This is a digital issue of The Rossmoor News published during the pandemic shutdown. VOLUME 57 / No. 4 Monroe Township, New Jersey APRIL 2021 What pandemic stories do you have to tell? By Diane England how to steer safely through It was my second Saturday it. And indeed, some likely afternoon of living and work- feared that they’d die before ing in northern Italy. I found any light appeared at the myself lost and headed into a tunnel’s end. mountain tunnel while driving My Italian tunnel episode an unfamiliar car. I knew that was a wake-up call. I real- by law, I had to turn on my ized that in a foreign culture, headlights. However, it was one can not safely sleepwalk too dark to see how to ac- through life. Instead, it was complish this. So, alone in necessary to anticipate po- that tunnel, and struggling to tential problems or catastro- make out the road before phes, and then, to take ac- me, I found myself thinking: tions to diminish their likeli- Could I die in this tunnel — hood. Otherwise, one’s life even before my Italian ad- might be snuffed out need- venture has had a chance to lessly. really begin? Sadly, I saw this happen to I remember this incident as some young American Air I also remember that, in our Force members. They appar- pandemic journey we began ently believed that they could just over a year ago, we all safely emulate how the Ital- Starting the colorful spring season entered a dark tunnel. We ians drove on the mountain not only didn’t know how roads around us. They’d long was the tunnel that we been told why this was not The greatest generation had to navigate, but we also the case. For some reason, lacked the vision to know (Continued on page 3) By Ken Thomas When he said they played day Night Football, a micro- After retirement, I music from the Big Band era, wave, McDonalds, duct tape, searched for my music I almost swallowed my trum- Wal-Mart or personal com- Mayor Dalina to the rescue! again. Before re-activating pet mouth piece. I loved Big puters. Their songs from the Band music. From the Monroe Township the Township Council are my trumpet, I had to activate Big Band era will be played NEWS, statement dated Feb. matching volunteers with a my lip, so practice became a The following week, I went forever, rivaling Rock and 25, 2021 specific senior or other indi- priority. Three weeks later to their rehearsal. Twenty Roll for music greatness. We Do you know a Monroe vidual – without access to after a local concert, a friend musicians were seated in also owe a lot to the Baby Township senior, without technology or family support introduced me to a trombone band formation, playing Boomers. As part of the technology resources or fam- -- to help navigate the State’s player from the band. It is a “Little Brown Jug.” Every mu- “Let’s Dance” band, I was ily support, who needs assis- COVID-19 vaccine appoint- well-known fact that brass sician had gray hair. I had proud to perform a musical tance navigating the State’s ment system. instrumentalists attract oth- found my music, “Field of (Continued on page 3) COVID-19 vaccine appoint- Residents with scarce re- ers of their kind; them that Dreams.” The band re- ment system? Read on. sources who need assis- use spit valves together, stay hearsed about 15 songs that “In the absence of an ef- tance are invited to contact together. The trombone man night. I recognized all the fective State telephone hot- Eileen Biennas in the asked me if I’d like to try out tunes. The soloists were line, Monroe Township Mayor’s office, at 732-521- for a new band that was great, the saxophone section Mayor Stephen Dalina and 4400, ext. 114.” forming called “Let’s Dance.” stunning, my trombonist friend boned it and the band would have made Glenn Miller smile. Note, the trum- Side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine pet player next to me was 91 By Kaytie Olshefski, BSN, RN-BC years old. They won a war. America’s The Pfizer and Moderna More public sites have been the COVID vaccine, whether economic growth in their vaccines for COVID-19 were opened as more vaccine Pfizer or Moderna, have re- years will never be equaled. given emergency approval in doses have been received by ported varied side effects. They set the standard for This spectacular amaryllis, December 2020. Following a the state. Johnson & John- There are some people who American values and work a harbinger of spring, is phased approach, the first son has received emergency do not experience any symp- ethic. Jeepers creepers, they vibrant enough to brighten doses of the vaccine are be- use authorization for its toms from either the first or did it all without HBO, Mon- anyone’s day. ing administered to people COVID-19 vaccine. This vac- second dose, and this in- with the highest level of pa- cine became available in cludes not having a sore tient contact and residents of early March. arm. Typically, the common long-term care facilities. People who have received side effects that many people have encountered were sore- BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR ness or pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, If possible, park your vehicles in your Inside this issue chills, fever, muscle and/or joint aches. Swollen lymph carport, driveway, or garage. nodes might occur on the Bits & Pieces .................. 2 New Neighbors ............. 11 If you must park on the street, please same side as the injection Bob’s Almanac ............... 4 RCAI Meeting ................. 2 site. Symptoms may be in- do not block driveways, mailboxes, creased from the second Clubs ........................... 12 Recycling Information ... 17 dose of either the Pfizer and fire zones, or yellow curbs, and be Culinary Corner ............ 11 Religious Organizations . 12 Moderna vaccine, meaning considerate of your neighbors your temperature could be Governors’ Meeting ........ 2 Transportation Tidbits ... 17 higher than from what you who might need to park by Month in Pictures .......... 10 Website Notice ................ 2 experienced with the first their Manor entrance. (Continued on page 15) 2 APRIL 2021 The Rossmoor NEWS Bits & Pieces Sue Ortiz Well, it’s April again. One watched a ton of TV shows year ago, give or take a by night. week or two, this all started, While we were home, we and it’s still going strong. sorted papers and cleared February 25, 2021 Amore Homes, LLC. She talked about the December Let’s not get maudlin with out filing cabinets, then also informed the board that 31, 2020 pre-audit finan- statistics and numbers, shredded all the junk. We The RCAI Board of Gover- Bob Buskett of the Mainte- cials and was pleased to though. We see enough of cleaned out drawers and nors Zoom meeting was nance Department would announce that it appears that on the news. Let’s look closets then tossed the cast- called to order at 9 a.m. on email a form to each Mutual that 2020 will end with a at some of the little, yet posi- offs to the curb. Our houses Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, by asking whether or not their surplus of approximately tive, things that transpired were never so clean! Daniel Jolly, president. The Mutual wanted to participate $300,000 as anticipated, during this pandemic. Some of us discovered Zoom meeting was open to in the project with Amore mainly due to the mild 2020 Whether we physically You Tube and learned new owners and stockholders Homes. winter. She also informed went to work, worked from skills, while some just who wished to participate. the board that after 30.9” of home, were retired, or other- watched cat videos. The following resolutions snow in 2021, it appears wise just not venturing out, I, for one, kept Sam’s Club The Minutes of the Board were approved by the board: that the Snow Control Cost almost everyone had that in business by ordering tons of Governors meeting on 1.Reorganization of Men’s, Center is not over budget stay-the-heck-home feeling. of peanuts to keep my back- January 21, 2021 were ap- Ladies 18 Hole and and should end the year During lockdown, many of yard squirrels happily fed. I’m proved 18-0. Women’s 9 Hole Golf closer to break even. us learned what Zoom is and sure others ordered pet food Groups; how to use it. Dogs, kids, for their own fur babies, too. Jane Balmer, RCAI Gen- 2. Authorization to Proceed Participant questions were and automobiles all zoom We connected, and in eral Manager, announced with the 2021 Paving Project; answered regarding the (dogs do zoomies, Mazdas some instances reconnected, that based on the review of and snow removal procedures go zoom… zoom…), but only with our friends and family unit costs, anticipated com- 3. Authorization to Proceed and when the common facili- kids came away smarter via social media or good, old- pletion schedules and suc- with the 2021 Concrete Side- ties might reopen. (hopefully). fashioned telephone calls. cessful execution of similar walk/Curb Replacement and Some of us learned that We talked to our neighbors projects, FWH Associates Storm Inlet Reconstruction There was no further busi- we can work from home for a … from a safe distance. recommended that the 2021 Project ness for the Board to discuss while, if necessary. Restaurants weren’t busi- Concrete Replacement Pro- and the meeting was ad- We all wore masks.