National Night Out 2026
The Mount Olive Township Police Department is happy to announce another successful National night Out! We estimated over 2000 residents and neighbors were in attendance. The night was filled with fun activities including pony and hot air balloon rides, inflatables, cute adoptable puppies and dogs to cuddle, amazing music, and of course the fireworks! Thirty of our officers were in attendance ensuring that the event was a safe and fun filled event. There was a shared sense of friendship and community felt by all. We look forward to what next year’s event will bring!
Skully’s Free Costumes for All Returns This Fall
By Cheryl Conway Another year around the full moon—expected to rise Sept. 26 and Oct. 26, just in time for Halloween—who knows what might be lurking just beyond the shadows at 5 N. Mount Olive Road in Budd Lake, where Skully, the 12-foot skeleton stands tall. Fortunately, there’s no need to panic—Halloween is just around the corner and it is time for Skully to share his free costumes to anyone who is haunted by not having one for this year’s trick or treat. The third year for Skully’s Costume Closet expects to be a charm with more space and racks. Skully’s Costume Closet runs through November 1 and is completely free for the community. Anyone is invited to stop by to pick out costumes, accessories, makeup, or other Halloween items. Doors for Skully’s Costume Closet are expected to open on Tuesday, Sept. 1. Skully has been resting up and getting ready for the season. “Skully has been a bit under the weather, he’s awaiting a new look and makeup,” admits his owner Minerva Adams, organizer of the initiative. “We will be unveiling him soon!” While costumes galore will be the repertoire, a new enchanted theme awaits. “We are trying to change up our theme for the Halloween season,” shares Adams. “We will again provide the costumes, participate in the Trunk or Treat.” What is certain: The closet has expanded thanks to so many donations and growing supply of costumes every year. “It was one side of the garage last year, we had to rearrange, remove and clear the other side for more racks and space!” admits Adams. “The costume closet is in the garage structure in our backyard; we put in a patio and sidewalk to the side door of the garage.” Growing in popularity year after year, costumes come and go and get replenished, so no trick-or-treater goes without! “We have all sizes, from infants to adult, inflatables, accessories,” lists Adams. Men, women, children, infants, skeletons 😊 “We had a decent amount used last year but we had a steady flow of donations from the community and Once Upon a Child was extremely gracious by donating a huge amount of costumes,” adds Adams. The number of costumes donated each year remains a mystery, but some fear that Skully most likely knows. Donations are always welcome. “Donations can be any time, they can be left on the front porch or in the closet,” says Adams. “People can come by almost any time. In the evening hours we will turn the lights on. Mostly on the weekends at first and as we get closer, we’ll leave the lights on during the week. We will post times on the Skully Adams Facebook page.” Skully also enjoys seeing photos. “We love when we get sent photos or get tagged in posts,” says Adams. As far as helpers, the Adams’ family got it covered. “The kids helped clean up, hang and sort items,” says Adams. “Christian (husband) helped with the decorations this year.” Anyone who knows the Adams’ family—no, not the one on TV—is familiar about how they like to bring the community together around Halloween. Each year, this family tries to create something fun and inviting for all to enjoy. From the lemonade stands, pumpkin patches and free costumes, Skully stands tall as a fixture/mascot with its family’s altruistic gestures. “Halloween should be fun for everyone, and no one should have to skip out on dressing up because of the cost,” Adams says previously. As far as this year’s pumpkin patch, the community may have to wait to see if anything grows. “No pumpkin patch this year,” says Adams, “even though I did sneak some seeds in among my husband’s other plants in the front.” For announcements and updates, visit https://www.facebook.com/SkullyRAdams
Eagle Scout’s Sensory Wall Inspires Learning
By Cheryl Conway Students at Sandshore Elementary School in Budd Lake are returning to school this fall with a new sensory wall that will encourage hands-on learning, creativity and inclusion thanks to a local Eagle Scout and his project. For Akash Gopal, earning the rank of Eagle Scout wasn’t just about completing a final requirement—it was about creating something meaningful. The 18-year-old Mt. Olive resident and recent graduate of Mt. Olive High School, designed, funded and led the construction of the new sensory wall. With the help of about 20 other scouts—ranged 11 to 17 years old—and volunteers from his Troop 249, in Budd Lake, under Scoutmaster Day Dwyer, Gopal’s project is now complete, making sense as to how all if his hard work will pay off for years to come. “The sensory wall gives students a fun, interactive learning space that allows for sensory development and creativity for younger children,” says Gopal. “It will continue to benefit children for many years and supports students of all abilities.” Involved in Scouting for the past 10 years, Gopal started in Troop 312 and later moved to Troop 249 to complete his journey as an Eagle Scout on June 4. He is proud to have completed the Sensory Board Project before taking flight to Purdue University this fall. Planning for his began in late 2025; construction and installation of the permanent wall was completed in June, he details. “The project was completed with the support of Troops 249 and 312, along with many generous donors and volunteers,” he says. “The project required several months of planning and fundraising, along with approximately 85+ volunteer hours to complete.” The creation of a sensory wall for Sandshore Elementary School “gives students, especially those with sensory processing needs and other special needs, a hands-on way to dive into interactive activities,” describes Gopal. “I planned and managed different stages of the project, including fundraising, budgeting, purchasing materials, organizing volunteers and looking over the construction processes of the wall.” When he realized that the school was lacking a hands-on-tool for all students, Gopal brainstormed to create his project. “I have always enjoyed working with children through volunteering and mentoring,” says Gopal. “When I noticed that none of the elementary schools in my town had a sensory wall, I wanted to create something that would make a lasting difference for students, especially those with special needs.” Gopal is so thankful for all the support of his Scouts, volunteers and community. “I was supported by fellow Scouts from Troops 249 and 312, my family, friends, adult leaders, generous donors, Sandshore Elementary School and Superintendent Mrs. Bangia,” he says. “Funding was generously provided through donations and support from Sandshore Elementary School. “The project has been completed, and I am grateful for the tremendous support from the community, donors, volunteers, and everyone who contributed their time and resources,” he adds. “I would like to thank everyone who supported this project, especially my fellow Scouts, Scout leaders, family, friends, donors, volunteers and the staff at Sandshore Elementary School,” he says. “Their encouragement and support made this project possible, and I am honored to leave behind something that will benefit future generations of students.” While the sensory wall will serve students for years to come, the experience also left a lasting impression on Gopal. “Completing this project was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” realizes Gopal. “It taught me valuable lessons in leadership and teamwork. Knowing that the sensory wall will positively impact children for years to come makes all of the hard work worth it. “I was so happy when the school reached out to me saying how the children would use the board during their breaks and it was working well,” he concludes.
Mt. Olive Schools Ready to Shine in New School Year
By Cheryl Conway As students and faculty return to classrooms this fall, the Mt. Olive Township School District is building on a year of academic growth and expanding opportunities for success with stronger instructional programs, enhanced student support, facility improvements and new initiatives designed to help every student thrive and staff members to shine. School in Mt. Olive was set to open Aug. 31, to faculty and students were to report to their first half day on Sept. 2. From its curriculum, programs, technology and other initiatives, the MOTSD is ready to take on its 2026-2027 season. “For 2026–2027, the focus is not on starting over or continually introducing new initiatives,” explains MOTSD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Sumit Bangia. “It is about taking the work already underway and implementing it more consistently and effectively across the district. That is also consistent with the second year of our 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, which continues to guide our work around Wellness, Student Achievement, Finance/Facilities/Technology, and Governance.” Adds Bangia, “We are looking forward to a great 2026–2027 school year!” Last school year was effective, and this year the plan is to progress with some of the ongoing initiatives. “One of our most important areas of progress during the 2025–2026 school year was our elementary academic programming, particularly in mathematics and English language arts,” says Bangia. “In mathematics, we continued the implementation of Conquer Math, which focuses on developing students’ conceptual understanding of mathematics rather than simply memorizing procedures,” she details. “Teachers have received sustained professional development around these instructional practices, including the use of concrete models, visual representations, mathematical reasoning, and consistent mathematical language across grade levels. Our fourth- and fifth-grade teachers have now completed two years of Conquer Math training, while our K–3 teachers completed their first year.” The district has “been encouraged by the results.” Its elementary mathematics growth data showed districtwide median progress toward annual typical growth increase from 104% in 2024–2025 to 121% in 2025–2026, “with every elementary grade level exceeding typical growth,” she says. “While there is always more work to do, those results are an encouraging indication that the instructional changes occurring in our classrooms are making a difference.” The district also completed its first year of implementation of its Benchmark ELA program in grades K–5, which provides greater consistency in rigorous, standards-aligned reading and writing instruction. “The first year was focused on building teacher familiarity with the program and establishing common instructional practices,” details Bangia. “That work will continue this year as teachers deepen their use of the resources and we continue evaluating student performance.” During the 2025/2026 school year, the MOTSD continued strengthening its systems of academic intervention and support. “Our goal is to identify student needs earlier, use student performance data more effectively, and provide targeted intervention, enrichment, or extension based upon those needs,” says Bangia. It also continued to provide students with a wide range of opportunities outside of the traditional classroom through athletics, extracurricular activities, STEAM programming and summer opportunities. One summer highlight was the first year for its Youth Leadership in Public Safety Academy, which brought together 29 middle school students and 12 public-safety agencies for a week of hands-on learning and exposure to careers in public safety. Its summer STEAM Camp also continued to provide engaging learning opportunities for students, with additional program choices offered this year. What’s to come for 2026/2027 At the elementary level, the district plans to continue with Conquer Math and Benchmark ELA. “Teachers will continue receiving professional development and instructional support, and we will use student data to determine where additional attention or intervention is needed,” says Bangia. Mt. Olive Middle School students can expect a restructured daily schedule to provide students with a dedicated 30-minute ACCESS period every day. ACCESS stands for Academic Support, Connections, Counseling, Enrichment, and Student Services. Previously, students had two 35-minute periods each week for many of these purposes, explains Bangia. T “The new structure creates time every day for targeted academic intervention and enrichment, counseling and related services, relationship-building with staff, and proactive social-emotional support,” explains Bangia. “It also allows many of these services to occur without routinely pulling students from core academic classes.” Also, regular classes will be standardized at 47 minutes, resulting in a reduction of only four minutes of instructional time per class over the entire week while creating a 30-minute support period every day. “We believe this is an important evolution in how we support middle school students.,” notes Bangia. “Instead of trying to fit intervention, counseling, enrichment and other supports around the academic schedule, we are intentionally building time for those services into the school day.” The district also has faculty on its radar as it will continue the Leading Edge Academy, which is designed to help develop employees who are interested in future leadership opportunities. “The goal is to build leadership capacity from within our own organization by giving participants greater exposure to the work of school and district leadership, opportunities for mentoring and professional growth, and authentic experiences that help prepare them for future leadership roles,” says Bangia. Staff and faculty can also expect to be recognized with a new initiative: Shining Star Moments staff recognition program. “The idea is simple: Recognize specific actions by employees that bring our Strategic Plan and district goals to life,” says Bangia. “A Shining Star Moment does not have to be something enormous. It might be a staff member helping a student feel a stronger sense of belonging, a team trying a new instructional practice, or someone finding a better way to use district time or resources. “Staff members will be able to nominate themselves or colleagues, and each month we will recognize a Shining Star recipient from every building and department,” the school leader details. “The intent is to make sure that the outstanding work occurring throughout our district does not go unnoticed and to reinforce a culture where people recognize one another for making a meaningful difference.” Another significant change for this school year
Kindergartners Begin School Year with Free Bags & Supplies
By Cheryl Conway Shopping for school supplies and backpacks is always a treat for parents and their kids, but those with kindergarteners starting this school year, The Education Association of Mt. Olive has got it covered! Thanks to the EAMO, 350 kindergartners throughout the Mt. Olive Township School District will be receiving a new backpack filled with essential supplies to start their journey as a student in Mt. Olive. The initiative—Kindergarten Bag of Success—has been made possible through the New Jersey Education Association Families and Schools Together Work For Children (FAST) Grant. With the Kindergarten Bag of Success, all students will start their year off by having all the tools they need to be prepared for a fabulous year of learning. “The Education Association of Mt. Olive is providing the backpacks to help strengthen the connection between our kindergarten classrooms and families,” says Malani Leitzel of Hopatcong, who serves as EAMO’s PEP/FAST Grant coordinator. “The bags contain resources that connect to what students are learning and using in school, giving families an opportunity to continue and support that learning at home. “Another important goal is to ensure that all families have access to the same materials and resources to support their children’s learning,” says Leitzel. “This initiative helps build a stronger partnership between educators and families while promoting equitable access to learning materials beyond the classroom.” Not the first time a backpack donation initiative has been done in MOTSD, the initiative was previously implemented in 2019 at Chester M. Stephens with Lisa Lamendola through a PEP (Public Education Partnership) Grant, shares Leitzel. However, it has not been done since 2019. “What began as a simple idea to provide paper-and-pencil materials has grown into a community-wide initiative supporting Mt. Olive’s youngest learners,” explains Leitzel. “The idea was inspired by something that had been done in the past, which EAMO Co-President Lisa Lamendola suggested bringing back. I took that idea and put it into motion. I reached out to the PTO presidents at all four elementary schools to get their thoughts and feedback, and they were all excited about the opportunity. “This year, I applied for a FAST Grant to bring the initiative back and strengthen the connection between what our kindergarten teachers are using and teaching in the classroom and the families we serve,” she explains. “The goal is to provide families with resources that support and extend the learning taking place in kindergarten.” The EAMO purchased all of the items included in the 350 backpacks provided to all four elementary schools throughout the Mt. Olive school district. “All four Mt. Olive elementary schools were selected to participate in this initiative,” Leitzel says. “The goal is to provide kindergarten students and families, particularly those who are new to the district, with an opportunity to build a positive relationship between families and school staff from the very beginning. “By providing materials that connect directly to what students are learning in the classroom, the initiative helps families feel welcomed, supported and connected to their child’s education and school community,” she adds. The Kindergarten Bags of Success are red and black, and each is filled with materials designed to support and reinforce the skills students are learning in the classroom. Each bag includes: Laminated letters for word building, letter recognition and letter sounds; alphabet practice folder and worksheets; kindergarten workbook; dry-erase sleeve; math counters; number and math practice folder; play dough; two dry-erase markers and a dry eraser; crayons; two pencils and a pencil grip; scissors; pencil pouch; water bottle; and stickers. “These materials are intended to give every kindergarten family access to hands-on learning resources that can be used at home to reinforce classroom learning,” stress Leitzel. The drive ensures that no kindergarten child will start the school year without these tools for success! “This initiative benefits students and their families by providing hands-on learning materials that directly connect to what kindergarten students are learning in the classroom,” explains Leitzel. “These resources give children opportunities to practice important early literacy and math skills at home in a fun and engaging way. The materials are designed to be used throughout the school year, allowing families to continue reinforcing classroom learning at home. As the year progresses, kindergarten teachers will also be able to provide families with additional ideas, activities, and ways to use the materials to support their child’s learning. “The initiative also ensures that all kindergarten families have access to the same learning materials, helping to provide equitable opportunities for students regardless of the resources they may already have at home,” she adds. “Most importantly, the Bags of Success help strengthen the connection between school and home,” continues Leitzel. “Families can see and participate in what their children are learning, while students can reinforce classroom skills through activities at home. For families who are new to the district, this initiative creates an early, positive connection with their child’s teachers and school community.” The total grant amount for the Bags of Success initiative is $10,500. It is funded by the EAMO, the staff union of MOTSD and is supported by union dues. “The grant we secured for the project is funded through EAMO’s union dues, which support initiatives that benefit students, families and the school community,” she adds. Looking back at how it all came together, Leitzel is truly thankful for all community effort and support. “Once the initiative was approved by NJEA, the materials began arriving,” Leitzel details. “EAMO members worked behind the scenes to laminate, cut, package and collate the materials so that each backpack would be ready for a kindergarten family. “On July 20, the initiative became a true community event,” she explains. “More than 45 people came together at the high school, including EAMO members, PTO members, a Girl Scout troop and MORT of Mt. Olive. Everyone worked together to assemble and package the 350 Bags of Success.” Plant a seed and watch it blossom. “What started as an idea has grown into a community effort supported by the Education Association
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
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.