Our Montville

Share Education By the Book

SEBB, “Share Education By the Book” originated out of a need for Books to support various Education centers and Libraries, existing and envisioned, in parts of the U.S. where illiteracy rates are frighteningly high. I suggested
the project to our Kiwanis members, hoping for personal support and, being the amazing group of caring citizens that they are, they ALL said ‘yes’ and voted on the spot to make it a Club Project.

Since the project started in November ‘02, each year for a month or so, Montville Township Kiwanis Club, Montville citizens, Kiwanis Kids from MTHS, Kiwanis Builders Club Lazar Middle School Kids, and generous  friends from other parts of New Jersey, have been clearing off their shelves of past treasures, knowing they’re giving new joy to others. We have been shipping books for all ages; books on tape, educational Videos, CD’s etc. For now, no magazines, coloring book s, Encyclopedias, newspapers or, (for the moment) text  books (although a side shipment of text books has gone to one neighboring Kentucky County in need). All others, in legible condition have been welcomed.

Way to go Claire!

Sixteen year old Girl Scout Claire Marinello will send 14,088 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies to Iraq on Thursday, March 20, 2008 at 2:00 pm. 

The Scout sold 9,019 boxes by herself and coordinated the efforts of 250 additional Scouts, ages 6-18, for the remaining 5,069 boxes. 

We know of no other single Girl Scout in the country who has sold this many boxes of Girl Scout Cookies, let alone shipped them to the U. S. Military.    Download march_20.doc

Cedar Hill students on eco-mission

Montville recycling bin for batteries is work of elementary school kids - Comprised of 92 students at Cedar Hill Elementary School in Towaco, the Tools for Schools for Kids Committee is on a mission to enrich the planet.  And their latest endeavor, an outdoor recycling bin for all township residents to dispose of household batteries, is no exception.  "These children are absolutely amazing," said Cathy Lundquist, the group's co-faculty adviser with Cindy Nosti. "We call them environmental leaders -- that's exactly what they are."

The committee also approached the school board, which voted unanimously to grant permission for the container to be kept at the school, said assistant Superintendent Maria Eppolite.  "I think that the children exhibited a great deal of public awareness and an interest in the environment, and it was wonderful to see," said Eppolite, who attended the unveiling last week at the Pine Brook Road facility along with deputy Mayor Deborah Nielson.  See Daily Record.

Small size, big talent

Towaco's Leah Wis an accomplished athlete at tender age of nine - Up a steep, stone-lined driveway. Past a maroon front door. Inside a half-red brick, half-off white aluminum sided house. A monster lives here. 

She doesn't look like a monster. Her flowing blonde hair is pulled back in a sour-green scrunchie and her bright pink nails look like they've been given a girly touch.

She smiles as she opens the door, welcoming her visitor with a subdued, ladylike, "hello."  The smile checks out fine -- no fangs. Maybe the monster is costumed as a unique little girl, a Junior Olympian named Leah Wis.  See Daily Record.  photo by bob karp / daily record

Montville pools talent to conserve its water

Innovative program cuts per capita use - The citizens of Montville have proven that turning off the faucet while you brush your teeth, limiting your lawn sprinkling and capturing water in rain barrels pays off.

By conserving water in many small ways, the municipality of about 21,000 people has seen its water table at the Towaco Valley Aquifer rise 27 feet -- from 52 feet below ground to 25 feet since the drought of 2001.   Daily water consumption in Montville has dropped from 180 gallons per person to 142 gallons, while the population has risen about 6 percent in the last seven years and new office buildings and single-family homes continue to pop up.

"They know to stop and think before they use water," said Sue Marinello, the Montville resident who developed the school program "Every Drop Counts," which promotes water conservation in classroom, and ended up teaching the adults about it, too.

Way to go, Sue!  See Star Ledger.

Mustang Stampede!

Montville's team effort leads to state victory; Mustangs now 23-6! - As "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns N' Roses roared through a pair of speakers just a few feet from where he was sitting, Montville's Charles Matarazzo voiced concern while watching his teammates bounce around energetically during pre-game warmups. "I don't think we need to get any more pumped," he said.

Two hours later, Matarazzo's worries proved needless. Montville crushed Morris Hills, 12-2, in five innings, thriving off the strength of its big bats and steady glovework.  See Daily Record.

Montville students walk to help child conquer his illness

Fundraiser benefits boy, 6, who has rare neuromuscular disease - Six-year-old Adam Foye can't play Little League baseball, climb a tree or participate in regular gym classes at Woodmont School.  But through cutting-edge research at the Children's Hospital in Boston and with a little help from his classmates, the Pine Brook boy just might have a brighter outlook on life. See Daily Record.

Eagle Scout Honors America's Veterans

Justin Pagano's honor: a Purple Heart monument - Justin's first thought about bringing a Purple Heart monument to Montville was typical of any 16-year-old boy seeking to reach the highest level of Boy Scouting. "When I first heard the idea of the project, my first reaction was, 'It's an Eagle Scout project. Let's do it and get it done,'" he recalled.