The owners of The Learning Experience ofManalapan embarked this year on a “Go Green/Energy Efficient” communityfocused effort at its school in Manalapan. According to Dawn Lego, owner, and Jessica Rawles, curriculum director, in its efforts to go green, The Learning Experience added several new programs to its curriculum, including an adopt-a-plant program where students led the planting of new plants to beautify the school grounds in conjunction with Earth Day, in addition to developing a garden on the school’s property to donate fresh produce to local food banks.
For kindergarten graduation, they took their yearlong theme and turned it into a community-related service program designed to teach humanity, community service, sharing and charitable efforts. A group of 10 kindergarten pupils led a food drive benefiting The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
The children made fliers and handed them out under the direction of their teacher, Miss Justine. The students started their food drive on April 15, also collecting loose change in a large water jug. On May 20, the students, their parents and teachers loaded the donated food and loose change into volunteers’ trucks and vans and took a trip to the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean County in Neptune to present the donations.
They also volunteered to weigh the food and stock the shelves. They weighed in and the total weight of the items collected came to 373 pounds. They also collected loose change, which was counted and totaled $125. The partners of The Learning Experience matched that total and provided The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties with a $250 check.
David Rivera, a resident of the Morganville section of Marlboro, and a senior specialist in electric operations for Con Edison, has won the company’s highest honor, the “Living Our Values” award. Rivera, who joined the company in 1981, was chosen for exemplifying Con Edison’s values of service, teamwork, excellence and community service.
Rivera is part of a team that engineers and manages capital investments in Con Edison’s electrical distribution system in New York.
One of Rivera’s most challenging and important projects was managing the creation of the Borden and Sunnyside electrical distribution networks in northwest Queens, a job the utility completed last year. Previously, those areas were part of Con Edison’s Long Island City network.
Rivera and his wife of 26 years, Rebecca, have a son, Andrew, 20, and a daughter, Emma, 16.
Rivera is active in his community and has coached his children’s athletic teams and participated in fundraisers for the Freehold High School Booster Club. He is also active with his church, Calvary Chapel of Old Bridge, and regularly opens his home for meetings.