Working closely

Jamesburg agency works with kids

By: Stephanie Brown
   JAMESBURG — For years, the borough’s Municipal Alliance Committee has worked to protect and educate children about the dangers of substance abuse.
   Through coordination of community efforts, the committee aims to reduce alcoholism, drug abuse, tobacco use and crime. For example, the committee works in conjunction with the borough’s school district and police department to run the DARE program, co-hosts the annual Pumpkin Festival, and cooperates with the borough’s Recreation Department to purchase team uniforms.
   "In any community it’s a major asset, because it makes the children aware of what not to do," said Mayor Tony LaMantia, who is a committee member. "And it brings the whole community together."
   While the committee has existed since 1990, the Borough Council passed a resolution Nov. 8 to update the Municipal Alliance Committee roster and appointed Kelli Craparotta as its new chairwoman.
   Business Administrator Denise Jawidzik said the borough had to adopt the resolution to continue receiving county funding for the alliance’s programs.
   In 2006, the borough received $9,017 from the Middlesex County Department of Human Services, Division of Addiction Services, Ms. Jawidzik said.
   According to the resolution, the committee will be formed by the municipal alliance chairperson and will include a council member, police officer, municipal employee, youth representative, a representative of the borough’s religious groups and at minimum of two residents, according to the resolution.
   Ms. Craparotta said the committee members currently include Mayor Tony LaMantia, Ms. Jawidzik, Patrol Officer Kevin Wilson, Ms. Jawidzik’s daughter, Samantha, as youth representative and borough resident, Dina Walker.
   Ms. Craparotta, who has served on the committee for seven years, said the committee meets its goals by working closely with other community organizations.
   "Honestly, our alliance doesn’t do a lot of independent things because we’re such a small town and it can be hard to get families involved, " Ms. Craparotta said. "We usually plan for our programs to be delivered in the schools. That way we know that our money is being well spent."
   As a school psychologist for South Brunswick school district, Ms. Craparotta said she knows how important the committee’s in-school programs are.
   "I think that if it wasn’t done then the kids would really be missing out," she said. "Teachers would love to teach the kinds of things our programs cover, but they don’t have the time in their academic program to devote a whole lesson to that. We can bring that in as a special treat for the children."