Volunteer to be recognized for work
By: Matthew Armstrong
Citizens for Independent Living is hosting a night of dinner and dancing Nov. 4 to raise money for its residents and to bestow the Barry Indik Award to a township resident for outstanding community service.
CIL, a South Brunswick-based nonprofit organization, provides housing and services such as job counseling and assistance with shopping and other daily chores to developmentally disabled adults who have the potential and desire to live independently.
The group opened a 16-unit housing complex for the disabled in October 1999 on Route 522 in Monmouth Junction.
The event will raise money to pay for services for residents of CIL such as recreation activities and to pay for the case manager, who helps residents budget their expenses, find jobs, transportation and with doctors visits.
The guest of honor will be Aaron Rosloff who will be given the Barry Indik Award. The award has been given out each year since 1992 to a South Brunswick resident for outstanding community work.
"He has really lived up to Barry’s spirit of giving back to the community to make it a better place," said Erna Sassman a CIL volunteer.
Mr. Rosloff, a trustee of the South Brunswick Community Development Corp. and owner of Charleston Place, has played a key role in bringing low-income housing for seniors since the 1970s, said Ms. Sassman.
His efforts came to fruition in 1979 when Charleston Place, a 54-unit senior housing development on Route 27, opened. In the ensuing years, Mr. Rosloff continued his search for additional funding to construct 30 more units to fill the needs of the township’s senior community.
Mr. Rosloff continued his work throughout the years and in 1996 he received funds to build a 73-unit senior housing development called Oak Woods. This past spring Oak Woods, located next to CIL Woods, had its groundbreaking ceremony and construction is well under way.
The award’s namesake, Dr. Barry Indik was a professor at Rutgers and was on the Planning Board for years. Dr. Indik is credited with helping build CIL Woods, 16 units of affordable housing for developmentally disabled.
The evening starts with hors d’oeuvres and drinks at 7 p.m. with dinner starting around 8 p.m. The band Nu Creations will play from 8-11 p.m. To purchase tickets call Sharon Sullivan (732) 355-0620, or Erna Sullivan (609) 921-8084.