A teacher at South Hunterdon has made a blanket chest to raise money for the medical bills of Amanda Rosso of West Amwell.
By: Linda Seida
WEST AMWELL South Hunterdon Regional High School industrial arts teacher Ed Ciurczak hopes people will dip into their wallets and spend $5 on a chance to win the blanket chest he made, but if they can’t, that’s OK with him.
"If they can’t buy a ticket, prayer would help," Mr. Ciurczak said. "Sometimes prayer would be the best thing."
Every penny collected by Mr. Ciurczak will go to James and Amanda Rosso, two of Mr. Ciurczak’s former students. The West Amwell couple are struggling with expenses related to Mrs. Rosso’s health care.
"I thought to myself, here’s a real worthwhile cause," Mr. Ciurczak said. "You’re helping people in a struggle here. You want to do what you can to help, and this is the time of year for it."
Mr. Rosso, a patrolman with the Hopewell Township Police Department, has medical insurance, but insurance does not cover all of his wife’s medical expenses.
Mrs. Rosso is recovering from a double-cord transplant performed in October to treat leukemia. She spent Christmas and remains a patient at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York where last year she battled and overcame osteosarcoma, a bone cancer.
Also planned as a fundraiser for the Rosso family is a Valentine dinner and dance at the Lambertville-New Hope Ambulance and Rescue Squad. More than half of the 200 tickets already have been sold, according to Heather Pursell of Lambertville, one of the organizers.
"When anybody needs help in Lambertville, everybody’s there to lend a helping hand," said Mrs. Pursell, whose son went to school with Mr. and Mrs. Rosso. "One hundred percent of everything will go to Jim and Amanda."
Mr. Ciurczak agreed.
When he arrived at South Hunterdon in 1975, "the community accepted me with open arms," he said. "There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for Lambertville or South Hunterdon."
He recalled reading about the couple’s struggle last year, when Mrs. Rosso was diagnosed with bone cancer. Other fundraisers were under way to help, and an article spoke of their high school years when they first became sweethearts.
"That was a tear-jerker," he said. "But it’s nice to see how people pull together for a common cause."
He recalled seeing them together in South Hunterdon’s halls.
"They were really happy, beautiful kids," he said.
Mr. Ciurczak hopes people again will open their hearts and pull together in the same generous spirit for the Rossos.
"Being a parent, you can’t help but feel that way for children," Mr. Ciurczak said. "They’re not my kids, but they’re still my kids, you know?"
Mr. Ciurczak estimated he spent at least 20 hours crafting the blanket chest. The chest is similar to those constructed in New England circa 1840, according to South Hunterdon secretary Lynn Towle, who is helping Mr. Ciurczak promote the drawing, which will be held Jan. 6.
The blanket chest may be viewed at Niece Lumber at Elm and Union streets in Lambertville. It’s constructed of white pine and measures 34 inches by 15 inches by 15 inches. Special features include a glove box and a German-made lock. It’s finished in buttermilk-colored milk paint.
Tickets for a chance to win the blanket chest are $5 and may be purchased at Niece Lumber or by contacting Ms. Towle at [email protected] or the main office at South Hunterdon at 397-2060.
Tickets to the Valentine dinner dance are $40 per person and include a roast beef dinner, dancing and an open bar with beer and wine. For tickets or more information, contact Mrs. Pursell at 397-0874 or Pam Ledger at 397-1832.

