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Author: joe@mylifepublications.com

Health Expansion

Special visitors met with Mayor Joe Nicastro and Business Administrator Andrew Tatarenko on August 4, 2026 from the New Jersey Department of Health Division of Local Public Health Rikiyah Mixson and Karima Saidhatimi . They were given a tour on the progress, and everyone is looking forward to the expansion and serving the community.   In photo is Derrick Webb Director of Health /Health Officer , Mayor Joe Nicastro , Rikiyah Mixson Public Policy Specialist/Transformation Coordinator , Karima  Saidhatimi Public Health Liaison and Andrew Tatarenko Business Administrator. Below is the information from when they  officially broke ground. Mount Olive Health Center Expansion Monday, December 1, 2025 marks a major milestone as we officially break ground on the Township of Mount Olive Health Center Expansion, ushering in a brighter future for our community’s health and wellbeing. The Project Overview Ceremonial Groundbreaking Welcome & Opening Remarks: Andrew Tatarenko Remarks from Mayor Joe Nicastro Project Overview: Andrew Tatarenko Acknowledgments: The Musical Group Architects Van Cleef Engineering Pal-Pro Builders, LLC. Remarks from Key Stakeholders: Derrick Webb, Mount Olive Health Director Special Presentation/Recognition: Congressman Thomas Kean, Jr. The construction of the new Mount Olive Township Health Center is the culmination of years of vision, planning, and collaboration that began with the development of the Mount Olive Township Community Health Assessment in 2019. Through this year-long process, Township officials, health professionals, and community members identified key areas for public health improvement and recognized the growing need for expanded health services. Building on those findings, the Township pursued federal funding through the Community Project Funding grant program, administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. As a result of that effort, Mount Olive Township was awarded $1,982,500 to support the construction of a new 7,164-square-foot Health Center. The new facility—located adjacent to the Senior Center—will serve as a centralized hub for the Health Department, Health Clinic, Public Access, and Social Services. This modern, fully equipped building will enhance the Township’s ability to deliver comprehensive public health programs, improve accessibility to vital services, and strengthen community wellness initiatives. Beyond its local benefits, the new Health Center will also position Mount Olive Township as a regional leader in shared health services, expanding collaboration with neighboring municipalities and agencies to deliver efficient, cost-effective, and coordinated care across the region. Additionally, the relocation of the Health Department will free up much-needed space in the existing municipal complex, allowing for the expansion of the Police Department. This future enhancement will improve operational capacity and further strengthen public safety services for Mount Olive residents. Together, these improvements reflect Mount Olive Township’s ongoing commitment to building a healthier, safer, and more connected community for all  

Free Outdoor Fitness Program Gets MO Moving

By Cheryl Conway When it comes to health and fitness, Mt. Olive Township is stepping things up with more and more programs every season to promote wellness and more active lifestyles and habits. Starting Tuesday,  Sept. 8, local residents aged 18 and over are invited to participate in free guided exercise sessions at area parks. The new initiative—Fall into Health Fitness Program—is being sponsored by the Mt. Olive Twp. Health Department and the Mayor’s office. This initiative is part of the Mayor’s Wellness Program to encourage residents to stay active and get involved in activities to promote a healthier lifestyle. “Throughout the year, we host diverse programming for both the community and township employees,” shares Jenna Murphy, Mayor’s Wellness coordinator/Group Fitness instructor. Murphy, who is AFAA certified for 16 years, will be leading the free exercise sessions. “Through a series of guided exercise sessions, participants will gain valuable knowledge about health, fitness and the benefits of regular physical activity while engaging in fun and accessible workouts,” describes Murphy. The Fall into Health Fitness Program is set to begin Tuesday, Sept. 8 and run through Nov. 12. Sessions are 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday in designated areas in Turkey Brook Park in Budd Lake and Flanders Park in Flanders. The program is open to any Mt. Olive resident aged 18 years old and over. Registration is required and gives participants access to all sessions. The best part is the cost. There are no membership or enrollment fees. “This program is offered at no cost to participants through funding from the Health Department,” says Murphy. “Support includes access to exercise bands during class sessions and a free fitness band for participants to keep, encouraging healthy habits beyond the program.” According to Murphy, the program will offer various formats and levels. “The program will feature a variety of fitness activities suitable for adults 18+ of all fitness levels,” says Murphy. “Sessions may incorporate strength, cardio, flexibility, balance and mobility exercises, with options to modify activities as needed. “The exact format will evolve as we get to know participants and tailor the program to the group’s interests and needs,” adds Murphy. Besides showing up, participants are advised to wear comfortable clothing and sneakers, and to bring water. Every year, the township adds to its wellness program to provide more programs for its residents. “Throughout the year, we host diverse programming for both the community and township employees,” says Murphy. “Community offerings have included the Mayor’s Wellness Walk and Fun Run, Senior Chair Yoga, Senior Chair Dance Fitness, a Reel Health Conversations library screening of “The M Factor,” and a Mental Health Association (MHA) presentation on self-care and emotional regulation. “Township staff have also participated in health initiatives like blood pressure screenings, a Winter Blues Walk and dedicated self-care sessions,” she adds. The MO Twp. Health Department also plans to host a new installment of Reel Health Conversations this fall/winter. “This ongoing program pairs film screenings with open, community-led health discussions to promote wellness and public health awareness,” says Murphy. Also planned as part of the Mayor’s Wellness Program throughout the MO Recreation Dept. is a family fitness afternoon— United We Move—set for Sunday, Sept. 13, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Flanders Park. For questions regarding registration, eligibility, program activities, or accessibility accommodation, contact Murphy at 973-691-0900, ext. 7227.  

Eye Level Learning Center of Mount Olive

Congratulations to My Eye Level Learning Center on their grand opening in Mount Olive! Located at 61 International Drive S., Budd Lake, this new educational facility is set to become a valuable resource for students in the community. On Friday, July 25, 2026, the celebration was made even more special as Mount Olive’s Mayor Joe Nicastro, along with Councilwoman Mary Lalama and Assemblyman Mike Inganamort, proudly officiated the official welcome ceremony. This milestone marks an exciting new chapter for the community, fostering learning, success, and opportunities for all. People in the photo (left to right):Yamin ,Lakishdeep Sabharwal,  Veer Sabharwal, Mayor Joe Nicastro, Sefer, Richa Sabharwal, Kabir Sabharwal, Kamlesh Mahajan, Councilwoman Mary Lalama, Assemblyman Mike Inganamort , Nisa Back Row: Samantha Fiduk, Min Kang, Samuel Chun

Enzo’s 50th Celebration

For 50 years, Enzo’s has been much more than a restaurant. It is a story of family, sacrifice, perseverance, and what it truly means to build something that becomes bigger than yourself. That story began with Emilio Buonincontri, who came to America from Naples, Italy, with nothing. He left behind everything he knew and arrived with a dream, two hands willing to work, and the belief that through sacrifice, he could build a better life for his family. But he didn’t build that dream alone. From a young age, Ernie stood beside his father. He worked diligently, learned the business, made sacrifices, and gave his time and energy to help Emilio turn that dream into Enzo’s. He wasn’t simply his father’s son—he became his partner in the work, helping carry the weight of building something that would eventually become a part of Mount Olive itself. Ernie never gave up on Enzo’s or the community. That is what makes the story of Enzo’s so special.  The legacy didn’t stop with Emilio. It was passed from father to son. And today, you can see that same story happening all over again. Ernie’s son, Emilio, is now standing beside his father, just as Ernie once stood beside his. He is learning the business, putting in the hours, making sacrifices, and helping carry forward everything his grandfather and father worked so hard to build. Emilio shares the same passion and dedication in keeping Enzo’s growing and prospering for our new generation of customers. Three generations. One dream. Fifty years of sacrifice. What people see when they walk through the doors of Enzo’s is a restaurant. What they may not see are the early mornings, late nights, missed holidays, family celebrations spent working, and the countless moments when the Buonincontri family chose to show up for their customers and their community. Because Enzo’s was never just about serving food. It was about serving people. For five decades, this has been the place where Mount Olive has celebrated weddings, showers, birthdays, graduations and family gatherings. It has also been there during life’s hardest moments, when families needed a place to come together and support one another. Over the years, customers became familiar faces. Familiar faces became friends. And friends became family. That is the legacy Emilio started when he arrived from Naples with very little. He may have come to America with almost nothing, but he created something that money could never buy—a family legacy and a community that would grow alongside it. Fifty years is more than a milestone. It represents generations of work, sacrifice, love, and commitment. It represents a father who believed in a dream, a son who stood beside him and helped build it, and now another generation carrying that same dream forward. Enzo’s isn’t simply a business that has been here for 50 years. It is a family legacy that has become part of the Mount Olive family—and that is something truly worth celebrating.

MO Entrepreneurs

Ayush and Nakul developed the Mount Olive Chamber Analytics platform after presenting the project to and receiving approval from the Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce. The platform converts the Chamber’s existing member directory into a centralized member-intelligence and outreach system. It currently allows Chamber leadership to: organize and search member records track upcoming membership renewals identify businesses that may require follow-up audit missing contact and directory information analyze industry and geographic membership patterns map the Chamber’s regional business network prioritize outreach using renewal timing, directory status, and data completeness The project is also structured to support future attendance tracking, engagement analysis, and renewal-risk modeling once the Chamber begins collecting those records more consistently. Mayor Joe Nicastro recognized the young entrepreneurs with a certificate of recognition.     In photo :  Ayush Iyengar , Mayor Joe Nicastro and   Nakul Ramprasad

With School Back in Session, Traffic Safety Takes Center Stage

By Cheryl Conway The hustle and bustle of back to school is here, and for some, the concern of speedy drivers on school roads. Relying on speed humps on roads leading to schools to reduce speeding may no longer be the case in Mt. Olive. Residents, for example, traveling near Chester M. Stephens Elementary School in Budd Lake may have noticed a recent change: The speed humps on the roadway have been removed. Karen Clint of Sunset Drive, the road that leads to CMS, shares her concerns at the August 5 Mt. Olive Twp. Council meeting. Her granddaughter is a student at CMS and she is fearful that more drivers will now speed on that road. Lots of people drive on that road—teachers, parents, bus drivers—and many do not obey the speed limit, she says. “It’s a straightaway of nothing but fastness,” says Clint. She says the speed signs on that road have stopped working and she would prefer that the speed bumps be reinstalled on the road. While some neighbors worry the change could encourage speeding, township officials say they have replaced the humps with pavement striping and will monitor traffic before deciding whether additional measures are needed. “The speed bumps leading to CMS are no longer there,” confirms Mt. Olive Twp. Business Administrator Andrew Tatarenko. “We have stripped the road and added fog lines which is another way to reduce speed.  We will monitor the area during the school year and if speed is still an issue, will revisit the speed humps. “We are collecting new data,” he shares at the meeting. The speed bumps on school property parking lots, like at Tinc Elementary in Flanders, are still in place. “To clarify, speed bumps in elementary parking lots are installed by the BOE, which is different than speed bumps installed on public roads,” explains Tatarenko. “There are currently no speed bumps installed on any township road.  The speed bumps were installed around 15 years ago and have all since been removed as we re-pave.  They were placed on Tinc Road, Sunset Drive, Carson Road, Alcrest Avenue and Park Place.  The Solar/electric Powered Traffic Speed signs are installed on various roads to improve road safety and to immediately alert drivers to slow down.” Mt. Olive Twp. Police Traffic Sgt. Bill Galop provides more details. “Currently, there are no roadways in Mt. Olive Township with speed tables,” Galop confirms. “Speed tables that had previously been utilized were removed due to concerns related to noise, maintenance and other operational considerations. Speed tables had previously been utilized to address speeding concerns and provide traffic calming, explains Galop. “Since their removal, the township has moved toward other traffic calming strategies that can influence driver behavior and reduce vehicle speeds without some of the disadvantages associated with vertical traffic calming devices,” says Galop. “When evaluating traffic calming options, the township utilizes methods recognized by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Traffic Calming Toolkit and selects measures based on the characteristics and needs of the individual roadway,” he says. Instead of speed tables, the township utilizes solar-powered radar speed feedback signs, also commonly referred to as driver feedback signs. “These signs display an approaching motorist’s speed, providing immediate feedback and encouraging voluntary compliance with the posted speed limit,” he says. The permanent solar-powered speed feedback signs are located on Netcong Road; Flanders-Bartley Road; Cloverhill Drive, northbound and southbound at Mountain View School; Park Place, northbound and southbound; Main Street; Corey Road, northbound toward the high school and southbound away from the high school; Wolfe Road; Sandshore Road, eastbound and westbound; and Connelly Avenue. The MOPD also has several temporary radar speed feedback signs that can be deployed throughout town “in response to a resident’s traffic or speeding complaint or deployed proactively by the Traffic Unit to study a location where a potential concern may exist.” Explains Galop: “The temporary signs serve two important purposes: They provide motorists with immediate feedback by displaying their speed and encouraging compliance with the posted speed limit; they collect and record traffic data, including vehicle speeds, traffic volumes and traffic patterns. “The Traffic Unit analyzes this information to determine whether a documented speeding or traffic concern exists, identify when and where problems are occurring and determine whether additional traffic-calming measures, engineering changes, education or targeted enforcement may be appropriate,” he says. These temporary devices will continue to be deployed throughout the township, he says, in response to community concerns. “The data collected from these studies is used to evaluate traffic conditions and determine whether additional traffic calming measures are warranted,” he explains. “Rather than applying the same solution to every roadway, the goal is to identify specific concerns through objective data and determine which measure, if any, is most appropriate for a particular location.” Back to speed tables.  How effective are they? “Speed tables can be effective at reducing vehicle speeds in their immediate vicinity; however, they are not necessarily the appropriate solution for every roadway,” says Galop. “Vertical traffic calming devices can have unintended impacts, including increased vehicle noise, ongoing maintenance requirements, complications with snow removal, impacts on larger vehicles and potential delays to emergency response,” notes Galop. “They can also result in motorists repeatedly slowing for the device and accelerating after passing it, rather than producing a consistent reduction in speed throughout the roadway. Depending on the roadway, they can also encourage some motorists to seek alternate routes, potentially shifting traffic concerns to neighboring streets.” Galop says lane markings, like on Sunset Drive, may be a more effective way to go. “The markings reduce the perceived width of the travel lanes and create a more defined roadway environment,” he explains. “Making the roadway feel narrower to motorists is intended to encourage drivers to naturally travel at a more appropriate speed without the potential disadvantages associated with physical speed tables. “A follow-up speed study will be conducted on Sunset Drive to evaluate vehicle speeds following the installation of the new markings and determine whether any additional traffic calming measures are necessary,” he says. When it comes to traffic safety, Galop says the township focuses on engineering, education and enforcement. “Engineering involves roadway design and traffic calming measures intended to influence driver behavior and encourage appropriate vehicle speeds,” he says. “The police department works

Kean Secures $750K for Mount Olive PD Expansion

On Wednesday, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) visited the Mount Olive Police Department. Congressman Kean secured $750,000 in a key House Appropriations bill for the Mount Olive PD through the Community Project Funding process, which will be used for the construction and renovation of the expanded Police Department facility.  “Our law enforcement officers deserve safe, modern facilities that allow them to effectively serve and protect our community,” said Congressman Kean. “I am proud to fight for $750,000 in federal funding to expand the Mount Olive Township Police Department and provide officers with the space, technology, and resources they need. This investment will strengthen public safety, support our officers, and help the department better serve a growing community.” “Congressman Tom Kean Jr. has been instrumental in securing federal funding for Mount Olive throughout his time in office, and I want to express my sincere appreciation for his continued support of our community,” said Mayor Joe Nicastro. “This funding is especially significant as the township moves forward with the expansion and renovation of the Police Department facilities at Town Hall. The investment will help enhance public safety and ensure our officers have the resources and facilities they need to serve our residents effectively.”  Mayor Nicastro continued, “We are grateful for Congressman Kean’s commitment to bringing federal dollars back to our local communities. His efforts directly benefit Mount Olive and its residents by supporting critical infrastructure and public safety projects that might otherwise place a greater burden on local taxpayers. His advocacy in Washington continues to make a meaningful difference here at home.” “Congressman Kean’s support of this funding opportunity has allowed us to move forward with much needed infrastructure upgrades to our public safety facilities,” said Police Chief Mike Cordileone. “With his assistance and support we were able to secure federal funding though the community project funding process that will ensure the next generation of Mount Olive officers have the resources they need to effectively and efficiently serve our community, making our community safer and stronger.” Since taking office, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. has secured nearly $22 million for law enforcement across New Jersey’s Seventh Congressional District through the Community Project Funding process, demonstrating a consistent, tangible commitment to backing the blue with real resources. He remains steadfast in ensuring local law enforcement officers receive the support and equipment necessary to keep our communities safe. In July, Congressman Kean announced that 18 Community Project Funding requests made by his office totaling $17,765,906, are included in key House funding bills for the upcoming fiscal year. Since taking office, Congressman Kean has brought back nearly $22 million in federal funding to local and county law enforcement.