Township groups looking forward to a busy new year

A sneak peek into the goals of 2003 for various South Brunswick organizations

By: Rebecca Tokarz and Sharlee Joy DiMenichi
The new year traditionally offers the chance to take stock of the previous year and to make goals for the future.
   The South Brunswick Post approached local organizations such as the Board of Education and the South Brunswick Library Foundation with the question "What are your goals for the coming year?" The answers follow:
Board of Education
   The Board of Education is looking for a new leader.
   Superintendent Sam Stewart is retiring after 10 years with the district and the board is in the process of identifying the personal and professional traits it is looking for in his replacement.
   In addition, the board hopes to set a course for its technology program.
   The school board plans to hold a meeting in January with New Jersey School Boards Association representative Carole Larsen, who is helping the board narrow its pool of candidates. The board met with Ms. Larson in October to establish the criteria it will use to determine who its new leader will be. The school board will meet with Ms. Larsen in January to discuss her findings.
   Dr. Stewart will be stepping down as of July 1 and the board is hoping to have a replacement in place before then.
   School board President Harry Delgado said the new superintendent will have an impact on everything else the board does.
   "The selection of a new leader will impact the organization of the district," he said.
   "We want someone to love the schools," Dr. Stewart said.
   School board members have said a new schools superintendent should be a visionary leader, someone to manage and plan for growth and diversity and make decisions decisively in a collaborative manner.
   The person should also be well-educated and experienced with issues the district is currently faces and who can manage change while ensuring quality education is a key, as well as planning for growth and its impact. The board also is looking for someone with integrity and strength of character, who shares the district’s commitment to values and pride in excellence, who is a collaborative but prompt decision-maker and has excellent communication skills.
   Other goals include updating the district’s technology plan, continuing to improve the district’s emergency procedures and staff development, opening the new wing of the high school and evaluating the adequacy of current facilities in terms of student enrollment.
— Rebecca Tokarz

South Brunswick Area

Clergy Association



   The South Brunswick Area Clergy Association hopes to stay the course in the coming year, according to the Rev. David Risseeuw, who convenes the association.

   That means maintaining initiatives the group has already started, he said.

   The clergy association plans to continue awarding a $1,000 scholarship to a high school junior who promotes tolerance and understanding, the Rev. Risseeuw said. The scholarship fund depends on donations from local clergy and worshippers and the amount can vary from year to year, he said.

   The association also plans to keep organizing monthly interfaith dialogue groups, he said. Each month a different house of worship hosts the discussion circles, which allow clergy and lay people to exchange knowledge about their beliefs.

   Rev. Risseeuw especially looks forward to the 2003 Interfaith Thanksgiving service which will be held at Six Mile Run Reformed Church in honor of the church’s 300th anniversary.


— Sharlee Joy DiMenichi

Barbara Sacks

Township Manager



   Township Manager Barbara Sacks is ready for her first full year at the helm.

   Ms. Sacks, who started Nov. 12, said that next year she will prepare township staff members for what she called employee transitions. Ms. Sacks hopes to develop succession plans to be implemented when key township staff members announce that they plan to leave and to cross-train workers in case employees depart suddenly.

   Ms. Sacks said preparing for changes in staff prevents interruptions in services and reduces stress among workers. Ms Sacks said she expects some positions to become vacant over the next year.

   Ms. Sacks also looks forward to receiving the results of the aqua center survey in 2003. The questionnaire, which was mailed to South Brunswick residents, gauges local interest in a proposed indoor/outdoor swimming complex.


— Sharlee Joy DiMenichi

South Brunswick

Library Foundation



   Arthur Roedel, chairman of the South Brunswick Library Foundation, said library foundation members hope to begin the public phase of fund-raising for the library expansion project in 2003.

   The $4 million project is slated to include a new children’s programming area for events such as storytelling and puppet shows; an 18-station computer lab; an unfinished basement for storage; a children’s computer lab called the Cyber Zone; a young adult homework room; a separate audio-visual room and more room for book stacks.

   The library will receive about $200,000 in individual and company donations, $855,000 in state funding, and about $3 million in township taxes to cover the expansion costs, said Library Director. Lorraine Jackson.

   Before beginning to appeal to the public for money to finance the project, library foundation members must secure about half the necessary funding from community groups and corporations, she said.

   "We’re hoping to reach a point where we’re able to go to the public," Mr. Roedel said.

   Mr. Roedel said foundation members worked with Imam Hamad Ahmed Chebli of the Islamic Society of Central Jersey to raise $50,000 in donations from members of the mosque and would like to enlist the help of other segments of the South Brunswick community.

   "We’re hoping to do something similar with the Indian community and the Chinese American community," Mr. Roedel said.


— Sharlee Joy DiMenichi

South Brunswick

Senior Center



   Susan Trilli, program coordinator at the Senior Center, said she hopes to see an increase in the number of seniors using the center in 2003.

   "We’re always looking for more members and participants," Ms. Trilli said.

   Ms. Trilli said senior center staff will seek to attract more elders by advertising in print and on television, and encouraging members to bring friends.

   The senior center offers classes, trips and cultural events.


— Sharlee Joy DiMenichi

Mike Russo

YMCA



   The sports program at the South Brunswick Family YMCA will help people looking to maintain or lose weight during the coming year with its newly established Shrink Down Program.

   This is the first year for the Shrink Down Program, a 12-week program where teams of three people work together to lose weight, tone up their bodies and live a healthier life style, said Mike Russo, sports director at the YMCA.

   The sports program has begun several other fitness programs including a new yoga-fitness class called pilates, where participants in the class learn different forms of stretching and strengthening exercises, Mr. Russo said.

   The pre-school sector of the YMCA will work to hold classes, such as cooking, arts and craft and gymnastics classes geared toward pre-school aged children on the weekends so that children who attend pre-school during the week can participate, Mr. Russo said.

   The YMCA also is continuing its Building Block Campaign, where people donate money toward the financial aid program and the new addition. Donations of $250 go toward the donation of a brick. Since the campaign began in December, approximately 40 bricks have been purchased, Mr. Russo said.


— Rebecca Tokarz

Jane Snyder

Open Space Task Force



   Jane Snyder said the Open Space Task Force will focus on finding more properties to preserve in 2002.

   "The open space committee’s goal is just to research more properties and present our recommendations and hope they are purchased," Ms. Snyder said.

   The township, with the aid of Middlesex County, has purchased nearly 540 acres of land since creating its open space trust fund in 1996. The 2-cent tax has generated about $4 million so far.

   Voters approved an increase in the levy for the trust fund of 1.5 cents for acquisition of property and 0.5 cents for its development.

   Ms. Snyder said she would like the committee to work toward historic preservation as well.

   "We will look at historic preservation sites (and) see if they adjoin or are actually on land that we would preserve as open space," Ms. Snyder said.


— Sharlee Joy DiMenichi

Jean Gibson

CIL



   Citizens for Independent Living is hoping to help its clients walk their way to healthier lifestyles in the new year.

   CIL, a non-profit organization that provides developmentally disabled adults with housing and services such as job counseling and assistance with shopping, is looking to install a walking path this year at its CIL Woods housing complex on Route 522 in Monmouth Junction as a way to continue last year’s goal of providing exercise opportunities.

   In addition, a newly purchased van will enable CIL to provide more services, including trips to doctors.

   The CIL is also looking for volunteers come spring time to help out with some outside projects around the grounds of the condominium facility.

   Volunteers, must be willing to work with the group, Ms. Gibson said. To volunteer, call (732) 355-0620.


— Rebecca Tokarz