Good afternoon. I'd like to call this meeting to order. The Cranberry Municipal Alliance, February N, 2026. Can everyone please stand for the pledge of allegiance? I pledge algiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> The statement of adequate notice pursuant to the Sunshine Law, adequate notice in accordance with the Open
Public Meeting Act was provided on January 5th, 2026. of this meeting's date, time, place. The agenda was mailed to the news media, posted on the township bulletin board, mailed to those requesting personal notice, and filed with the municipal clerk. And now we'll move on to roll call. Miss Benerro is
excused, absent. Miss Charman >> here. >> Chief Terra >> here. >> Dr. Dizzler >> here. >> Miss Kaplan excused. Miss Linenfeld >> here. >> Miss Schulman's excused. Miss Weinstein >> here. >> Miss Ye
>> here. >> Mr. here >> and Mr. Cesar >> here. >> Thank you. >> Okay. The minutes from January. Does anybody have any additions or changes to the minutes? Does anyone want to make a motion to
approve the minutes? >> Second motion. >> Okay. Thank you, Dr. Dizzler. Does anyone want to second the motion? Okay. Um Irene, all in favor say I. >> I. Anyone not in favor? Okay, student
representative report. Come on up, Rehea. How are you, Rehea? >> I'm good, thank you. Um, so at our last student council event, we talked a
little bit about JFES and we had a lot of requests from people within the student council and uh most of these came from their home rooms. We They were wondering if we could possibly implement
more drink option options such as juice, snow cones, and slushies. And they were wondering if we could have a Kona ice truck. >> A what? What is that? >> A Kona ice truck. >> Oh, a Kona ice truck.
>> It's for like snow cones, I believe. >> That's uh Is that snow cones? The Kona ice truck. Okay. I think we talked about this idea last time, the the difference between municipal alliance and PTO and the idea
of the involvement of the municipal alliance with Jamfest is securing the games and that has been awesome and they have done that and so I think the idea of any kind of feedback on Jamfest itself would be through the PTO. this
year's all planned, the signups are done and all of the kinds of things that are are planned for. So, this is great feedback maybe for future uh Jamfest, but that those kinds of things definitely through the school. I I wouldn't be a municipal alliance piece and we thank them for what their
involvement is, but I I think we kind of talked that a little bit. So, I would just say that's something definitely that we can um bring to the PTO for next year's uh Jamfests. Thanks. Okay. And I just wanted to talk um ask
you about the uh public service announcement. Is that something that you shared with the student council and is there interest? >> Yes. Um I talked to everyone about it and the teachers said it to all of our home rooms. They just wanted to clarify
that the prize would go to their school and like not to them. >> Yes, that's correct. >> Yeah. I just wanted to make sure. >> Okay. Okay. So, I think the due date is March for submission to uh that's the deadline of the contest. I believe it's March 10th. Was anybody interested in
pursuing it? >> Um I know that a few sixth and seventh graders are doing it. Not really too sure about the eighth graders, but I wouldn't be shocked if some people decide to do it later on. >> Okay. Because if it is um if somebody does create a public service
announcement, we could see about not only um submitting it as an entry to the partnership for a drug-free New Jersey, we can also see if perhaps it can be uh shown to the middle school students. Okay. And um you brought a visitor with
you today. Who did you bring with you today? >> Um this is the student council vice president, Claire Harmon. >> Okay. Thank you, Claire. student council vice president for coming along with Rya today. It's nice to have you here. >> Thank you. >> Is there anything else, Rehea, that you
would like to share with us or discuss with us? >> Not that I'm aware of. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. We have the police department report. >> Uh yeah. Um
we um I apologize. We uh we picked up right where we left off. We had a bunch of u um DI G T D T D T D T D T D T D T D T D T D T D UI related um arrests for the month of January. Unfortunately,
everything was up. Snowstorm didn't help any. We had probably 20 crashes in a day. Um so, uh if we say anything, municipal lines tell everybody stay off the roads when it snows, especially on the weekend. Um I did want to touch base
um I wasn't at the last meeting um or perhaps it wasn't a meeting was an email that you had sent regarding um seniors and overdoses. >> Yes. >> Um so uh it was a great email. I I >> Yes. was an email that that the um in
New Jersey the um fentinol deaths were up among seniors substantially and I sent out a video to everyone just to show that there was a summit to address the situation. >> Yeah. and and and and I do this with the
committee with the committee members um as well and the offer will stand for you and you know that that number was upwards of 4,000% right um so I did my research um that number is so high and the increase is so high because we never
tracked it in New Jersey before so if you're starting at a zero and you have four deaths that's a 400% increase right if you have and it just compounded so what I would say to you is um while we're worried about seniors, I mean
specifically we're Cranberry Municipal Alliance for here. So I would tell you that to report those numbers for Cranberry Township were zero. >> Um which I'm very happy about. Um and I would offer if there's statistics that you need from the police department to simply reach out. I I'll be able to get
them to you as soon as I can. Um, while it's alarming, and I watched it just like everyone else, um, home base, meaning Cranberry Township, knock on wood, because I know I'm going to regret saying this, um, we're we're we're okay here. Um, and the overdoses we did have
uh, last year, there were none fatalities, thank God, um, and none of them involved seniors. That's not to say that report is farfetched. It's not. It's not far-fetched. New Jersey struggles with opiate um addictions and I'm sure seniors are not exempt from
that addiction. Um but thankfully what's been reported and what we're investigating and what we get called to anonymously or otherwise that's not the case in Cranberry Township. So um I just wanted to put that out there so everyone here knows you're all part of this committee. Um if my office can be
available and that doesn't mean bother me 247. I'm sorry a certain individual that's not paying attention to me. Um, yeah. I'm just I'm just kidding. I'm just trying to be like >> not disappoint. >> Okay. Yeah. Uh, I'm just saying if you if you do need something, I I will I
will if I can't find the answer, I will get the answer as I did in this case. Like, why are these numbers so high, >> right? >> Because they were never tracked before and now the state says, "Okay, now we're going to start tracking them." And that would, you know, give us an explanation of why they're so high because to be
that high, it's almost unc inconceivable, >> right? for me anyway from what we do and what we see and it's not to say there's not drugs in Granberry obviously we know right >> uh there are drugs everywhere um but I just wanted to put that out there so >> well that's reassuring to hear
>> and I also um sent the information to Iman Albadawi on the uh township committee because I know that she's part of the senior subcommittee and um she also reported that she checked with the city health dashboard and there there
wasn't any occurrence documented in Cranberry and she expanded her research towards neighboring towns and there were no deaths by fentinol in seniors reported. So it goes along with what you just shared. >> Good. So good. Okay.
>> Yes, that's I'm glad to hear that >> and that's my report. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Okay. Our liaison report. Hey everybody. Um nothing major to share. Um there was a quick question that came out of the uh TC meeting this
week. The mental health um first aid that moved to middle school. >> Yes. >> Can you refresh my memory? Is that happening this year or is that happening in September? >> Yes. Well um we no longer have the mental health first aid teen mental health first aid. That will not occur
this academic year. We talked about doing the middle school mental health first aid, right? And right now the school counselor at Cranberry is in communication with Ria Beneroff from Pen Med to discuss whether or not that's going to work this year. Dr. D.
>> And they're looking to do it this spring. >> This spring. Okay, perfect. >> Okay, that was my only question to you guys. You guys have any questions for me? >> Okay. Well, yes, I do have a question. Yes, ma'am. So when the the budget meeting was held, I had asked if the U
municipal alliance was going to be discussed and you didn't think so and you said you would let me know if it was. So I assume that you know our budget was okay as is and we just have to wait until it gets ratified next month. >> That's right. There was a preliminary
budget hearing. There were no discussion points for municipal alliance. nothing crazy uh that happens on this side of the world uh with these dollars. Um but if anything comes up during this period of uh sort of 28 days essentially that until the budget gets finalized uh we'll
certainly reach out. >> Okay. And I have one more question. Back in August of 24 um Iman Albadawi made a presentation. It was actually a work session about
seniors and I was actually going to be talking a little bit about that today and um I haven't watched all of the township committee meeting since that time but um she said that they were
definitely going to keep the finger on the pulse of you know programming for seniors because um I think you were here last month we talked about senior programming and it's been an ongoing ing project, you know, to provide services
for seniors. So, I just want to make sure that I haven't missed any updates about the um and I and I'll follow up with Iman about any updates on the the senior subcommittee on the TC. >> So, the senior subcommittee does meet
regularly. Um, and I know there's renovations happening at the senior center, which is very exciting. Um, as far as specific programming, I don't have any info. Um, but I'm happy to reach out. >> Okay. Well, I have some things to share today. So, if there's anything um that I
left out that you know of, you know, please feel free to feel free to just, you know, throw it in there. >> We'll do. >> Okay. Thank you. Any questions? >> Okay. Excellent. Okay. The budget. Well, we did talk
about the budget while um Mr. Christopher was up. Okay, so let's move on to Old Business, the fourth grade bookmark contest through the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey. Andrea was going to follow up to see how many
submissions there were through the art teacher at Cranberry School, but since she's not here, we will ask her next month. Okay, the next item is the Jamfest. There are two things I wanted to talk about. The first is that uh last month
um it was brought up that the Jamfest is down a ping pong table. So I reached out on Buy Nothing and I did have somebody who was um interested in donating their pingpong table and I was exploring ways to get it to the school. But in the
meantime um some really good news um was uncovered. Irene, would you like to share that? >> Uh, sure. So, the um school custodians uh were found actually a brand new ping
pong table that was there. So, we're able to use that. So, now we have two ping pong tables, three air hockey tables, and I believe it's two foosball tables. So we we have the the ping pong table that now is replaced by the old
>> it was donated by the PTO a few years ago and was there ready and I think it just wasn't known that it was there and so when it got brought up that we needed they reminded us that there was one uh donated by the PTO a few years ago to be
able to replace when needed and so we're glad it was there. >> Well that worked out really well. That's great news. And then I I let the person who was willing to donate their table, I let I you know thank them profusely for you know offering up their table. So
that that's really good news that we have a new ping pong table to replace. Okay. So, the other thing we talked about, um, Irene had brought up the idea of purchasing a cotton candy machine for
the Jamfest because there have been issues in um, borrowing or renting cotton candy machines. And I asked Irene um, to get three quotes for a cotton
candy machine. Would you like to talk about that? Sure. So, we looked at um a cotton candy machine. There's one uh that's um it's it's similar to what we borrow from a family in town. It's called Vivo Blue
1030W. It's an electronic candy machine and we got actually um four quotes. Uh one is from Big Mart. It's um $319, but it's on sale. But this was back um
mid January, so for about $33.99 plus tax. Walmart, Amazon, and Wayfair, they're all at $399 plus tax. So the cheapest one is with big bigs, big big mart um for $33.99
plus tax. But just noting that this was a quote from January 18th of this year. >> Okay. I never heard of Big Mart. Um, did anybody ever hear of that company before? >> Yes. But, um,
>> I've purchased a popcorn maker for my basement from them. Pretty good company. >> Oh, okay. So, everything worked out because there's really a substantial difference, you know, 319 versus 3.99 from three other companies.
So, um, we could see if that is still the case. The um Jamfest is on the 21st, right? >> 27th. Yeah. >> 27th.
>> Oh, 27th. Okay. Um well, I guess before we proceed, we should discuss if this is something that the municipal alliance would like to purchase for the students for the Jamfest. So, I just want to throw that out there and and see how everybody
feels about that purchase. How much is the rental? >> Uh we tradition >> each time >> each time how much is the rental? How much we pay? >> Um I don't have that on me, but we usually borrow from a family in town. >> Okay. >> Yeah.
And then theirs broke and then they recently purchased a new one. Um so we borrow that one. Um, I mean, I support it. I guess my only concern is it would the the the discount store like if it's the same
brand, I guess my only alarm is that why they're so much cheaper than the other three competitors. So, I if we buy it, I prefer just buying it from someone more well-known like Walmart, maybe. I don't know. That's just me.
Well, this is the first time that I really worked with, you know, the um getting different quotes and uh do we have to go with the least expensive quote? Is that how it works? Yes. >> Okay. So, we would have to go with that
company. >> Okay. >> At least from the police department. >> Okay. >> I think it's if it's over a certain amount. Mhm. >> So, I can confirm that. >> Okay.
>> I don't think that pressure is $1,500. >> Yeah. I'd have to double check what like the >> Okay. >> the amount is that you need three quotes for. >> Okay. So, um would this committee um like to purchase a cotton candy machine?
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, let's say this. We will find out how much the price is from Big Mart if it's any different. Um
would everyone prefer to go with a more well named company if it doesn't matter about the less least expensive quote? >> Okay. So, let's say we go with um one of the companies, we're allowed to go with
$3.99 plus tax, whatever that comes out to be. So, um let's >> Can I also um mention maybe that since it's coming from this group that it could be used during National Night Out
and like other municipal alliance um functions. So, it's something that it's the municipal alliances, but the PTO uses it. So, then you can use it for events through the municipal alliance. I'm sure they wouldn't mind. >> I think that's a great idea. I think um
yes, just like the popcorn machine is used for many different, you know, activities. I'm just checking how much the tax would be. So, let's say um like
it would be if it's seven. >> Oh, they're shipping and handling. >> So, 400. Let's just say um does anyone like to make a motion to approve up to $500, and that's more than we probably
need to purchase a machine, a cotton candy machine for the the Jamfest. Would anybody like to Well, I don't think we do. Do we make a motion or we just have a vote? >> Well, if we just all come to an agreement, that would be I don't think a
motion would be needed. Okay. >> If everyone just agrees. >> Okay. So, can we just do a vote just to make sure everyone agrees? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Does anyone not agree? >> Is anyone opposed to a cotton candy machine? Okay. So, then um we will look
into getting the um Do you want to do it? Irene, I could do it. >> Sure. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. Okay. So, uh you guys will be getting a um a nice cotton candy machine. >> You They look pretty excited.
And you know what, Verain? Maybe in the future we can do something like a snow cone machine. Who knows? >> Okay. >> And just real quick, if anyone needs help installing it or putting it together, just reach out, please. >> Oh, okay. Great. Thank you. And
hopefully we can get it. We can get it before um the Jamfest. And you know, now that I think of it, Walmart, there's pro probably Walmart is in the system. So, it's um do you um we should find out if Walmart is an
approved vendor because if it is, it'll probably go more quickly. >> Yeah. But it would have to be put on the next I can't guarantee. >> Oh, would somebody be able to pay for it? I wonder. and get reimbursed. >> Yeah, we could talk after. >> Okay, we'll talk after how we can get it
here, you know. >> Yeah, >> maybe before the jamfest. Okay, great. That's great news. Okay, so the mental health first aid middle school program, we talked a little bit about this. I was in touch with the school counselor at
Cranberry School and I filled her in and Dr. Dizzler had already filled her in about the middle school program and what it entails and she then met again after we talked with Dr. Dizzler and um she
let me know and she wanted to get in touch with the person who was running the program because she had more questions about the program and about timing. So um I gave them each other's contact information and I think that they were in touch with each other. I think so.
>> Okay. So, I'm sure um Ria will be able to give us an update at our meeting next month. Okay. So, any questions about the middle school mental health program? Okay. So, let's move on to
the Cranberry School American Heart Association program. Did the basketball game take place yet? >> Did not. And uh police department's not losing this year. >> I don't know about that. We're ready.
>> Just wait. >> The game is on the 24th. Uh it's a Tuesday night. Uh donations at the door. Everything goes to the American Heart Association. Um we have ramped up and improved on last year and last year was
great. So um we have some kind of like opening introductions and little bit of fun. There'll be um at halftime um Cranberry School um students that cheer uh are going to be performing as well as
some contests. And um I'm hearing there might be a trophy that ends up at Cranberry School when it's all done. So that's exciting. >> That trophy will be nice and safe at the police department. >> It does start at um 18 6 PM, correct? 1800.
1800 as the police say. >> Sorry, I I started to say military. It's in my blood. I'm sorry. >> So 6 PM. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Um we say doors open at 6. We'll start the introduction 6:15 with tip off
at 6:30. So we're excited. >> Yeah. We wanted want people to be on time. Yeah. >> Sheep, are you playing? He's >> Oh, you're the ref. Okay. >> You're biased. Oh, I I am I am impartial.
>> There's a second ref to help out, too. Although both refs are police officers. >> He's also the deputy chief of South R. >> Somehow we won last year. >> And we had a third one last year who was a state trooper. So I I made sure we were rep and we still lost. Go figure that one. >> Well, best wishes the to the eighth
grade and to the police department. It's all for a good cause. whoever wins. And I know that the students will be doing an activity in buddy classes. They'll be doing a heart activity and the hearts will be strong around the school and it
was really beautiful last year. So it's just a shout out to student council because they're actually helping with all of the hearts and and getting everything doing that part of it. Um Miss Schulman has been the organiz organizer of it all. She's out on maternity leave right now so she left everything in good hands so it'll go off
well. So, thank you for the contributions. We're excited for another great event and raising money for the American Heart Association. >> Yes. And and I also heard that a couple um town businesses are participating in American Heart Association uh
fundraising donations that if you make a sale, if they make a sale, if you purchase something, a certain percentage will go to the uh American Heart Association. I know Crow and Tea Teapot and I think happiness is homemade. So it's nice to see that you know um town
businesses are participating. Okay. So um anything else on old business? Okay. So new business speaker for community parents students. Now last
month we talked about having a vaping presentation and I we talked about Robert Hackinson. That was a recommendation from Irene and we talked about Timothy.
Well, we didn't talk about Timothy Shoemaker, but uh Thomas had sent me that information. Um he does a program. So, let me talk about both speakers and then we can discuss where you see these speakers fitting in and if we want to
have one of them speak to our students. So, uh, Timothy Shoemaker's program, I looked it up, um, because you provided the link. He does a program called Save Your Breath Vaping Prevention Program, and he has gone to a lot of schools
throughout the nation. And he does a lot with special effects, with music, with screens. And his cost is 1,700 for any one presentation and it's 2500 for multiple student presentations on the same day
and 500 to add a parent program. And the parent program can be live or remote and can include a show and tell of modern devices and concealment items if we wish. And he handles all the technology and equipment and we only need to secure
the room for him. and he um and advertised the live link. So I was in touch with him and I asked for references and he gave me three references from New Jersey schools and I heard back from uh the the SAC student
um counselor at Pineland and also Westfield and they both highly recommended him. They thought he was very dynamic, very knowledgeable. um the students >> what grade level was it? >> They um well it's interesting that you
ask um one was high school and then one was intermediate school and the um in I think it was in Westfield where he did the intermediate and the high school and um the counselor that I spoke to said she thought he related better to the
younger students than the older students. >> Um what is intermediate? because intermediate could be 8, nine. Um I know it's that way in East Brunswick. So do you know an intermediate in North Brunswick is 56. So do you know what grade levels? >> Well, I know that she mentioned that um
he would be appropriate for ninth grade. He would be appropriate for eighth grade and we just really discussed middle school. We didn't really discuss like the age levels, but I mean I could explore that further if you know. But it's that's a good question. We want to
know. But she did think that he was better for you know younger than you know upper upper high school. >> Okay. So that is and um I could provide everybody for the link if anybody wants to see um or check him out. And so then
um the other speaker is Robert Hackinson. We've had him at Cranberry School twice before and he did a program seeing through the vape. He actually came last in October 2024 for respect
week. He did a program uh K through four, let's talk about respect. And 5 through8 he did um the alcohol and drug awareness um and vaping. And his single presentation costs 3500 which includes
travel. if you you can get up to four presentations including the parent education night in the same day for your school. Um and that would be four 4,995 and he has other pricing for virtual. Um
he does he's very interactive with the students and he has them participate. He does magic and games and illusions and he really had he kept them engaged. Um, do you have any um anything to share about Rob?
>> Yeah, it was just last fall, so it was fall of 2024. Um, and it he was all of those things. He was great. >> Yeah. My my only thinking is well, I guess first question is this are we starting this are we thinking about this for the fall? Is that what we're
thinking of? This is what we're looking at for presenter because we just do the one, right? That's what the budget is in the budget. So, if we were doing anything this spring, then we wouldn't be doing in the fall. also where I think last we talked we were talking about holding that speaker to do during next
school year. So I guess that matters because um if if it was happening this spring then it just happened last year with that one presenter I would probably lean towards somebody else. If it is next fall I mean it's a two years in
between so it might be fine and I'm I he was great but I would just that would matter if the when. Okay. Well, we wanted to have the um Sam Hendrickson speaker for Respect Week. We talked
about that next October. And since we have a grant um we had we had a grant for the teen mental health first aid and since that didn't work out the grant does cover other qualifying programs and
the speaker an additional speaker would count as another qualifying um presentation. So, we can do one of these speakers in the spring in addition to the speaker we had planned on doing
in October. And to kind of expand our focus other than just the students, I thought it might be very advantageous to open it up to the
community by having a presentation at the library. um either by itself or having a presentation at the library and also having a presentation at the school for the students. >> Yeah. >> Uh the one thing that I would just say
that um and maybe it'll depend on the conversation that's had about the teen mental health training that that potentially might be three sessions. And if that's happening this spring too with our eighth graders, I would just be mindful of how much and that's in between all the other like traditional
things we do. So, I would just take that into consideration um depending on who our audience is because it might be those same kids and then that would just be a lot of programming condensed into a small amount of time. When we get back from spring break, I mean, as parents,
you probably we go in like hyperdrive and there's like barely a day it feels like that something's not going on. Um, so it would just be a matter of being mindful of the scheduling and and um there's, you know, just a sustained amount of time left with kids in class.
So I know that would be something to make sure we balance well. They probably don't want to hear that, but um I would want to be protective a little bit about time. Um, I think career day is the second week of March and I feel like every couple weeks there's something
between then and the end of the school year going on in the school, which is awesome for our students. It really is. So, I would just be mindful of that. Um, I love the idea of the night piece and connecting with the library. I know that they do a ton of awesome programming and
I think they're getting more and more um, families to be involved. So that is a awesome connection too. Okay. Thank you. Any other thoughts or comments? >> Uh I just think one thing is a remote option. I think if if it's something
that we're going to market to the community, I think we should have like a remote option um just so that you know anyone can join from anywhere. >> So I don't know if that's been considered but >> okay. The thing about the speaker um the
first speaker that I talked about um Timothy Shoemaker it's just a very um very visual type of program. So we can um offer uh a a remote remote
opportunity as well but it seems like this one would be you know um more beneficial in person than you know it would come come through better. So it seems like the school has a lot going on with
the mental health first aid. So perhaps this is not um the best time really to plan another another program for the eighth graders. So what are your thoughts about having possibly one of
these speakers at the library for an evening presentation? we can sponsor it and see if the library um would be willing to allow us to have it there. What What does everybody think about that? >> So, the program at the library will be for the public or um so adults, right?
>> Well, what I um I'm thinking that it would be something that would be open to anybody in the community, adults, parents, and students. really anybody who wants to learn about, you know, the dangers of vaping and learning about
different devices and we can talk about uh the different things that we want to make sure would be included in that presentation. So, my thought is that it would be open to everyone. I guess my concern is that you um we're
not going to have too many participants going to the library to learn about vaping because I think that information is so readily available now. Um but perhaps the theme of to I'm just trying to think what theme would draw the
people outside of their homes to come and spend time with him, right? And perhaps if he offers really good tangible thoughts and advice on what to do when your children are caught with vaping devices, alcohol, drugs, you
know, I think those are very practical thoughts that perhaps a community might come out to learn about. >> What do you think? I mean, what what's going to draw somebody out to the library at night? Well, we definitely have not had very
good participation when we've had parent programs in the past. We haven't really tried anything at the library. I tend to think the library and being open to the community may give us, you know, more attendance, but um what does everybody
think about that? Is it worth giving it a try and really advertising it? The library would advertise it. it would be advertised through the school, through the township. We could try to incorporate some other um points that would be good for the
parents or the community to see how they can, you know, help their children if if their child or somebody they know. It doesn't even have to be a child. It could be, you know, um a sibling or it could be, you know, an adult that they want to help with vaping. Well, if it's
something that's going to be like free to the community, I mean, is it worth like a quick poll or something asking what people might want to come out and look at? I mean, there might not be enough time to do that, but, you know, maybe we don't do it in the spring. Maybe we do it in September on a subject
that people actually want to come and see. You know, we could offer cotton candy, you know, get people out and then it would be on us to like market it. You know what I mean? So, or popcorn, you know? >> But, uh, I don't know. just something to think about engaging the community and
like you know getting our mission out there a little bit. I think people would appreciate it. >> Right. I don't really know how we would go about getting input about that. I really don't. Um do you have any ideas, Mr. Christopher, about how to get input
from the community if that other than sending out a survey about how to um if that is a topic they'd be interested in. >> So essentially be survey response pretty low in general, but you
know, start pulling people, you know, might be a better option. >> I'd also like to say I think timing, like Dr. Dizzler said, spring is super busy, especially with the start of sports. A lot of people are not around in the
spring, summer, sports activities, everything else. barbecues. Maybe something winter fall might land a little better. >> Okay. Well, we can we could put this topic on hold until uh later uh this
year, maybe in the spring we can talk about possibly doing it in the fall. I know in the the fall is a busy time, too. That's when everything starts up again. That's when we have our holidays. >> So, Right. Right. >> Yeah.
>> Right. >> It's hard to find the right time. I I know that um Municipal Alliance has offered so many good opportunities and we we haven't gotten the outcome we've wanted. The virtual option has been from
like a we we tried to do a um series of like parentmies at the school and we tried every kind of combination imaginable, right? To see what's the magic. One thing that we find is that when there's an opportunity for parents
to see student work and like like like the kids want to see their project, it we're having a steam night next Thursday. That's a good plug. We're having a steam night next Thursday. And um one of the things we noticed is that um we've got a little bit more because
it was like family oriented and it was so you didn't have to worry about getting a sitter. was something they did al together and they also got to see some of the things they were doing in some of those steam classes. We're trying to build on that and I'm hopeful that this year's steam is a even a
little bit better than last year and it was not huge by any stretch last year. None of our parentmies really were getting the numbers but I'll say we're a small community. the percentage of parents coming out to that I when I worked in my prior district you're
talking um uh 9,000 kids 8,500 kids students we would get parentmies and get um maybe upwards of like the average sometimes there were big tickets but the average was probably around 50 parents
so which was a nice it filled the space but when you think of that percentage of ratio to kids so take that and just do it to our, you know, 400 students that we have. You're getting like five or six parents coming out to these things. So, I think part of it is our size. We're not getting, you know, it's it's just
going to be that percentage. And then all of the things that that Jen is just saying about the time of year, it doesn't mean not to do it. I think we continue to try and we should. And you know, I I I think you just have to decide is the cost worth it. But I think that if you're making connection with
one family that's helping a student, like that's a great thing. So I think the work is valid. It's just unfortunate that we don't always get the amount of families that we want to at these things. >> Do you know if they are good at doing a hybrid presentation? you know, hybrid,
so you have some audience >> and then in the Q&A, you could have both um online and in-person parents ask questions and discussion. >> So, I don't know if they are good with hybrid format presentation for parents.
>> Well, um I know that uh Robert Hackinson did it that way. He did uh like a zoom presentation because it was during COVID, so it wasn't in person. And I know that this other speaker I I didn't
actually speak to him, but I I read that he does do um virtual programming as well. So, it could be either live or remote. >> That would be different than hybrid. And I think hybrid is tricky. So, like think about it. This is hybrid. We're here in
person. People are here, but people are able to watch from home. The way that it's set up is that they're able to see all of us sitting here. Um, I believe the library has something similar. Theirs isn't as stationary as here. Uh, the school doesn't have that kind of
setup. The the hybrid piece can be tricky and if it's an interactive and the person's moving, it would be very, I think, hard to follow that because it's not a live person that is capturing it. Again, in my prior district, the high school, they had a media team. They had
cameramen that could that could capture that. We just we don't have that in our school. It's more of a high schooly kind of thing to have and I don't know that either here or the library would have that part. So I think the idea of doing it virtual could be the option. Hybrid might be hard because of that whole
motion movement piece. >> I can share too the library they have microphones that they give to the presenters. So if one person speaking they they speak on the microphone. If someone else is going to speak they just
pass it. Um, so they do have some microphone opportunities there. >> Okay. So, what I can do from what I'm hearing is I will find out um more spec
more specifically um for future reference about Timothy Shoemaker and the the middle school age group. That would be appropriate. I could also speak with the person at the library and find out how they would
handle a hybrid program and then we'll put um the speaker on hold and revisit this in the spring to consider for the fall. Does that sound right? >> Okay.
Okay. Let's move on to information for senior neighbors. We talked a little bit about this because we had um discussed, you know, the information that we got last
month from the Partnership for Drug-Free New Jersey, Governor's Council on Substance Abuse Disorder, and New Jersey Department of Human Services about the 9,000% rise in overdose deaths involving fentinol among adults over 65. And you
know, our chief explained that to us and I have a better understanding of that and we were talking about, you know, kind of upping what we do for the seniors and providing more programming for the seniors. So, I just wanted to give everybody a little bit of a history
about what's been available for the seniors. So, uh, one thing that's available is, um, Donna in the main office. She is the senior program director and she's also
the secretary for the parks and wreck commission and she runs programming for the senior center and they have programs twice a month and they've been at the library most recently because of the
construction over at the school. But they um meanwhile the senior center downstairs in the town hall is being renovated and it should be ready around March, April and then that will be open for the programming to take place there
and for seniors to have a place to go and socialize. So they have a really great program through the township. The township also provides funding for the golden age neighbors which is separate
from the uh senior center and this is this is a membership related and you have to pay dues and it's more social where they go out for lunch and sometimes they do have
a program I know Dr. Dizzler did speak with them at one time. So, in addition to that, I gave everybody one of these senior happenings. This is a flyer I put together with the um the mayor's wellness committee a couple years ago
and we went around to the different developments and handed these out to the neighbors. And this is I spoke with Donna and this is going to go on the page for the parks and wreck on the
website along with other things that they have available. This is hanging in the kiosk. So we talked about the golden age neighbors. We talked about the Cranberry Senior Center. There's also programming available through the
Cranberry Public Library. There's um one program that is an ongoing program that runs every month is the caregiver support group and that's a that sounds like a great opportunity for people who are taking care of seniors who are
immobile. And there are lots of other programs. They have spinning yarn yards which is yarns which um teaches people how to crochet and do different do different things with crafts. So there are lots of
different programs at the library. St. David's they have a knitter's club they have a book club. They have taichi and jazzer size. The first Presbyterian church of cranberry they have actually a social. It's not on here, but they have
a um a group where they meet with their seniors and it's really open to anyone. They also have a senior exercise program. Uh they do chair yoga and the women's club of cranberry that's open to
all women and of course um including you know seniors. So there are many different opportunities for the seniors in town. And the big question that um has been brought up in the past is how
have we been able to communicate all of this to the seniors and I knew that that's one of the reasons why there was a subcommittee developed out of the TC and they had their presentation on
August of 24. I would like to just talk with them to see to get an update about if they've been doing um anything else or have any updates about senior programming. I think that uh if we do
senior programming, it would be great to do a collaboration with other groups in town. And I I spoke with Donna who is the program director for the seniors at the town center and she'd be very happy to if we had any ideas to make that
available for the seniors. So there there are programs available for the seniors. Oh and in addition to that in the senior developments they do have their own they do have their own programs available in addition to the
programs in the town. So, you know, in consideration of thinking about opportunities for seniors, I just wanted to let everybody know what is already available for the seniors. And Dr. Dizzler did mention that the school has
worked with the ELMS and the seniors center to adopt residents and to provide music. >> Okay. So that's basically um what's been happening with the seniors. There was a
program that I suggested last year that I thought was really good. It's called the wise program and the wise program is a wellness and prevention program for seniors and it's a six session program and it talks about
things like an enhanced quality of life and you know aging sensitively and medications and I thought that was a great program when brought up to the um some of the seniors they didn't think that it would
be you know we would get much attendance But it's something that we can revisit this year. It would be free and it it would be through Wellspring. And if you watch the video that I sent everyone the link for, um that was one of the
programs that was mentioned as a resource for seniors. So I would um like to look into that a little bit more. Does anybody have um anything else that you would like to share that you know of or that we can possibly consider for for
our senior population? Um, I was just as you were talking about senior programs, my mind just went to I have this thing, I don't know why, but I read the obituaries and um, but I was really surprised to read an obituary not too long ago where
a senior in Princeton um, passed away from the maids program, MIDI. I don't know if he knows that. is like I forget what the acronym is but it's like assistant assisted you know end of life type of thing. So in the state of New
Jersey they allow that and my you know concern is that perhaps you know when you're been physically ill for many many years you don't necessarily have you know all of what you need to have to make those kind of big decisions. But
perhaps you could educate the their cons point. Maybe you could educate the seniors when you know things are okay for them to really think about these issues because um you know we might hear more of it in New Jersey and the
surrounding states that allow that. But I you know I just saw that a couple of weeks ago. I just thought, you know, maybe something we could kind of think about, you know, educating the >> Well, the time to get information is before you need it, right? So, you have
it in your back pocket if you need it. So, I agree with you there. Um a lot of times the seniors um they they when on the survey that we had sent out through the mayor's wellness committee they were very much interested in um entertainment
programs you know listening to music wa watching dancing listening to presentations um it's it's kind of the same thing you know trying to get information in in addition to the entertainment type programs it's important
But how do you do that? Thomas brought up a good point last week about seniors who are immobile or can't get out and I know that that was an item discussed at the TC that um I'm I'm going I'm been in the process of trying
to follow follow up with. Um I have a message out to Iman to find out about if there are any ways that the um the seniors who are in mobile can get help. Um, uh, Donna did tell me that there's a
Middle Sex County Office of Aging and they do a presentation for the seniors two times a year and it includes transportation. It might include paying utility bills and helping seniors in various ways so that they can be
informed about different resources, which is really great. And Donna had shared with me that the seniors are really great about checking in on each other and anybody who doesn't have a car or is not able to get out on their own,
you know, there are people um on the who go to the programs who are willing to take others with them. So that made me feel really good to know that, you know, people are really looking out for each other.
So, I'd like this to be an ongoing conversation on the municipal alliance because I really do want to make the uh municipal alliance programming available to the community and to the seniors. I know we do we do a lot for the school
and I want to be able to provide whatever programming would be helpful to you know all the different populations of the community. So, um, you know that it's an open invitation
for anyone to share anything or look into anything that might be something that would be valuable for our community. >> I have a question. I know that a lot of the individual 55 and over communities have their own,
>> you know, they set up transportation. They go see dinner and a show or lunch in a show, but maybe outside entertainment, something that they're not doing here in Cranberry involving transportation, maybe lunch, a show, trucking them for
entertainment, coordinating something like that. So, you're saying that um outside of the adult communities? >> Outside of the adult communities, well, including the adult communities, because I know a lot of the adult communities already do things like this, take them
to AC and, you know, coordinate field trips, but in general for all of Cranberry, including the communities, >> right? So going on field trips to the theater or well, you know, I'm sure that's something that the seniors would enjoy, but I don't know who would do
that in Cranberry. >> So, you know, it's it's a question worth asking. >> I can I can ask >> to see if you know it's something that has been considered. >> Yeah. >> Senior trips. Okay.
>> Any other thoughts or ideas? Well, I know that volunteering is such a lifegiving, you know, activity. So I wonder if there's something that we could compile for the seniors where they could do serviceoriented activities because everything right now is like for
their entertainment but if they know that they're could be valuable in you know contributing to certain aspects that they could do even with limited mobility I think they'll find that very um in you know encouraging. I mean I personally enjoy service work too. So it
gives me energy. So I'm sure there you know whether you're 70 80 if somebody like me will find still they'll find that enjoyable. >> So how can volunteers help seniors? Are you talking about like >> what can like what can seniors do to
volunteer? >> Oh >> okay. Volunteer opportunities for seniors. Uh at Cranberry School, we have something called Cran Pals and it's for senior citizens to come and read to our kindergarteners. Um it's been a long
tradition and they come they you know volunteer their time once a week from January to May. Um that so that >> those are and they love them. >> Yeah, >> I've done that as a sub. That's a wonderful thing. >> Yeah.
Any thoughts about that? Any volunteer opportunities um that anybody can think of for seniors? >> That that would be local, >> right? You know, my church, they teach EL cell to um you know
>> Yeah. So, something like that. I mean, how would they how how are we going to get the information to the seniors though, >> right? Well, that's always been a question that that's you know, that's always been a question. how to get the information to the seniors. So, you know, I will I'll follow up with the the
TC subcommittee to see, you know, how how they um think moving forward the information can get to the seniors because I know that's always been, >> you know, >> kind of their own little community, but outside of their little community,
right? Mhm. >> I know I know one thing that uh some of the seniors at my church, they actually have a knitting club >> and they make blankets for children at the local hospital. >> So, that's one thing they do. Another thing they do is uh um depending on
their age, they'll u make sandwiches for a local um food shelter uh once a month. They do that as well. Um, >> you know, I'm thinking that as you're saying this, through the women's club of Cranberry, there are a lot of clubs and
committees that do that kind of thing, >> you know. So, there are volunteer opportunities through the women's club to to give back. I know they collect supplies for um people overseas and
make, you know, um care packages. And you know, I love the idea of, you know, knitting blankets or hats, you know, for children in the hospital. So, they do a lot of that. So, you know, in addition to the reading to the kids, you
know, through the women's club, that's a great that's a great way to volunteer and give back. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, um, the other thing that we have on here is additional programming for 2026. I think we kind of talked
about that as we went along. So, always open to new ideas. Um, does anybody have anything additional to share about that? Okay. So, the learning series webinars,
there are two coming up. There's one on February 26 at 11:00 a.m. And if you missed the the live webinar, you can always watch the recording. and the title is opioids in pregnancy and neo neonatal abstinence syndrome. And then
there's one on March 26th at 11:00 a.m. and it's called addressing pain in all stages of life. So um is there anything else that we would like to discuss?
Okay. Um there is no public for public comment and I just wanted to mention that the number the helpline 988 if anybody's having a mental health or substance abuse emergency that that is a really great helpline to call. Um does anyone
want to make a motion to adjurnn? >> I motion to adjurnn >> Sasha. Does anyone want to second the motion? >> Second. >> Irene. All in favor? Thank you everyone.