Award-Winning Band

Award-Winning Band—The Rahway High School Marching Band was recently awarded first place for music and fifth place overall at the United States Scholastic Band Association Yamaha Cup competition held at Giants’ Stadium on Oct. 11. Pictured above are members of the Marching Band Color Guard as they practice for upcoming performances and competitions. Below, marching band teacher and director Robert Van Wyk conducts students during a practice.

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Fire Officials Educate Students About Safety

EDISON— Lt. Scott Boland and firefighter Dan Maurath spoke to students from Wardlaw-Hartridge’s Lower School on Tuesday, Oct. 7, to educate them about fire safety. The assembly was organized by teacher Ellen Ritz.

Safe And Prepared—Wardlaw-Hartridge Lower School students learned the ins and outs of fire safety from Scott Boland, Edison Fire Lieutenant, pictured, right, and Scott Boland, Edison Firefighter, who shows the students a thermal infrared imaging camera. Photo by Michelle H. LePoidevin

Maurath and Boland reminded the students to call 9-1-1 in case of emergency, never play with matches, never play in the kitchen, never put anything in wall sockets and to diligently change smoke detectors in their homes. They also posed several “what would you do?” situations to the students, who proved by their answers that they are prepared and aware of what to do in case of a fire.

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Rahway Soldier Provides Humanitarian Assistance In Peru

By Dona Fair

AYACUCHO, Peru – When a Rahway native arrived in this South American country known for its Amazon Jungle and the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu, he was about to begin a humanitarian mission few would ever get the opportunity to experience.

But to reach his final destination meant traveling by bus for hours over the treacherous, narrow, winding roads of the snow-capped Andes Mountains, where dogs, goats, llamas, and people walk along carefree at altitudes of up to 14,000 feet.

Military members construct a medical clinic in Yanama, Peru, during New Horizons-Peru 2008, a partnered U.S. and Peruvian humanitarian effort to bring quality of life construction projects to the people of Peru. (Photo by Larry Simmons)

Marine Corps Reserve Sgt. Israel Joseph, a 1998 graduate of Rahway High School, along with more than 900 other service members from the U.S. Air Force, Army, Marines, and Navy, spent several weeks throughout the summer participating in New Horizons Peru 2008. The exercise is a U.S. Army Southern Command sponsored humanitarian assistance event involving construction projects consisting of two classrooms and one library with a capacity to seat 120 students. They also dug two wells that provided fresh water for approximately 700 people, and built three medical clinics that will serve a population of nearly 5,000.

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Woodbridge “Safe & Secure” Program at Work to Identify “Special Needs” Residents

By Mayor John E. McCormac

The most important task we have in municipal government is to make sure that every Woodbridge Township resident with a “Special Need” is “Safe & Secure” during an emergency. As we have seen over the past couple of months, the threat of a disastrous storm (Hurricane Hanna that brushed the Jersey coast and Hurricane Gustav that hit the Gulf coast) or other emergency event is something we must plan for well in advance.

As part of our township-wide emergency management safety plan, we recently announced that every household would receive a “Safe & Secure” registry form in the mail. I am urging any and all township residents who may have difficulty evacuating their residence or place of work during an emergency because of physical or other limitations, or lack of transportation, to sign up for the ‘Special Needs’ registry… that way, we’ll know who to help in advance of an emergency situation when time is of the essence. If you didn’t get a form, and want to register, please contact our Office of Emergency Management at 732-634-5401.

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Clark Halloween Memories

By Diane Harrison

CLARK-Happy Halloween! Here are some memories from Kimberly Cooper Ramalho:

“Diane, I thought your column was really cute. It was great to read the memories of those who lived in my town, Clark, and those neighboring towns that I spent my childhood in. I offer a few memories of my own for consideration.

“What was nice about living in Clark around Halloween is that the community was very close. And while we didn’t know everyone in the neighborhood, we knew the families in every 10th house or so. My parents felt very safe with us going out after dark to trick-or-treat. There were a few families that gave the best treats. I loved Watchamacallits and popcorn balls. Me, my sister and our friends would dress up for some Halloweens in three or four costumes and go back to the houses who gave out good treats. No one ever turned us away for coming so many times. I think they appreciated our effort or they just weren’t that observant! Who knows?

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