> BROCK FARMS ? TURN THE PAGE FOR CHRISTMAS MAGIG1 — HOME & GARDEN WORLD - jt^ tw B rockFanrisrco5vi E THURSDAY, NOV. 10, 2016 Sentinel gmnews.com North Brunswick • South Brunswick Gas station at Wawa denied for Cozzens Lane By JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer he addition o f fueling stations to the existing Wawa convenience store on T Route 27 and Cozzens Lane was unanimously denied by members of the North Brunswick Zoning Board o f Adjust­ ment, citing detrimental effects to the sur­ rounding neighborhood, traffic and safety concerns. North Brunswick Partners, LLC pro­ vided testimony during a special Zoning Board meeting on Oct. 25 regarding the ex­ isting store located in the C -l commercial zone, which would have been demolished and replaced with a new, 5,051-square-foot store and six islands with 12 fueling stations for gasoline and diesel fuel. “We want to stay in North Brunswick. W e want to stay here. W e like the location. W e like the store. There’s a definite need for more fueling. There is not a gas station in the immediate area,” Timothy Prime, the applicant’s attorney, said during his open­ ing remarks. SCOTT FRIEDMAN Residents, however, took issue with the Yakira Lockspelser, left, samples her dough while baking with her friend Adina Leiblich, right, during the Middlesex County Great fact that seven other gas stations are located Challah Bake, held at Congregation B’Nai Tikvah in North Brunswick on Nov. 3. For more photos, see page 6. within a mile’s radius of this particular lo­ cation; traffic is already troublesome; and residences nearby have wells, which caused First building approved for destroyed warehouse site concerns about possible contamination. In terms of safety, site engineer Mark By JENNIFER AMATO Board members unanimously approved fire, with a valuation o f $1.4 million. The W hitaker ensured residents that the fiber­ Staff Writer the site plan for a 300,000-square-foot total revenue going forward is expected to glass piping and tanking would be protected building for the owners’ own warehouse be $28-$30 million. little more than a year since a mas­ by a double-walled system that has me­ distribution business. Currently, there are nine monitoring sive nine-alarm fire destroyed one chanical leak detection. He said that an elec­ Rich Cifelli, a representative of the wells located on the property, according to million square feet of warehouse tronic overfill protection alarm activates A owner, said the owner is currently operating Cifelli, who said the original owner, space in North Brunswick, construction on when the gas tanks are 90 percent full and out o f a 180,000-square-foot space on Cran- Okonite, is handling the cleanup. He said the property is set to begin. shuts them o ff at 95 percent capacity. bury Road in South Brunswick, but hopes within three months only one monitoring Representatives of 1600 Livingston “There’s no chance of it not being de­ to move back to North Brunswick by June w ell should remain. He said the expectation Holdings LLC came before the North tected and leaking through the second wall,” 2017. was to receive footing permits within four Brunswick Planning Board on Nov. 1 to dis­ he said. He said the space cost $660,000 per year weeks. cuss the first steps in approving the initial for 670,000 square feet o f space prior to the building to be rebuilt on the site. (Continued on page 8) (Continued on page 8) FREE AIR CONDITIONING Expires 11/16/16 With A Purchase Of Any Heating System Electrical Lie# 12157 • Plumbing Lie# 11925 • HVAC Lie# 880 2 SENTINEL NS GREATER MEDIA NEWSPAPERS • www.gmnews.com November 10, 2016 ' /7 vi: >fS 1 “j i ;MRaur-p -- s | f g [ f f l (LK f t S' t t i P) f i Q £ i u [ & |L.. Jl jyjpS ■ CTTuTw 1 III 1rr»Tv nnTlHriiF nXfiJFt W|yITcijTii 9 Df;l IT.' M CHOICES! * New Jersey’s 1 121877 i j % Largest Selection Ifia B lJ of Artificial ffljjffl'J lr Christmas Trees (Prelit & Unlit Up To 12 Ft.) FREEHOLD LOCATION ONLY f ^ THANTONYPLACE 4189 ROUTE 9 NORTH ONE MILE NORTH OF FREEHOLD RACEWAY MALL , ANYWHERE! ! BROCKa a a » am a a a** FARMS3•» a a a a * aa aa a aa JA O P E N 7 D A Y S 8 :0 0 am to 6 :00 pm November 10, 2016 GREATER MEDIA NEWSPAPERS • www.gmnews.com NS SENTINEL 3 Female soldier crosses cultural boundaries around the world By JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer :■ t m i ollowing a dream that began when she was in the eighth grade, Sarah Anne Levy is now a 27-year-old prominent Fmember o f the United States military — and an influential woman who has helped bridge gender gaps in Afghanistan. Just over 10 years ago. Levy began the process of becoming a military officer by entering the U.S. M ilitary Academ y (U S M A ) at West Point. “ This process includes 47 months o f ac­ ademic, military and physical training to prepare graduates for a career of profes­ sional excellence and service to the nation as commissioned leaders o f character dedi­ Levy shakes hands with President Barack Obama after receiving her diploma from cated to the values o f duty, honor [and] West Point. country,” the North Brunswick native said. Levy’s first duty station was Fort Riley, Kansas, as the maintenance control officer (M CO) for a cavalry squadron from 2010- 12. “When we deployed, I was appointed PHOTOS COURTESY OF SARAH LEVY Female Engagement Team (FET) officer in Sarah Levy of North Brunswick receives her diploma from the U.S. Military Academy at charge. FETs are tools for commanders to West Point. engage the population o f a community; since male soldiers could not interact with female locals due to cultural traditions, the FE T would step in and communicate with women and children. “ The goal o f our team was to discuss im­ portant topics [w ith] the women that we could then bring back to develop programs helpful to the local community. Our team consisted of women with various back­ grounds who were chosen for their confi­ dence. competence and adaptability to social interactions: a medic, a mechanic, a military police sergeant, a linguist and me.” she said. Throughout her time in Afghanistan, she said she and her fellow officers took part in several air and ground insertions to serve as enablers to their squadron. When they were not on patrol, the team would assist with personnel searches at the local Women’s Household birds are regarded as pets. Center. “ Due to our- constant interaction with the During an unexpectedly funny moment, women at the Women's Center, my team got the team was on a mission during which an inside look at the life o f Afghan women they slept on bales of hay under the stars and customs. We tried wedding desserts and w oke up unsettlingly to chickens — made from gelatin, oil and powdered sugar with unusually long necks — mere inches as well as discussed married life far more from them. intimately than I ever imagined the local “The ANA (Afghan National Army) Levy said the best part of her team’s mission in Afghanistan was meeting local children women would. staff regarded me not as though I were a and seeing their curiosity. “ When our team entered the local houses woman or a man, but a female American o f­ pieces o f equipment valued at more than aide-de-camp, I liaised with the British em­ made of hardened mud, we experienced ficer, so they were not restricted from talk­ $26 million. She was second in command bassy to ensure a smooth transition between Pashtunwali, the code o f hospitality that in­ ing with me due to their strict customs responsible for the training, discipline, qual­ two foreign general officers and relayed my cluded locals offering their homes for shel­ regarding social interactions based on gen­ ity of life, administration, professional de­ boss’ intent to the Division Staff to increase ter as w ell as chickens, pomegranates and der. These interactions gave me additional velopment and combat readiness of 147 synchronization,” she said. chai for dinner. When the male soldiers insights into Afghan culture since I could soldiers and their families. As a transportation officer, Levy then could not enter the homes due to female more easily observe the others engage in “ Due to my performance as an executive studied at the Combined Logistics Captain presence, our team would be responsible for conversation about travel, marriage, work officer and prior performance as MCO, I Career Course (CLCCC) at Fort Lee, Vir­ internal security," she said. and the national sport called Buzkashi,” she was selected to interview for an aide-de- ginia, in 2015 to prepare for command of Calling her team “brave,” she recalled said. camp position [in 2014], I was chosen by support companies or to serve as multi­ one experience in particular when her me­ Upon Levy’s return to Fort Riley in one of the first United Kingdom (U.K.) ex­ functional logistics branch officers. chanic was pulling guard duty and made ad­ 2013, she became an executive officer for a change brigadiers to be his new aide-de- justments to the team’s location as they distribution company, responsible for the camp to assist with the transition between (Continued on page 12) entered the seating area so she had better maintenance and accountability of 180 visibility o f her sector.