Barbecue Highlights Senior Center Makeover

DENNISVILLE – People power was on display at the Dennis Township Senior Center during the annual barbeque Aug. 20. Volunteers from the Senior Center, big and small corporations and government officials came together as one body to put on a festive banquet for all.
The heart of that body is Rosemarie Essig, director of the Dennis Township Senior Center. Because of the downturn in the economy that has hit municipal governments as well as individuals, there was some doubt the very popular annual barbeque would even take place. Essig’s budget had been cut and the usual catering was out of the question. But she remained undeterred.
“We couldn’t have it catered so I decided to make it all myself,” Essig said. There was macaroni salad, pulled pork, coleslaw, green bean salad and root beer baked beans. Essig even made the hamburgers, which were grilled by Dennis Township Committeeman Frank Germanio, with the help of his co-chef and son Thomas, 9 years old.
For dessert there was a gorgeous cake and cookies from Shop Rite. A few weeks before the event, Essig contacted Lowes and Smeltzers asking for help with an outside makeover. “Not only did they donate shrubbery, trees and plants, they also sent volunteer workers,” Essig said. “Smeltzers donated stones, river rocks and mulch.”
“My husband Paul is my angel,” said Essig. All the work was done by the volunteers such as, Alice Dahlman, Betty Lafferty, Flo and Joe Jones, Leo and Ruth Rainey, Carm McLaughlin and Jennifer Germanio. “We did it to keep costs down,” declared Essig as she thanked the hardworking volunteers.
County Surrogate Sue Sheppherd brought plenty of brochures relating to Wills Estates and end of life legal issues. Not wishing to delay lunch, her remarks were confined to stressing the importance of making a will and leaving instructions for your care should you become incapacitated. She also made herself available for questions. Germanio said a few words once his chef duties were completed. “This is all for you,” he said to the approximately 75 guests.
Assemblyman Bob Andrzejczak attended the event and complimented the volunteers on a job well done. “We can never do enough for our seniors and veterans,” Andrzejczak said. “They have 100 percent of my support as well.”
Andrzejczak also commented on the present situation at the Veterans Administration. “They have had decades and yet they are not even close to resolving the problem,” he said. “It is mind boggling.”
He said New Jersey has initiated a pilot program to address some of these issues here at home rather than waiting for the Federal government to fix the situation. “Everyone in the Assembly and the Senate as well as the governor support helping our vets,” Andrzejczak said. As for the reform attempts at the VA itself, Andrzejczak added, “It needs to go a lot quicker.”
Special guest John Champion came with a friend, Bunnie Morrison and a Herald newspaper clipping from Sept. 13, 1995. It showed Champion and then Mayor Jeff Van Drew, both with longer hair, putting the shovel into the ground for the Senior Center. “If it hadn’t been for us,” Champion reminded,” we wouldn’t have a Senior Center.”
If it hadn’t been for the many seniors sitting, eating and enjoying the day’s festivities there are lots of things none of us would have.
To contact Helen McCaffrey, email hmccaffrey@cmcherald.com.