s AAA rating.

“We are proud to be ranked number one in the state,” said Registered Nurse Laura O’Reilly Stanzilis, executive director of the North Jersey Health Collaborative, who also sits on the Morris County Human Services Advisory Council and works with area nonprofits. “When human services, public health and healthcare collaborate, there is greater opportunity to identify and address social determinants of health at the local level and promote health equity.” The national report concluded that such factors as employment opportunities and resulting income directly impacts the type of health factors that led to Morris County’s top ranking. It also stated that local, state and federal policies and programs can have a major impact on the overall health of a community.

“There is a wide range of policies, programs, systems, and environmental changes that can make a difference locally,” as stated in the report. “Some interventions target individual behaviors, such as influencing dietary choices, exercise levels, or alcohol consumption. Other strategies try to tackle systems and structures, such as enhancing opportunities for education, stimulating economic development, and increasing neighborhood safety. “Health factors represent things that, if modified, can improve length and quality of life,” as stated in the report. “They are predictors of how healthy our communities can be in the future. The four health factor areas in the model include Health Behaviors, Clinical Care, Social & Economic Factors and Physical Environment. Health outcomes represent how healthy a county is right now. They reflect the physical and mental well-being of residents through measures representing the length and quality of life typically experienced in the community.”

Morris County Hope One Celebrates 5th Anniversary

Morris County Ranked “Healthiest” in New Jersey Again

Standing with the "Resolution of Honor," from left, are Commissioner Director Selen, Sheriff James Gannon, Kevin and Robin Gannon, Commissioner Deputy Director John Krickus and Commissioner Deborah Smith.

Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon recently led a day-long symposium celebrating the 5th Anniversary of Morris County Hope One, a ground-breaking support program to help people struggling with addiction that has inspired Hope One programs around New Jersey and the nation.

The symposium held Friday, April 1, attracted about 200 participants, including the Morris County Board of County Commissioners presenting a “Resolution of Honor” to Kevin and Robin Gannon of Toms River, who donated $100,000 to support the Morris County Hope One program.

Presenting the honor were Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen, Deputy Director John Krickus and Commissioner Deborah Smith during a morning segment of the program held at Saint Elizabeth University’s Dolan Hall in Convent Station.

“Their generosity is literally unmatched,” said Selen. “We are both very grateful and hopeful. We hope others will recognize this generosity, and take note of the unique work being done by Hope One. This program has inspired the creation of Hope One programs around New Jersey and the nation.”

Kevin Gannon is the sheriff’s brother, who grew up in Boonton Township; his wife Robin grew up in Lake Hiawatha.

“The sense of civic duty demonstrated by Kevin and Robin is something that clearly runs in the family,” said Krickus. “The sheriff has redefined the duties of law enforcement in Morris County by focusing not only on public safety, but also on crime prevention through human services outreach.”

Hope One sends professionals trained in addiction services into the community, via a mobile recovery unit, where they encounter people in need of addiction services and who are at risk of overdose. The Hope One team connects individuals they meet with treatment services and trains citizens in how to deal with someone who overdoses, specifically in the use of Narcan to revive overdose victims.

Gannon noted that Hope One was born in Morris County in April 2017, and credited Cpl. Erica Valvano on his staff with piloting the project and being the driving force behind Hope One. He described the program as a “use recovery and mental health initiative,” explaining that the Hope One team closely works with individuals impacted by the opioid epidemic, then shares the lessons learned to inspire other agencies to replicate the program.

Morris County Hope One marks its five-year anniversary with more than 27,000 community contacts and more than 5,000 people trained in the use of life-saving Narcan.

The Morris County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the Morris County Department of Human Services, the Mental Health Association and the Center for Addiction Recovery Education and Success (CARES), staffs the Hope One unit with a plain clothes Sheriff’s Officer, a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist and a Mental Health Professional.

Joining the symposium yesterday were the operators of Hope One programs that have developed in Newark and Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Hunterdon, Monmouth, Passaic and Warren counties.

Speakers throughout the day included people who experienced drug addiction and professionals who work in peer counseling, Hope One programs and mental health screening.

Recognizing Autism Awareness Month

Morris County Ranked “Healthiest” in New Jersey Again

Morris County Proclaims April Child Abuse Prevention Month

Autism advocate and internationally renowned speaker Dr. Kerry Magro, third from left, presented “Defining Autism: From Nonspeaking to Professional Speaker,” at Warren Hills High School, on April 11.

The program, in recognition of Autism Awareness Month, was hosted by event sponsor Greenwich Autism Alliance Foundation, The Arc of Warren County, Abilities of Northwest Jersey, Inc., and Warren Hills High School. With Magro, from left, are Earl Clymer, Warren Hills Superintendent of Schools; John Whitehead, CEO of The Arc of Warren County; Kelly Milazzo, president of the Autism Alliance Foundation; Cindy Wildermuth, CEO of Abilities of Northwest Jersey, Inc.; and, Annamaria Lalevee, director of Public Relations and Fundraising, The Arc of Warren County.

Morris County Proclaims April Child Abuse Prevention Month

Morris County’s Board of County Commissioners proclaimed April 2022 Child Abuse Prevention Month in Morris County to bring more focus to the societal threats posed by child abuse and neglect, and to urge all residents to aid all families in crisis.

Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen presented a framed and signed copy of the proclamation to Karen DeChristopher, director of the Young Children Priority One Program for the Kiwanis of Greater Parsippany, during the Board’s public work session in Morristown.

“The Kiwanis Young Children Priority One Program is one of our community partners working to improve the lives of young children in our nation,” Selen said.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have declared child abuse and neglect to be a serious public health threat with long-lasting, negative impacts on every victim,” Selen added. “The most effective way to combat child abuse and neglect is to increase awareness and to report abuse; to encourage nurturing parenting practices and to provide support to everyone who may need help raising their children in a healthy environment.”

DeChristopher met Selen and Stephen Shaw recently in Parsippany at a "Pinwheel Garden," which she described as an awareness project developed by Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey, an organization founded in 1979 that promotes great childhoods, positive parenting and healthy child development.

DeChristopher said the pinwheels are placed into the ground in ceremonies every April to bring awareness to child abuse and neglect, and she gave each Commissioner at tonight's meeting a pinwheel lapel pin.

“The pin wheel is something that is happy … It just brings joy to children,” she said. “Every child should be healthy and happy and not suffer abuse."

DeChristopher said teaching proper parenting is key to ending child abuse and neglect.

“If you’ve grown up in an abusive situation, you don’t realize that’s not how everybody lives, especially domestic violence situations,” she said. “Your kids grow up thinking everyone beats their wives, abuses their children or husbands and the cycle keeps continuing. The point is teaching the parents how to take care of their children and not abuse them.”

Her local organization, Young Children Priority One, is an ongoing community service program of Kiwanis International that addresses prenatal care and the needs of children of up to five years old. The program focuses on four key areas, including maternal and child health care, child care and development, parent education and support, and safety and pediatric trauma.

The problem remains widespread in the United States, although national rates of child abuse have declined since the 1990s, with the prevalence of awareness, intervention, family assistance programs and child placement services.

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families reported that 618,000 children were confirmed victims of child abuse or serious neglect nationwide, and 1,750 children died as a result in 2020, the last year for which data is available. However, nearly 3.9 million cases of suspected neglect, mistreatment or abuse were referred for investigation to child services authorities in the U.S. that same year.

In 2019, the New Jersey Child Placement Advisory Council reported 96,060 referrals involving claims of child neglect or abuse in the state, including 2,054 in Morris County. The Advisory Council noted 16,318 of those N.J. referrals involved physical abuse, 8,223 involved multiple forms of abuse and 4,859 were reports of child sexual abuse.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the long-term impacts on the lives and general well-being of the victims include increasing a victim’s risk of perpetuating and experiencing future violence, delayed brain development, lower educational attainment, criminal activity and limited employment opportunities.

College News

CCM Design Students Return with Annual Fashion Show

CCM Receives Grant to Provide No-Cost Career Opportunities

CCM Design Students Return with Annual Fashion Show

The County College of Morris (CCM) in Randolph annual student-run fashion show is back on the catwalk in-person this spring with the innovative theme “Revival of Fashion.”

The show is set to be held Wednesday, May 4, at 7 p.m. in the Student Community Center, Davidson Rooms. This runway event, which is open to the public, is sponsored by the CCM Fashion Club and the Art & Design Department.

According to CCM Professor Kelly Whalen, chair of the Department of Art & Design, the college’s fashion design students are excited to deliver an amazing, live show of creativity and fashion glamour. This annual event has been on hiatus due to the pandemic.

“The students have been working in studios throughout Covid-19 and despite the many challenges,” said Whalen. “They continue to show resilience and determination by bringing this event back to campus. It is always a fun event for both students and guests.”

This year’s show features garments ranging from introductory to advanced garment making with styling envisioned by each designer. Tickets are $5 for all guests and may be purchased at the Campus Life office in the Student Community Center before the event. Tickets will also be available at the door the night of the show.

Learn About Profession at CCM’s Engineering E3 Day

CCM Receives Grant to Provide No-Cost Career Opportunities

CCM Design Students Return with Annual Fashion Show

Engineering Professor G. Nicholas Aska working with students in the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Center.

High school students and adults looking for a new career will have the opportunity to learn about the fascinating world of engineering – a profession where you get to design and build, solve problems and improve the world – at the Engineering E3 Day being held at County College of Morris (CCM) in Randolph.

Engineering E3 Day is set to take place Thursday, May 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There is no cost to attend and lunch will be provided. However, space is limited so early registration is strongly encouraged.

To register, go to www.ccm.edu/engineering-day-registration/. Participants will have the opportunity to experience various disciplines within engineering. “Students will learn about and take part in some hands-on activities in the electronics and embedded systems engineering taught in our Electronics Engineering Technology program,” says Professor G. Nicholas Aska from the Department of Engineering Technologies/Engineering Science at CCM. “A few examples of the sort of things engineers are working on today are artificial intelligence, electric and self-driving cars and robotics. Other technologies that have been with us for some time are cell phones and computers, all have electronics at their core.”

Specifically, those attending Engineering E3 Day will get to: Explore the labs, equipment, tools and simulation software in the college’s Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Center; Experiment with circuit development and software programming; Experience what it’s like to learn engineering through workshops and activities; Learn about career paths, hear from current students and gain an understanding of the enrollment process Engineering is a popular, in-demand profession with prestige.

According to Glassdoor’s Best Jobs in American list, engineers hold eight of the top 15 job titles. The career options are varied, including engineering technician, biomedical technologist, machine learning engineer, software engineer, civil engineer and more.

Not only is there a strong demand for engineers, but the salaries are also impressive. The average salary for an engineer in New Jersey is $81,000, which is 29 percent higher than the national average, while engineers with 10 years of experience in the state earn about $96,000, according to Indeed. To learn more about the Electronics Engineering Technology programs at CCM, visit http://bit.ly/Engineeringtechdept/. For questions about Engineering E3 Day, email gaska@ccm.edu.

CCM Receives Grant to Provide No-Cost Career Opportunities

Spark Computer Programming Creative Mind With Free Hour of Code

Individuals who have struggled to find a pathway to a rewarding career now have a no-cost opportunity at County College of Morris (CCM) in Randolph to prepare for a well-paying job by taking part in a grant-funded program to become an apprentice in advanced manufacturing.

The $172,500 grant, from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, will allow 30 participants to take part in the college’s pre-apprenticeship CareerAdvance USA Boot Camp at no cost, covering the entire $3,750 fee. The Boot Camp prepares students to take part in CCM’s Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship program, offered through its Center for Workforce Development. Additionally, during the course of the Boot Camp, the grant will provide students with a weekly stipend to help them pay for such expenses as rent, transportation, childcare or whatever else they need to cover.

As part of the Boot Camp, participants receive assistance with developing a resume and preparing for interviews with the college’s participating employers, which now totals 29, and other businesses, to work as apprentices. Students who complete the Boot Camp and enroll in the apprenticeship program receive paid on-the-job training as they pursue a career in the high-demand and well-paying field of advanced manufacturing. To date, CCM has placed 92 percent of those who completed the Boot Camp and were seeking positions into jobs with a starting pay of $15 to $21 an hour. “With over 800 manufacturers in Morris County alone, there is a robust job market and we have demonstrated success helping individuals to get the skills they need to be successful,” says Patrick Enright, vice president of Professional Studies & Applied Sciences. “This is an incredible opportunity for individuals who have struggled to find a better pathway to improve their lives. We look forward to helping even more people to realize their dreams for a better future with the help of this grant.”

To qualify for the grant, individuals need to be at least 16 years old, eligible to work in the U.S. and unemployed or underemployed. They also need to have a career or educational barrier: High school dropout, ex-offender, homeless youth or runaway, aging out of foster care, pregnant or parenting, a disability, low-income youth lacking a high school education or an English language learner.

The first class in the Boot Camp, Shops Basics, is online so participants can get started at any time. Next, students take an Advanced Manufacturing Core class in-person at the college’s state-of-the-art Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Center. Then two other classes follow that lead to certifications from the National Institute for Metalworking Skills and Computer Aided Design certification. Classes are offered both during the day and evening, providing students with flexibility.

In 2019, CCM was awarded a $4 million CareerAdvance USA grant from the United States Department of Labor to create the Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship program to provide people with a low-cost opportunity to prepare for a well-paying career. Since it has started, the program has trained more than 40 individuals to enter the manufacturing workforce. It is estimated that during the next decade, advanced manufacturing will need to fill 3.4 million jobs. Along with good job prospects, the field offers good salaries, averaging more than $77,000 a year in New Jersey, plus benefits. Virtual Info Sessions on the Boot Camp and Apprenticeship program are being offered on the following dates and times:

May 11 at 9 a.m. and May 25 at noon. More information also can be obtained at www.ccm.edu/apprenticeships-careeradvanceusa/ or by emailing CareerUSA@ccm.edu.

Spark Computer Programming Creative Mind With Free Hour of Code

The Department of Information Technologies at County College of Morris (CCM) in Randolph invites the community to participate in a free “Hour of Code” to learn how fun and easy it is to apply the basics of computer programming. Gain confidence by developing a miniature application, web content or device using popular programming and scripting languages.

Reserve a seat now for Monday, May 2, 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. in Emeriti Hall, Room 209, at CCM. No experience is necessary and all ages are welcome. Hour of Code attendees can register on Eventbrite at www.eventbrite.com/e/ccm-it-dept-hour-of-code-spring-2022-tickets-314189578487/

The 2022 event at CCM offers three different sessions: Strong Password Generator with Python; Creating a Web Tracker Form with HTML & CSS Coding Devices with Raspberry Pi Computers.

Hour of Code is a global movement reaching more than 1.4 million people in 180+ countries to demystify coding and show that anyone can learn the basics. This grassroots effort is supported by more than 400 partners and 200,000 educators worldwide. Approximately 85,707 events were organized in 2021. Computer science and information technologies are dynamic and top-paying fields in high demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the job outlook for computer and information technology occupations, including software developers, will grow 22 percent by 2030.

“Hour of Code is a fun, interactive and low-stakes opportunity to harness the power of your creativity through mini-projects that demonstrate just how easy it is for anyone to learn how to code,” says Professor Michael Sidaras-Tirrito, program coordinator for the Information Technology degree program. “Coding isn’t just for computer science majors; it’s for everyone. This is the fifth year CCM has hosted this hands-on opportunity.”

CCM offers certificate programs in information/cyber security, web development, media technology and data science that students can complete in just five courses in less than one year.

“Upon completion, these can be applied toward an associate in science degree in computer science, information technology, game development, digital media technology or technical studies,” explains Professor Dawn Rywalt. Those with questions can contact Sidaras-Tirrito at mtirrito@ccm.edu or call the Department of Information Technologies at 973-328-5780.

CCM’s Student Newspaper Wins Awards

Spark Computer Programming Creative Mind With Free Hour of Code

Sussex County Teen Arts Returns for In-Person Festival

A consistent award-winner that offers students a platform for developing their skills as researchers and writers, “The Youngtown Edition” at County College of Morris (CCM) in Randolph has added four more awards to its long list of accolades from the New Jersey Collegiate Press Association. Competing in the two-year college category, the student-run newspaper won two second place and two third place awards for its 2021-22 editions. Second place awards were presented in the Arts & Entertainment/Critical Writing and Feature Writing category for an article on Netflix’s hit Squid Game by Laura San Roman, of Denville; and in Feature Writing for a piece on streaming platforms and their impact on cinemas by Cameron Marns, of Hopatcong. Third place awards were presented in Coronavirus Coverage for an opinion piece on the safety of Covid-19 vaccines by Jared Brodsky, of West Orange; and Enterprise/Investigative Reporting for an article on a Rwandan genocide survivor and CCM students working with New Jersey artists to gain real-world experience by Matthew Agnelli, of Morristown. “The Youngtown Edition” has been published at CCM every semester since 1968 and consistently wins in this competition. Over the last five years, it has won more than a dozen awards. Brodsky is editor in chief of the 2021-22 editions. Serving as faculty advisor is Dr. Kenneth Shouler, professor of philosophy and a widely published author whose books include “The Everything Guide to Understanding Philosophy” and “Total Basketball: The Ultimate Basketball Encyclopedia.” The mission of the New Jersey Collegiate Press Association, which is part of the New Jersey Press Foundation, is to advance the prestige and integrity of N.J.’s college newspapers.

Sussex County Teen Arts Returns for In-Person Festival

Spark Computer Programming Creative Mind With Free Hour of Code

Sussex County Teen Arts Returns for In-Person Festival

Sussex County Teen Arts held its first in-person arts festival since 2019 for area students at Sussex County Community College campus.

Students in grades 7 through 12 from schools throughout Sussex County celebrated a day of sharing original poetry, creative writing, dance, instrumental music, theater, filmmaking, visual art, and vocal music at the 53rd Annual Sussex County Teen Arts Festival on Tuesday, March 15 at the Newton campus of Sussex County Community College.

The arts are crucial to education. Since its inception in 1969, the Sussex County Teen Arts Festival has encouraged middle school and high school students to explore their potential and fine-tune their talents in the fine, literary, and performing arts. At the 2022 festival, 500 pieces of original student artwork were displayed, and 82 live performances were critiqued.

Student 2D and 3D visual art, including the new categories of architecture design, graphic design, and product design were on display to the public through April 15th in the A Gallery and C Gallery at SCCC’s PAC Building Atrium and C Building Art Gallery. New for 2022, selected student fine art, digital art, and photography are being showcased online at the Sussex County Arts and Heritage Council’s virtual gallery at https://www.scahc.org/Teen-Arts-Selections-for-the-SCA&HC-Gallery. The 2022 festival is an exciting and important event for arts education because for the first time during the COVID-19 pandemic, arts students were able to return to the SCCC campus. More than 1,000 students and teachers attended the event in-person to take hands-on classes with professional working artists or have live performances adjudicated and selected to represent Sussex County at the NJ State Teen Arts Festival, June 1-2.

The Teen Arts Festival critique process is open to students in Sussex County who pre-registered for the event.

The return of the in-person festival further strengthens SCCC’s Teen Arts Festival as a leading arts education program. Students were offered opportunities to demonstrate their personal creative vision and to develop “tools of thought” with which to meaningfully contribute to today’s complex world.

The festival inspired and engaged students in every form of art: Creative writing, filmmaking, poetry, music, theater, vocals, and visual art. Professional artists attending the festival critiqued live student performances plus taught hands-on workshops and arts demonstrations.

"During these challenging times, the arts and self-expression are more important than ever,” said Anita Collins, Sussex County Teen Arts Coordinator at SCCC. “Being able to share talents, thoughts and feelings in one’s own unique way in a safe, supportive community is priceless. “This festival serves to inspire creativity across all forms of artistic expression and is an exciting day of hands-on engagement,” she added. “We are always delighted by the depth of creative expression shown by our local teens in all the performing arts categories.”

Sussex County Teen Arts Festival is an ongoing arts-in-education program that promotes appreciation of the arts among teenage students. It is a member of a New Jersey statewide Teen Arts Network. Sussex County students first participated in the State Teen Arts Festival in 1969. SCCC has sponsored the Teen Arts Festival in Sussex County since 1989. The Teen Arts Festival was possible through funding from SCCC, School Districts of Sussex County, and donations from individuals and businesses. Funding was available in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, through the State/County Partnership Block Grant program, administered by the Sussex County Arts and Heritage Council.

For more information on the festival’s events, contact Collins at acollins@sussex.edu.

CCM Recognizes Asian Pacific Month With Korean War Lecture

Dr. Yoonha Shin

In recognition of Asian Pacific Heritage Month in May, The Legacy Project’s Commemoration Committee at County College of Morris (CCM) in Randolph will be hosting a virtual talk on “Recounts of the Korean War: A Commemoration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month” with Dr. Yoonha Shin of the English & Philosophy Department. Shin is the granddaughter of a “sil-hyang-min,” internally displaced people during the Korean War.

The talk takes place Thursday, May 5, from 12:30 p.m.– 1:30 p.m. Explored will be the significance of the Korean War and the process of rebuilding the Korean community through the perspectives of ordinary people and their experiences.

Wedged between World War II and the Vietnam War, the Korean War is often dubbed as America’s “Forgotten War.”

CCM Recognizes Asian Pacific Month With Korean War Lecture

The Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The war, nevertheless, was a foundational event in the history of contemporary Korea, Korean Americans and U.S.-Korea relations.

To take part, email commemoration@ccm.edu and a Zoom link will be provided.

The Commemoration Committee is an interdisciplinary group at CCM that recognizes and raises awareness and understanding of diverse groups, cultures and histories through events recognizing days or months of remembrance.

Song and Dance Soars at CCM

CCM Recognizes Asian Pacific Month With Korean War Lecture

Song and Dance Soars at CCM

The Department of Music, Performing Arts & Music Technologies at County College of Morris (CCM) in Randolph is back with more live performances this spring. CCM students and graduates are taking the stage with a trio of song, poetry and dance designed to entertain and educate all ages.

“We are back at full capacity,” says Marielaine Mammon, chair of the Department of Music, Performing Arts & Music Technologies. “As the saying goes, the show must go on. We’re delighted to return in full measure to delight and inspire audiences by showcasing the outstanding talent of our students.”

CCM’s musical theatre students kick off the programs with a free showcase, “What If I Fall? Oh, But My Darling, What If You Fly?” This cabaret is a montage of musical acts and monologues centering on themes of resilience, perseverance, courage, strength and confidence.

CCM Performances Continued

Centenary Named National Equitation Champions

Song and Dance Soars at CCM

The performance is set to take place Sunday, May 1, and Monday, May 2, at 7:30 p.m. in the Music Technology Center’s Performance Lab on the CCM campus.

"This is a talented cast,” says Professor Emily James, “come out and join us for an evening that will be uplifting for all."

The following day on Tuesday, May 3, at 12:30 p.m. there is a Spotlight on Music: Graduate Recital including the CCM Chamber Ensemble. Watch, listen and learn as CCM graduates demonstrate the talent and skills they have mastered during their course of study. This free event also takes place in the Music Technology Center’s Performance Lab.

Later that week, the CCM Dance Theatre Ensemble shares an evening of dance on Friday, May 6, and Saturday, May 7, at 7:30 in CCM’s Dragonetti Auditorium in the Student Community Center.

“We are excited to once again bring dance to the Dragonetti stage and welcome the community to enjoy an evening of dance with us,” says Professor Terence Duncan, Dance Program special projects coordinator at CCM.

This year’s Dance Theatre Ensemble showcase premieres choreography by Duncan and also CCM graduate Angelica Gonzalez, CCM dance majors and special guest artists. The one-act concert features captivating contemporary dance and striking visual display. General admission tickets are $10 and available for purchase at https://bookstore.ccm.edu/current-shows.

Visitors may park in Parking Lot 6 located right outside the Dragonetti Auditorium. No food or drink will be allowed in the auditorium. There is accessible seating available. To learn more about the Department of Music, Performing Arts & Music Technologies at CCM, go to https://bit.ly/CCM_Performing_Arts /.

Centenary Named National Equitation Champions

Centenary University’s ANRC team brought home its third national title at the 43rd ANRC National Equitation Championships, held April 14-16. This year, the university hosted the national competition at the Centenary University Equestrian Center in Washington Township. The competition for collegiate, junior, and adult amateur teams sponsored by the American National Riding Commission (ANRC)—which promotes the American System of Forward Riding—is judged and scored on equitation skills and sound horsemanship practices.

Centenary won best overall team with 159.97 points, edging the Savannah College of Art & Design by a little more than a point. The university’s Benjamin Hoban, Morgan Munz, and Haylie Kerstetter all placed in the top 10 in the individual standings, with Hoban and Munz in second and third. The university also took first in the National Written Phase of the competition, with Kerstetter and Munz placing first and second; first in National Derby Phase with Hoban placing second; first in National Medal Phase with Munz placing second; and second in National Program Ride. The national collegiate team, which represents the university’s highest level of riders, is coached by Tara Clausen and Michael Dowling.

In addition, Centenary’s two Novice Collegiate Teams placed second and third at the national competition. The University’s Gold Team of Caroline Mancini and Rachel Stockslager was Reserve Champion (second place) in the novice division, while the

Centenary Named National Equitation Champions

Centenary Blue Team of Sophia Strain and Dana Webster took third.

“We are incredibly proud of Centenary University’s riders,” said Kelly Munz, chair of the Equine Studies Department. “It’s very exciting that our National Collegiate Team won this competition. In addition, novice riders are up and coming, so that speaks to the future of Centenary’s program. All of our students rode donated horses, so I’d like to thank all of the donors and professional trainers who support collegiate programs like Centenary’s.” One of the top college equine programs in the country, Centenary University has produced countless leaders in the sport, as well as numerous nationally-ranked riding teams.

The university’s riding teams also have an impressive history, winning ANRC national titles in 2013 and 2016. This year, Centenary’s IDA team placed fourth at the 2022 Theraplate Intercollegiate Dressage Association National Championship in Virginia on April 22-24, with Sophie Wayner named the individual champion and winner of the Trip Harting Memorial Trophy—First Level and Jodie Miller named individual champion and winner of the Marybeth McLain Memorial Trophy—Introductory. Centenary’s IDA team is coached by Sarah Simms., who also won the Lifetime Achievement Award for 2022. Next up is IHSA Nationals, where eight Centenary riders—Arielle Logiudice, Morgan Munz, Benjamin Hoban, Nicole Fekete, Brianna Soule, Corey Osborn, Sophia Strain, and Josie Embleton—will be competing, May 5-8, in Harrisburg, Pa.

Are You Taking The Easy Way Out?

Submitted by Diane Lang, positive living expert, life coach, speaker

Are you taking the easy way out? I know many times I have. I keep going after the same type of goals because I know I can reach them. I know how to do it, what to expect and how it will end.

Sometimes, we catch ourselves stuck in the "busy cycle." These filler activities keep us stuck in our present situation. To break out of these cycles, work towards our future self, we need to do activities that are not part of our norm. Doing the same thing over and over again, keeps you stuck in the same situation.

Do you catch yourself circling in the same waters for years?

Do you feel you're stuck in the same old story/pattern?

Are you pursuing easier goals?

If you want to break out, you need to do things differently.

Ask yourself: Where do you want to go? Who do you want to be? What do you want your future self to look like? Feel like? Are the goals you are creating currently taking you in the direction of your future self?

There are always opportunities out there to choose from. Are you choosing the goal that challenges you? The goal that scares you?

Are you choosing the goal that is outside of your comfort zone?

Goals should be tough, challenging, scary and rewarding.

Nothing wrong with mixing in a few easy goals with some challenging ones as long as they are all taking you towards your future self.

Accomplishing those big dreams/goals is one that requires you to accept you might be rejected, you might hear no more times than you want, your stomach might twist and turn with fear and anxiety, do it anyway.

For more information visit www.dlcounseling.com or email Lang at DLCounseling2014@gmail.com.

Four Reasons To Get a Business Coach and Tips

By Derek Goodman, an entrepreneur

Running a business can be challenging even when the right business management and leadership skills are not established. Hiring a business coach may help entrepreneurs overcome these challenges.

Four reasons to get a business coach:

1. Desired Results Are Not Being Reached

Failing to see desired results or reaching one’s goals because of the closeness to the prevailing business circumstances and can't see things in a new way may be getting in the way. A business coach introduces an outsider's view of a business situation to help see things differently.

Business coaching can impact business aspects that include employee retention, customer satisfaction, product quality and financial returns.

2. Clear Road Map is Lacking

Often, a business owner may feel lost and unsure about his or her role as leader or CEO. One may wonder what the day-to-day tasks are and may not be sure which tasks to offload to employees. Once the navigation part of the business startup phase is complete, find a business coach to help create a road map showing the long-term and short-term goals for the business.

3. Overwhelmed Feelings

Approximately 70% of business owners are stressed by their inability to balance their work and social life. When one has work-life balance, he or she will be more productive. Hiring a business coach helps to establish an organizational structure that assigns responsibilities, authorities and tasks for better accountability. A business owner can then focus on the bigger picture as employees take charge of the day-to-day running of the venture, leaving the owner time for social and family engagements.

4. Need to Learn New Skills

A coach may help improve on negotiation and communication skills or learn how to use new technology to keep up with business trends. The right business coach may offer a flexible schedule and keep the information shared confidential. How to Find a Great Business Coach

Once one decides he or she needs a business coach, the next step is to find a great one. Here are some tips for finding a great business coach: Ask for referrals from other entrepreneurs.

Look for a coach that meshes with one’s personality.

Get a coach with experience in that industry. When Hiring a Business Coach Isn’t in One’s Budget

For those who can't afford a business coach at the moment, rely on websites and online tools to positively impact the bottom line. For instance, avoid high legal fees by using a formation service to help structure the business as an LLC for the ensuing tax benefits, flexibility and reduced paperwork. Check the rules in New Jersey before making this move.

If on a budget, use websites and online tools and services to streamline the business process for better efficiency. For example, with API software that integrates with any ACH, enhance customer experience through seamless, secure and integrated payment options.

Getting the Business Coaching Help One Needs Hiring a business coach is no longer considered a luxury. It's essential for getting desired results and a clear road map for one’s business. Feeling overwhelmed and the need for someone to impart new strategies are other reasons why a business coach is the answer.

Derek Goodman created Inbizability.com, a site to offer tips, tricks and resources to help in realizing business ability and potential now. He is an entrepreneur who always wanted to make his own future. He knew growing his own business was the only way to do that.

Local Woman Starts Next Chapter As Life Coach

Welcome readers to the 82nd issue of Mt. Olive Online.

Charging Stations, Revamping Beach, Talk of Town

Entourage Salon Expands

N.J. Governor's 2022 STEM Scholars Look to Change The World

AVM Prays For Volunteers To Prepare Site & New Garden

Reflection Sanctum

2022 Remembrance Day Ceremony

2022 Remembrance Day Ceremony

2022 Remembrance Day Ceremony

2022 Remembrance Day Ceremony

2022 Remembrance Day Ceremony

Save The Date May 30, 2022

Save The Date May 30, 2022

Save The Date May 30, 2022

Save The Date May 30, 2022

Save The Date May 30, 2022

Advertise in Mt. Olive Online

Local & County News

MO Recreations Rakes In Awards

Bag Up NJ Campaign Begins May 4

Bag Up NJ Campaign Begins May 4

Bag Up NJ Campaign Begins May 4

Bag Up NJ Campaign Begins May 4

Bag Up NJ Campaign Begins May 4

Bag Up NJ Campaign Begins May 4

Church Plans Clothing Drive

Church Plans Clothing Drive

Morris County Adopts 2022 Budget Without Tax Rate Increase

Church Plans Clothing Drive

The Arc of Warren County Plans 32nd Radiothon

Morris County Adopts 2022 Budget Without Tax Rate Increase

Morris County Adopts 2022 Budget Without Tax Rate Increase

Morris County Adopts 2022 Budget Without Tax Rate Increase

Morris County Adopts 2022 Budget Without Tax Rate Increase

Morris County Adopts 2022 Budget Without Tax Rate Increase

Morris County Ranked “Healthiest” in New Jersey Again

Morris County Ranked “Healthiest” in New Jersey Again

Morris County Ranked “Healthiest” in New Jersey Again

Morris County Hope One Celebrates 5th Anniversary

Morris County Ranked “Healthiest” in New Jersey Again

Morris County Ranked “Healthiest” in New Jersey Again

Recognizing Autism Awareness Month

Morris County Ranked “Healthiest” in New Jersey Again

Morris County Proclaims April Child Abuse Prevention Month

Morris County Proclaims April Child Abuse Prevention Month

Morris County Proclaims April Child Abuse Prevention Month

Morris County Proclaims April Child Abuse Prevention Month

College News

CCM Design Students Return with Annual Fashion Show

CCM Receives Grant to Provide No-Cost Career Opportunities

CCM Design Students Return with Annual Fashion Show

Learn About Profession at CCM’s Engineering E3 Day

CCM Receives Grant to Provide No-Cost Career Opportunities

CCM Design Students Return with Annual Fashion Show

CCM Receives Grant to Provide No-Cost Career Opportunities

CCM Receives Grant to Provide No-Cost Career Opportunities

Spark Computer Programming Creative Mind With Free Hour of Code

Spark Computer Programming Creative Mind With Free Hour of Code

Spark Computer Programming Creative Mind With Free Hour of Code

Spark Computer Programming Creative Mind With Free Hour of Code

CCM’s Student Newspaper Wins Awards

Spark Computer Programming Creative Mind With Free Hour of Code

Sussex County Teen Arts Returns for In-Person Festival

Sussex County Teen Arts Returns for In-Person Festival

Spark Computer Programming Creative Mind With Free Hour of Code

Sussex County Teen Arts Returns for In-Person Festival

CCM Recognizes Asian Pacific Month With Korean War Lecture

CCM Recognizes Asian Pacific Month With Korean War Lecture

CCM Recognizes Asian Pacific Month With Korean War Lecture

CCM Recognizes Asian Pacific Month With Korean War Lecture

CCM Recognizes Asian Pacific Month With Korean War Lecture

Song and Dance Soars at CCM

CCM Recognizes Asian Pacific Month With Korean War Lecture

Song and Dance Soars at CCM

CCM Performances Continued

Centenary Named National Equitation Champions

Song and Dance Soars at CCM

Centenary Named National Equitation Champions

Centenary Named National Equitation Champions