Heroes Lauded For Saving Car Accident Victims

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A lot can change in a century, especially with the Flanders Fire Co. #1 and Rescue Squad — from its home base, growth in members and vehicles and updated technology — but the one spark that remains constant is its non-profit status all these years.  

“One-hundred years being 100% volunteer is a big deal because a lot of places have gone the route of being paid even if that is a mix of 50/50 with paid and volunteers,” notes Margaret Miller of Flanders, first lieutenant of the Flanders Rescue Squad, firefighter and EMT. “We have managed to continuously stay 100% volunteer for 100 years through COVID and other hardships.”  

To celebrate its centennial, the Flanders Fire Co. #1 and Rescue Squad has planned its 100th Anniversary Block Party. The event is set for Saturday, August 12, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., at Turkey Brook Park in Budd Lake.   

Everyone is invited to attend this free community-wide event. 

“This is truly an event for the community and there will be games for kids as well,” stresses Miller who is helping to organize the event.  

“There will be a DJ, food, pieces of our history including photos on display and a beer garden,” she describes. 

With about 20 sponsors that are helping and are supporting this event, the block party is free and no registration is required.  

Besides a 75th celebration and wet downs in between to recognize its milestones, this 100th celebration is monumental. 

“This event is being held because we wanted to be able to celebrate this big event with our community,” says Miller who has been a volunteer with the department for almost five years. “If it wasn’t for the community, we would not be here today. They have truly supported us through the last 100 years and we are so grateful to be a part of such a wonderful community.” 

Miller is one of 40 active volunteers in the department, with six females and the rest males.  

“We have a huge range in age and the youngest people can join is 16,” says Miller. “I was the first in my family to join the fire department and since then my step-father has joined Flanders Fire Department and Rescue Squad and both my siblings have looked into going once they are old enough. We have families that have all joined; one of them is the Dolan family where four members of the family have joined our department.” 

History and Growth 

Flanders Fire Co. #1 was officially established in June 1923 with seven volunteer members, according to Miller’s research. The founding members were Howard and Ed McLaughlin, William Marvin, E.C. Ted Ashley, George Ericson, Watson McPeek and Augustus Stark.  

“Ed McLaughlin was named chief, and meetings were held by the light of oil lamps in Ed’s chicken coup,” describes Miller. “Eventually Ed’s barn was used to store the company’s equipment and his house served as headquarters. October 1923, the first fire truck available to the town, a Brockway Torpedo, was converted from a chemical car into a water carrier. The rim of a steam engine’s wheel was hung up on Main Street and a sledgehammer was used to strike it when help was needed. 

“In 1928 we moved into the old schoolhouse and remodeled it to fit the fire equipment,” she adds. 

In 1938, “a group of nine women decided that the time had come for a Ladies Auxiliary to be formed in order to aid the firemen,” says Miller. “They elected Hazel Tinc as chairwoman, with Mrs. Erickson as her assistant. Ruth Gray served as secretary and Ruth Clawson was the first treasurer. Their first official act was to solicit food donations from the local farms in order to prepare and serve chicken dinner to the members of the fire company.” 

In 1940, the department grew even more with the addition of the rescue squad to the Flanders Fire Co. 

As far as the number of fires handled during the past 100 years, Miller could not say but she did share a loss that impacted the entire department: On May 31, 2011 – Asst. Chief Thomas Shields passed away suddenly after a midday call. 

“Up to this point, the fire company had never experienced such a loss,” she says. “To this day, a memorial plaque is placed between the bay doors of Engine 95 and Tower 96.” 

Its volunteer membership has grown six times since the original seven members and its facilities and equipment followed suit. 

“The department has grown in size immensely,” says Miller. “We have added three additions onto what was the original schoolhouse since we have moved into that building. We currently house three ambulances, three different firetrucks, one brush truck, a utility pick-up truck and an ice rescue trailer.” 

With such growth, the department has been able to help surrounding towns with fire and rescue services. 

“We do go and help other towns with mutual aid,” says Miller. “We go into Budd Lake to help out our other fire department on multiple different occasions and they have come to help us out as well. We respond for mutual aid into Chester, Roxbury, Long Valley, and have gone out to other counties when we are needed.” 

As much as it has grown, there is always room and a need for even more volunteers and support.  

“We are constantly training and evaluating the needs of our community to stay prepared and we are constantly needing to grow with our community,” says Miller. “We are always in need of volunteers. Feel free to stop by Thursdays at 7 p.m. and there will be someone that can answer any questions and get you an application.” Also visit https://flandersfire.org. 

For those who would like to help with the 100th Anniversary event, email 100thanniversary@flandersfire.org. 

It’s going to be “fire!”   

Dr. Sumit Bangia no longer has to act as superintendent of the Mt. Olive School District — she officially got the part for the leading role. 

The Mt. Olive Board of Education approved her three-year appointment on Thursday, June 29, during a special BOE meeting. She was hired in the spring of 2022 as the assistant superintendent and was appointed acting superintendent in October 2022. 

Humbled, honored and thankful, Bangia is excited for this opportunity and looks forward to the upcoming school year which begins Wednesday, August 30.  

“I am humbled by the trust and confidence placed in me by the school board and the entire school community,” says Bangia. “Together, we will build upon our strong foundation, embrace innovation and strive for educational excellence that prepares our students for success in an ever-changing world. I am excited to embark on this journey as the superintendent for the Mt. Olive Twp. School District, and I look forward to the continued collaboration and partnership that will propel us towards even greater achievements.” 

Bangia, from Randolph, is not new as an administrator in the district and actually her beginnings trace back as her time as a student at MOSD. A 1997 MOHS alum, Bangia grew up in Mt. Olive when her parents moved to the Clover Hill section of Flanders in 1985. They later moved to the Hackettstown side of town. She attended Mountain View Elementary School and at MOHS was involved in student council as class treasurer, played field hockey and was a member of numerous clubs.  

She replaces Dr. Robert Zywicki of Sparta, superintendent since 2018 who was suspended with pay by the Mt. Olive BOE in October 2022 for undisclosed reasons.  

In search of a new superintendent, the BOE was confident in Bangia’s leadership. 

“The board interviewed two internal candidates, over two rounds of interviews,” explains Dr. Antoine Gayles, BOE president. “We also conducted an interview with one retired superintendent as a possible interim superintendent.” 

The first round of interviews was conducted on June 20, followed by a second round on June 27, says Gayles. Eight members of the board participated in the interview and selection process, with BOE member Anthony Strillacci being the one conflicted board member unable to participate in the process. 

“Dr. Bangia was selected for her vision for the district and student-centered focus,” says Gayles. “Pending approval by the executive county superintendent, Dr. Nancy Gartenberg, Dr. Bangia has been offered a three-year contract, with a salary of $215,000/year, plus benefits and a matching contribution to her 403b, capped at 6%.” 

Many BOE members congratulated Bangia at the June 29 BOE meeting and one outspoken community member, Martin Welzmuller, gave her balloons and flowers to welcome her and thank her for taking the job. 

“I pledge to lead with integrity, transparency and student-centered approach,” Bangia says at the meeting.  

“Having had the privilege of serving as the acting superintendent since October 2022, I have witnessed the incredible dedication and passion within our school community,” she shares in a letter to the community. “The collective commitment to excellence in education has been truly inspiring, and I am honored to continue leading this exceptional district. 

“I have had the opportunity to collaborate closely with our dedicated teachers, administrators, staff, students, and parents,” she continues. “Together, we have achieved significant milestones and navigated challenges with resilience and determination. I am immensely proud of our accomplishments thus far and excited about the possibilities that lie ahead.” 

Before coming to the MOSD, Bangia worked in education for 21 years.  

She received her bachelor’s in secondary education in May 2001 from Penn State University; a master’s in administration in December 2005 from Montclair State University; and a doctorate in education administration in May 2011 from the College of Saint Elizabeth. 

She started out in her profession in September 2001 as a history teacher at Randolph High School, where she taught for 10 years.  

From 2011 through 2018, Bangia was the supervisor of humanities at the Verona School District. She then jumped to the Caldwell School District as the director of secondary education through December 2019; and became the assistant superintendent at Mountain Lakes School District until June 2022 when the position for former assistant superintendent opened up in Mt. Olive.  

Selected out of a pool of two dozen candidates, Bangia was “ecstatic! For me, this was a homecoming,” she says during an earlier interview. 

“Encores is to me a wonderful, warm welcoming place.”~ Kate Baldwin.  

Looking for some outdoor activity to engage those muscles? 

Flanders Park offers a new Fitness Zone for outdoor exercise. Handicapped accessible, the 2,000 sq. ft. exercise station officially opened in May.  

Municipal employees and township officials gathered for its ribbon cutting Tuesday, May 23, to test out the equipment. They are excited by the community’s latest addition in outdoor exercise.    

Mt. Olive Twp. Mayor Rob Greenbaum says the town is “always looking for new and different ways to get the community exercising.” It provides an “opportunity for additional fitness,” and the “equipment is easy to use.” 

Adds Mt. Olive Twp. Council President Joe Nicastro, “I like that it is outdoors so everyone can use the equipment.” 

The Mt. Olive Recreation Department had been considering options for outdoor exercise for some time. The administration applied for and received a state grant to fund the exercise station.  

“The purpose of the grant was to support improvements for public facilities, specifically to ensure public access to community facilities that were a result of the constraints confronted by the COVID19 pandemic,” says Mt. Olive Twp. Business Administrator Andrew Tatarenko. 

“For years, the Recreation Department considered an outdoor fitness gym and this grant was the perfect opportunity to provide access to outdoor recreation which is critical for mental and physical health,” adds Tatarenko.  

The cost was $133K, of which $75K was funded through a NJ DCA Local Recreational Improvement grant, he says. Funds were allocated in the 2022 capital budget.  

Construction started in the first week in December 2022 and was completed in early March 2023, he says. 

The Flanders Fitness Zone is about 2,000 square feet and features six stations which are handicapped accessible. These include a four-person lower body combo, four-person pendulum, abs & dip station, two-person cross country ski, two-person vertical press, two-person lateral pull down and four-person leg press. 

The equipment was made by Greenfields Outdoor Fitness purchased through Ben Shaffer Recreation. 

The equipment is geared for those 14 years old and older and can accommodate up to 18 people at one time, says Tatarenko. 

It is open to all and there are no sign-up requirements.   

“It’s low maintenance and accessible to all,” says Tatarenko. “It gives all residents an equal opportunity to stay fit and healthy.” 

Adds Nicastro, “It is a free option for people to use. Also being handicap accessible is another great option for people who might have difficulties with regular gym equipment. There are many exercise machines to choose from and being outdoors would make exercising a little more enjoyable.” 

While Mt. Olive boasts several parks, Flanders Park was a good fit for the Fitness Zone.  

“Flanders Park was selected based upon its surroundings,” says Tatarenko. “It’s centrally located to several large residential communities (Cloverhill and Flanders Crossings), a Senior Living Facility, a 55 and over community and an affordable housing development.  Flanders Park is also heavily used for its walking path so we thought it would be a great addition for more exercise.”  

Adds Greenbaum, “the proximity to the senior development at Regency makes Flanders Park an excellent location for the equipment.” 

Agrees Nicastro, “Flanders Park is a beautiful park that over the years was under-utilized. While we’ve made many improvements over the years this is just one more addition that will enhance the park. I’m very proud of all our parks. Of course, Turkey Brook Park is like our downtown, but it is nice to improve all our facilities for all residents to enjoy.”

Most would agree that the library is a great place for reading, studying, working on a computer and just a nice alternative if stepping away from one’s office. 

But distractions could occur, really, and if this happens, there is a Zen Garden outside the Mt. Olive Public Library in Flanders where one can escape to relax and refocus. 

Recent Mt. Olive High school graduate Anish Pradhan, 18, of Budd Lake is the creator of the Zen Garden at the MOPL. He completed the landscape as part of his Eagle Scout project with Troop 156 in Flanders.  

“A Zen meditation garden is a landscape made in reverence to nature,” describes Pradhan. “It has a minimal design with sand, gravel, stones, rocks with a serene aesthetic addition of pebbles, statues, plants, shrubs, lamps and a water fountain. This landscape symbolizes the elements of nature helping bring inner focus, peace and joy. I felt that a Zen garden would be very fitting in the library because it is a calm and quiet place.” 

Mt. Olive Twp. Council President Joe Nicastro presented Anish Pradhan with a certificate of recognition on May 20 for his Eagle Scout Court of Honor.  

Pradhan started his project in June 2022 and completed it in five working days over a two-week period. putting in anywhere between four to eight hours of work each day.    

A soon-to-be college student with plans to attend Georgia Tech in the fall, Pradhan got the idea for the garden while deciding on his next chapter.  

“When I went on college visits, I noticed many of them included a Zen garden,” says Pradhan.  

“I realized that our community does not have a Zen garden, which would make my Eagle Project unique,” says Pradhan. He went through the proper channel to get his idea on the ground.  

“The idea for the garden was 100% Anish's idea,” says Mauro Magarelli, MOPL director. “He presented the concept to me, and I simply helped him through the process of presenting it to the library board, which holds final approval.  Since I thought it would be a good addition to the library, I did advocate in favor of the garden to the library's board of trustees.” 

Through donations received from family and friends, Pradhan spent $977 to complete the Zen garden. The help he received from his Boy Scout troop and others was priceless.   

“Several members of my Boy Scout troop came to help along with adult leaders,” said Pradhan, who has been involved with the organization for about 12 years, since the first grade when he joined the Cub Scouts. “Additionally, a few of my friends and their dads came to help me too.” 

He is pleased with the garden.  

“I really enjoyed the finished product and am very glad to see that it has been well maintained after one whole year,” says Pradhan, co-valedictorian of MOHS Class of 2023, head mechanical engineer for the MOHS Robotics team and second-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do.  

A year since it was completed, the library’s Zen garden is growing in popularity.  

“I heard that there were little kids who used the Zen garden one day for Yoga,” says Pradhan. “I have heard that many people sit down there to relax.”  

Adds Magarelli, “I see people out there all the time, whether it be just for a few moments or to sit and read. 

“I think it's great,” he adds. “It’s something different that connects the building and patrons to the ton of open space we have behind the library.   It's also a very nice space, very well constructed. It’s a great setup that utilizes the space in a unique way.”  

Magarelli is quite appreciative of Pradhan’s Zen garden as well as other projects completed at the library.  

“The Eagle Scouts have been a tremendous help to the library,” says Magarelli. “Prior to the Zen garden, one scout spearheaded the repair of the base of our entrance sign (located at the front of the parking lot) and another scout constructed the gazebo in the front of building.  The Gazebo is a beloved addition to the library and used daily by patrons. 

“Special thanks to Anish and to all the other scouts who have helped us in the past,” he adds. “Your work is greatly appreciated.” 

Other projects are always welcome.  

“Perhaps a sustainable wildflower garden?” suggests Magarelli. “I think it would be great to let a portion of our back campus go fallow and allow native plants to thrive.  Although, I admit this would be a tough endeavor since the project would have to eliminate invasion plants and also deter the deer population.”  

Until then, find time to Zen at the garden.