Copy of September 2, 2020 Newtarian (Mar 29, 2022)

NEWTON ROTARY CLUB

MINUTES OF MARCH 23, 2022

Our regular Wednesday meeting was opened at 12:19 by President Laura Camp. Prayer was led by Alden Welsh, with a song led by Mark Hontz. Today we had 20 of our members present, with 3 visitors. Gerry Hanifan introduced his former Judicial Assistant Linda Boniface, who used to work with him when he served on the bench. Greetings were extended to our visitors as well as our now growing number of members who showed up today.

HAPPY DOLLARS

President Laura asked if there were any Happy Dollars. Laura began with a dollar for all that went well for the bridal shower this past weekend. However, when her daughter and son-in-law got back home to North Carolina, he was experiencing a significant problem seeing from one eye. They got him to a doctor who determined that the retina had become detached and that surgery took place yesterday. Prayers should be extended for his fast and complete recovery.

Alice Vigiletti offered a dollar as she was happy that spring was finally here.

Carolyn Ottenbreit ponied up a buck as the spring break with her family was very enjoyable.

Steve Wescott offered a sad dollar in memory of Ray Cordts, who very unexpectedly passed away 3 days ago. The obituary was in the NJ Herald today.

John Cuozzo offered up two whole dollars that his dog, who had been ill, has apparently recovered.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

President Laura noted that the membership book project is under the diligent care of Bob, Carol, and Alice. She gleefully announced that she received two of the questionnaires back in the mail. Knowing that there are others who still have not returned their questionnaires, kindly do so soon as the club members working on this project want it to move forward.

Laura also informed the club that the effort to collect and ship out clothing, personal care items, etc. for the displaced people of Ukraine was very successful. Apparently, a large quantity of goods was collected at the YMCA in Hardyston and taken to a central shipping point.

Unbeknown to many of us sitting having lunch, today was officially designated as World Water Day. Now, who created this designation and just what it means is still a mystery. But Laura apparently received a flier about it from the Rotary District Office.

Carolyn spoke briefly about the Two Heart Program. She has received additional checks which is putting us just that much closer to our goal of $2,500. Please remember that Carolyn will be personally matching every dollar we raise for this program. Additionally, her employer – Merrill Lynch – will also be matching dollar for dollar the final amount we as a club raise. Also, Denise Current will be matching what we raise as a club, on a dollar-for-dollar basis. So – if we raise all $2,500, then we will have effectively invested $10,000 for the project. What a wonderful accomplishment that will be. So, open your hearts, open your checkbooks, remember – each dollar counts here. Checks should be made out to “GIFT OF LIFE N.J.” and given to either Helen Wescott or Carolyn Ottenbreit.

Speaker for Today – County Sheriff Michael Strada

Today our speaker (introduced by President Laura due to the absence of Incoming President Todd Lattig) was Sussex County Sheriff Michael Strada. Strada also introduced to us Hillary Manser, the Administrative Assistant to the Sheriff.

Although Mike spoke about several topics, the one that he began with concerned the county response to the Covid virus. Initially, he said that his office and the county in general had very little in the way of PPE supplies and not a great deal of information from the state or federal government. He and his staff worked with Newton Memorial Hospital in order to have vaccinations made available to residents of the county. Even then, there were problems with getting delivery of the vaccine on a regular basis and in quantities that we needed.

He went on to say that they were able to provide 400 Covid tests up at the county college and gave 19,340 vaccinations to local residents at the Sussex County Fair Grounds.

In terms of PPE supplies, his office was responsible for the distribution and that they handed out hundreds of thousands of masks, gloves, disposable gowns, and other necessary health care supplies. One figure he noted was that they distributed a total of 216,000 surgical masks.

One other thing he spoke about was the Andover Intermediary Care Center and the problems they experienced. Mike said that the office of the State Attorney General required him to provide a very detailed accounting of all of the PPE supplies that they delivered to that care facility. This requirement for information was made following the stunning revelation that so many of the patients died there, and the bodies were being stacked up like so much cord wood in refrigerated trucks in back of the facility. The facility still appears to be having staffing problems and implementation of state required care standards.

Another subject that Mike brought up was the creation of a Civil Disturbance Unit within his department. This tactical unit was created about two years ago in response to the extensive civil unrest experienced in many communities throughout the country. Fortunately, this unit has not been required to take any action here in the county. However, Mike admitted that the unit still exists within his department, in the eventuality that it might be needed at some time in the future.

The last issue Mike spoke about was the county jail. He said that since 2019 when the county began sending our prisoners to the Morris County jail in Morristown, the jail is used simply for the transfer and temporary holding of prisoners. Prisoners are not housed overnight in the facility. Mike suggested to the county demolish the jail and build for him a one-story facility, which is all he needs. It was suggested that instead of demolishing this structure it ultimately be adaptively reused as the central record storage facility for the entire county. Such a facility is needed given the less than desirable facility the county currently uses for housing official records at the Homestead complex.

Laura thanked Mike for his presentation and the interesting information that was covered.

FINAL NOTE

Laura informed the club that the Champaign Garden Party for this year will be held on the Academy Green, which is in back of 79 Main Street. This building is owned by the Sussex County Historical Society and is known as the Tully House. Built in 1888 by Michael Patrick Tully, who was a merchant tailor in Newton, the building was designed in the Queen Anne style of architecture. The event will take place on Saturday, June 25. Mike Hanifan has graciously agreed to serve as over-all chairman for the event, with Wayne McCabe and Denise Current working with him (along with a lot of other people).

50/50

Bud Luthman nailed the weekly fund for a whopping total of $6 (this was the second time in two weeks – and for the same amount). But when he went and picked a card from the diminishing deck of cards (the 9 of clubs) – he again left the ever-growing pot of $250.50 on the table.

ADJOURNMENT

With no other business to come before the club, the meeting was formally adjourned by President Laura at 1:10 pm.

Respectfully submitted

Wayne T. McCabe