PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage PAID EDDM Retail Monroe Twp., NJ 08831 VOLUME 55 / No. 5 Monroe Township, New Jersey May 2019 Fire Chief Gasiorowski tells how to prevent house fires By Carol De Haan now,” he urged. House fires happen. “Have working smoke Over the years, a few house alarms,” said the Chief. Mon- fires have happened in Ross- roe is a battery replacement moor. They were mostly pre- community, which means that ventable. Now the question is, if the homeowner will provide “How to prevent them in the the batteries, a member from future?” our Fire Department will install We heard some excellent them. “We don’t want any resi- suggestions from an expert on dent toppling off a five-foot the subject, Monroe Township ladder,” he said. Batteries District #3 Fire Chief Adminis- should be replaced twice a trator Peter Gasiorowski, who year, and tested once a month spoke to a virtually standing- to be sure they are still work- room-only crowd in the Ball- ing. The Fire Department’s room last March 27. battery replacement program “First, get rid of your obso- begins in October of each year lete thermostats,” was his rec- and runs through December. ommendation. The Chief “Pay attention when you’re Members of the Rossmoor Veterans group joined firefighters at our nearby District passed around two charred cooking,” he added. Stay in #3 -- Centre Drive Firehouse for a “Wear Red Friday,” ceremony last April 5. The ac- thermostats, showing us how the kitchen and use a timer to ronym R.E.D. stands for “Remember Everyone Deployed,” and serves to remind older models are prone to help you stay aware of what people of our military heroes overseas and to tell them that we remember them. overheat and start house fires. you’re doing. The Chief Many people support this movement each Friday by posting pictures of themselves “If you have the original ther- pointed out that 66% of home in red clothing on Facebook or Twitter. mostats, the LIN-Stats and fires start from cooking and, Wear RED Friday began in Canada in 2005 through the efforts of two wives of ser- PSG models, replace them (Continued on page 2) vicemen who were deployed overseas. Military organizations and military families have joined this movement which has spread to the United States. The Rossmoor Vets and our firefighters are pleased to lend their support to such a worthy cause. Let’s all welcome the new pastor of the Community Church, the Honor our war dead at the Rev. Robin Bacon Hoffman Memorial Day service conducting interviews, the Pastor Search Committee of By Diane England another article I wrote for this quietly be recalling—likely as the Rossmoor Community Some may envision Me- issue of the Rossmoor News. individuals who once had their Church (RCC) concluded morial Day as merely a holi- Members of the Interfaith backs, as well as people who that the best candidate for day to see a parade and en- Council (there are represen- regularly exhibited courage this community church going joy a cookout, but hopefully, tatives from the Catholic So- and honor. Yes, they may still forward was someone al- most in our community rec- ciety, the Jewish Congrega- be haunted by the ghosts of ready known to them and the ognize this is a day of re- tion, and RCC) certainly buddies who will remain in congregation. So, perhaps membrance for those who hope many civilians as well their minds forever young. So it’s also not surprising that lost their lives fighting in wars as veterans will attend this really, wouldn’t it be nice to when Reverend Robin Bacon on behalf of our country; fur- tribute to our war dead. That turn out for this service and Hoffman was called to be the thermore, they desire to said, if you are a civilian who honor your neighbors who are church’s new pastor on honor these men and has not experienced the survivors of war as well? Pastor Robin, who loves March 24, she said that it felt women. Assuming this is horns of war or lost a loved I hope you’ll agree this is a the mountains of the like a homecoming. you, you’ll be pleased that one to the battlefield, please noble way to spend part of American West, stands Pastor Robin (as she has the Interfaith Council will remember that probably the Memorial Day holiday. before Skalkaho Falls in told us all to call her) was the once again hold a Memorial most war veterans in atten- And remember, you’ll still the Sapphire Mountain church’s primary guest Day Service on Monday, dance will have lost one or have time for a cookout after- preacher from June through May 27, at 1:30 p.m. in the Range of western Montana. more buddies whom they’ll ward. December 2018, following Meeting House. Interfaith the retirement of the Rev. Dr. representatives from the By Diane England Dierdre Thomson at the end Rossmoor Community You recognize this name, of April, 2018. Prior to the Church (RCC) have planned you say? That’s not surpris- arrival of this church’s former this program, with a little help ing. After all, after reviewing minister, however, Pastor from our friends including many resumes, going out to Robin served as the interim Dan McOlvin of the veterans hear candidates preach, and (Continued on page 23) Group and Janet Wilson, the director of the Rossmoor Chorus. The RCC representatives Inside this issue are thrilled to announce that this year’s guest speaker will be the church’s new pastor, Bits & Pieces .................. 2 Maintenance ................. 22 The Reverend Robin Bacon Bob’s Almanac ............. 11 Musings and Memories 16 Hoffman (whom you have Clubs ........................... 18 RCAI Meetings................ 2 permission to call Pastor Culinary Corner ............ 17 Religion ......................... 22 Robin henceforth). If this name sounds familiar, that’s Governors’ Meeting ........ 2 Sports ........................... 23 A crane just hanging out on the Golf course bridge. because Pastor Robin has Cranes are some of the largest birds in North America Health Care Center ..... 22 Transportation Tidbits ... 26 stood in this church’s pulpit and they have some of the widest wingspans of all the Landscaping ................. 22 Your Garden ................. 25 many times. In fact, you can birds on the North American continent. find out more about her in Photo by Tom Teaman 2 MAY 2019 The Rossmoor NEWS Bits & Pieces Sue Ortiz Yesterday I spent the en- trashed, donated, or back on tire day purging my clothes the rod. Now there is room closets and dressers. Every- for everything to move and thing out, and about half was not get wrinkled. Now I can The Rossmoor Community time and give tours of the There were no resolutions going back in. That was the see what I have. The “third Association, Inc. (“RCAI”) Common Facilities to pro- or policy changes to be dis- plan. rod” shelf is also cleared, Board of Governors meeting spective buyers. cussed by the board. I live in an old house, built and I can see my shoe pock- on April 18, 2019, was called in the 1880s, so closets are ets at the back of the closet to order at 9 a.m. by Mr. House fires scarce. I do have one of again. No longer do my Daniel Jolly, President. those old closets that are shoes live under the chair. (Continued from page 1) about four feet wide by 15 I can now stand in my Ms. Sidna Mitchell, Council worse yet, fully half of all inches deep with eight hooks “walk-in” closet again! Chair, Rossmoor Community house fire deaths come from along the back wall. It is hid- Another sorted closet is Church (“RCC”), and a guest unattended cooking. den behind my dresser, and I reassigned for seasonal of the board’s reported that If you see smoke coming store things in it: collectibles, clothes and jackets. I had due to the retirement of Rev- from an oven, turn it off and books, and toys from my been running out of hangers, erend Dr. Dierdre Thompson, close the door. If on the stove- childhood (more collectibles). and was resigned to pleading the RCC formed a Pastor top, turn it off and put a lid on Another closet is a walk-in. It the store cashiers to let me Search Committee. The the pot. Deprive a potential fire has a rod on either side with keep the ones that came with Committee recently called of oxygen. a long shelf spanning from the new stuff I buy. Now that Reverend Robin Bacon Hoff- Loose clothing can be a fire side to side above both. I have tons of extra huggable man to be the church’s next hazard when a person is cook- More precisely: it’s a stand-in hangers from the purge, pastor. Ms. Mitchell ex- ing. Fifteen percent of house closet. I can walk in – turn those store hangers can be plained that the Reverend is fire deaths are attributed to Fire Chief Administrator around – and walk out. That tossed. no stranger to the RCC. She loose clothing that caught fire. Peter Gasiorowski. is, when the floor isn’t cov- On to the dressers. Once had served the church most Relying on a home fire extin- ered in bags of holiday deco- again, I remove everything recently as a guest preacher guisher can be an iffy proposi- rations and shoes, and the and place it all on my bed. and previously as an interim tion.