Day: December 1, 2023

Wall

Allaire Community Farms Honors the Golden Dome Foundation with the “Dr. Robert H. Harris Equestrian Center”

Farm Uses Rescued Animals to Nurture People with Special Needs, Teens Dealing with Mental Health Issues, Veterans with PTSD and Families Battling Cancer

December 1, 2023

WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ (MONMOUTH)–The late Dr. Robert H. Harris loved horses.

And when he died April 30, 2017, his wife, Mary Ellen, pledged to honor his good name and major contributions to society. The Golden Dome Foundation, originally founded by Dr. Harris and Mary Ellen, has since donated millions of dollars to charities and non-profit groups with special causes close to the doctor’s heart.

An ongoing recipient is the Allaire Community Farm in Wall, which has received donations totaling more than $2 million. The foundation wants to help the farm accomplish its goal of becoming financially self-sustaining, created to help people with special needs, veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorders, teens dealing with mental health issues and families coping with cancer.

The 25-acre farm on Baileys Corner Road in Wall is widely described as a magical place, with rescued horses, goats, pigs, donkeys and other animals. The farm, in appreciation of the Golden Dome Foundation, is now preparing to cut the ribbon on the “Dr. Robert H. Harris Equestrian Center.”

“I am so glad that my long-time friend, Judith Lolli, first introduced me to the farm.  Our entire foundation board loves this farm,” said Harris, applauding the works of the trustees, Charles Grinnell, Paul Petigrow and Mike Schwager.

“Every time we stop by, there is always something new to see and experience,” Harris added. “JoAnn and Sean are very special people and I am so proud to see how our donations have positively impacted thousands of individuals each and every year.”

“Mary Ellen Harris visited one day, eight years ago, when we shared our idea to create our one-of-a-kind farm,” explained JoAnn Burney, co-founder with her husband, Sean, in 2013. “Mary Ellen told us she loved our vision but didn’t believe it was possible to come to fruition. Five years later she saw that the dream was becoming a reality and immediately began to financially support the farm and its mission.”

That conversation started a string of more conversations, as Harris steadily donated to support the farm’s equestrian operations and provided other support, as needed, including paying off the farm’s mortgage in 2022

Lolli said Golden Dome’s ongoing charitable work at Allaire Farm is an amazing tribute to Dr. Harris; it is the type of charity he would strongly embrace.

“Mary Ellen paid off the mortgage on the farm, helped ensure it will be financially self-sustaining and donated its Equestrian Center,” Lolli said. “Dr. Bob loved horses and had previously run Golden Dome Stables.  The farm incorporates everything near and dear to Mary Ellen and her husband, helping people and animals truly in need.”

“Without having to worry about how to pay the mortgage, we were able to focus solely on our mission and provide more services to the populations who rely on the work we do,” Burney said. “Mary Ellen’s generosity has taken the farm to another level by allowing us to bring on more staff, increase our programs and build the structures we need to serve our community. Her support has directly impacted the lives of thousands of people and animals.”

With the foundation’s donations, the Burneys continually seek ways to honor Dr. Harris, who created an epilepsy drug that manages the disease.

You’ll find the 20-stall “Dr. Robert H. Harris Horse Barn” constructed in 2019, followed by an annex built the following year to store grain, hay, and tack, as well as to wash the horses. Then in 2022, Harris funded a 11,000-square-foot indoor riding rink, followed by an outdoor riding arena that opened earlier this year.

Putting it all together, the Burneys are celebrating the opening of the “Dr. Robert H. Harris Equestrian Center,” incorporating all of the Golden Dome Foundation’s donations into one package of deep appreciation.

The working farm is like no other in the region. It offers year-round therapeutic and educational programs. It includes the HOPE program for young adults with special needs seeking employment training, to veterans with PTSD who participate in therapeutic riding and driving, to kids working through mental health issues who are given a stipend to work with the animals at the farm – all designed to help with healing.

Sean Burney, who had a career in real estate before becoming a full-time farmer, said the extensive operation relies on donations, grants and individuals like Harris, who want to enrich the lives of the farm’s 300 animals as well as the thousands of visitors each year.

“When people come to the farm for the first time, you can see they understand what makes this place so special,” he said. “Whether you are a child with special needs, a person dealing with mental health issues or just someone who wants to connect with nature, everyone is welcome here. We are proud that the farm is a place where all people feel included and accepted.”

The Burneys have been steadily implementing programs for the farm and hope to one day no longer rely heavily on grants to remain open.

They instituted admission fees, offer farm animal “sponsorships,” provide riding lessons, feature a general store and welcome thousands of holiday revelers at its annual “Old Fashioned Christmas on the Farm and Light Show” fundraiser, going on through December 23. Proceeds from the holiday event – the farm’s largest annual fundraiser – help maintain farm operations during the winter months when it is closed to the public.

Besides the tremendous generosity of Harris, the farm relies on 200 volunteers to handle the work. Countless tasks are involved in the seven-day-a-week operation that, at any point, may be hosting a birthday party, guiding a class trip through the indoor petting zoo, coordinating therapeutic horse riding lessons for veterans or driving a barrel train through the property as children squeal in delight.

The Burneys have worked with community partners to build a veterans’ memorial and the Rami’s Heart COVID-19 Memorial.  They are now working on a building that would include a commercial-grade teaching kitchen as another initiative to provide on-site job training for the populations they serve.

With a commitment to be accessible to all, the Burneys have also created a “Path of Independence,” ensuring buildings and gardens on the property are accessible to people with mobility challenges.

“Everyone should be able to enjoy this farm,” Sean Burney said. “So, we have considered obstacles and are working on ways to make this farm accessible to as many people as possible.”

The farm also partners with 13 area high schools, assisting students with special needs. Under the Growing Academics in Nature (GAIN) program, the students are given a work-based learning experience, with such tasks as planting, harvesting, animal care, egg collection and groundskeeping.

Click here to learn more about the farm and the many ways in which the Golden Dome Foundation has turned dreams into reality. Make sure to sign up for the farm’s monthly newsletter.

Mary Ellen Harris visits with the Burneys at the Allaire Community Farm in Wall.

Asbury Park, Long Branch, Monmouth County, Sea Bright

U.S. Coast Guard, Unified Command Continues Response to Tar Balls Near Long Branch, New Jersey

December 1, 2023

NEW YORK — A unified command composed of the Coast Guard, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Monmouth County, New Jersey, continued their response, Friday, to earlier reports of tar balls on the beach from Sea Bright, New Jersey, south to Asbury Park, New Jersey.

Manual cleanup efforts have been effective in removing recoverable tar balls and debris. To date, response crews have removed approximately 1,000 pounds of tar balls and oiled debris from impacted beaches.

Friday’s cleanup efforts were primarily focused along the shoreline in Long Branch, New Jersey.

Rain and changing wind conditions are forecast to impact the area this evening and over the weekend. Crews will monitor the shorelines throughout the weekend looking for any new signs of tar balls.

Response crews from the Coast Guard, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Monmouth County and the National Park Service completed initial shoreline assessments Wednesday. Shoreline assessments were conducted from Sandy Hook, New Jersey, to Asbury Park, New Jersey, to locate and document the extent of tar balls present. Additional assessments will take place early next week to monitor the status of cleanup efforts.

There are no reports of broader impact to the environment or wildlife at this time. Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City conducted an overflight of the area Tuesday to identify any oil pollution in the water. No oil was observed in the water during the flight.

The source of the tar balls is unknown and remains under investigation.

Assisting agencies include:

– Coast Guard Sector New York

– Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay

– National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration

– U.S. National Park Service

– U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

– New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

– Monmouth County Sheriffs Office of Emergency Management

– Monmouth County Health/HAZMAT Department

– Long Branch Office of Emergency Management

Coast Guard Sector New York received initial reports of tar balls ranging in size from approximately 1-2 inches and smaller near Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park Tuesday and dispatched pollution response personnel to investigate.

Beach goers and mariners are advised to avoid contact with the tar balls. Anyone who notices any tar balls or oil sheen in the area should contact the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802.

A unified command composed of the Coast Guard, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Monmouth County, New Jersey, continues its response, Thursday, to earlier reports of tar balls on the beach from Sea Bright, New Jersey, south to Asbury Park, New Jersey. Manual cleanup efforts have been effective in removing recoverable tar balls and debris. To date, response crews have removed approximately 1,000 pounds of tar balls and oiled debris from impacted beaches. (U.S. Coast Guard video by Chief Warrant Officer Brandyn Hill)

U.S. Coast Guard, Unified Command continues response to tar balls near Long Branch, New Jersey
U.S. Coast Guard, Unified Command established in response to tar balls near Long Branch, New Jersey
Hamilton, Hamilton, Mercer County

Wilson School Launches Rotary-Sponsored EarlyAct Service Club

1st Project Helps Feed Hungry Families

December 1, 2023

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–The George E. Wilson Elementary School in Hamilton has established an EarlyAct service club for its students. In its first weeks, the club has already collected hundreds of pounds of food to help feed hungry families in Mercer County and prepared holiday cards and bracelets for hospital patients.

The EarlyAct Club, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Robbinsville Hamilton, was officially launched today with an installation of officers ceremony at the school. The club is run by the students with general guidance from faculty advisors.

For its initial project, the club collected 302 pounds of food for the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank for distribution to families in need. Each grade in the school was involved in the collection.

EarlyAct engages students in character-building activities and prepares them for leadership roles. Students learn to identify and carry out service projects that improve the quality of life in their local community and beyond.

“I am immensely proud of the exceptional leadership skills displayed by the 4th grade officers of Wilson Elementary’s EarlyAct Club. Their remarkable abilities have left a lasting impression, showcasing promising future leaders within the school community. With the great success they had with the food drive, I am so eager to see the important work they do as the time goes on,” said Wilson Elementary School Principal Dereth Sanchez-Ahmed.

“It is heart-warming to see these young students enthusiastically and confidently organize and communicate on projects for the year. We are pleased to provide an opportunity for them to help others through EarlyAct, a world-wide program started by our local Rotary Club more than 25 years ago,” said Kalpana Patel of the Rotary Club of Robbinsville Hamilton, who with fellow Rotarians serves as a liaison to the program at Wilson School.

This year’s EarlyAct officers at the school are Christian Jones, President; Liliana Orellana, Vice President 1; Anderson Murillo, Vice President 2; Kenedi Blakely, Corresponding Secretary; Manar LaGuerre, Recording Secretary; and Meili Castanza, Treasurer. The faculty advisors are Kate McCarney and Lindsay Franicevich, along with the Wilson’s Climate Culture Specialist, Jennifer Barker.

The EarlyAct program was established in 1997 by the Rotary Club of Robbinsville Hamilton, then known as the Rotary Club of Hamilton/Washington. The first EarlyAct Club was formed at Morgan Elementary School in Hamilton and the concept became popular around the world with EarlyAct clubs being established as far away as Australia and Africa.

Greenwood Elementary School in Hamilton is also in the process of establishing a Rotary-sponsored EarlyAct Club.

Hopewell, Mercer County

Hopewell Township Resident Mark Bean Honored with 2023 Global Volunteer Award 

December 1, 2023

HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–In a testament to his unwavering commitment to community service, Mark Bean, Vice President of Compliance and Operational Risk Manager at Merrill Lynch, has been named one of the recipients of the 2023 Global Volunteer Award by Bank of America. The prestigious award recognizes the outstanding volunteer efforts of individuals within the Bank of America family, with only 80 employees out of a workforce of 200,000 being selected for this honor.

Bean, a resident of Hopewell Township, has been an exemplary figure in both the corporate and volunteer spheres. Despite his demanding role at Merrill Lynch, he has dedicated nearly a decade to actively engaging with ecological and environmental organizations in Hopewell Township, NJ.

His journey began as a passionate advocate for environmental causes, and over the years, Bean has become an integral part of various organizations dedicated to preserving and protecting the local environment. Currently, he serves as a trustee on the board and chairs the Stewardship Committee for the Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space. In addition, Bean is an advisory board member for the Hopewell Township’s Environmental Commission and an active participant in the Wild Bird Research Group.

In recognition of his outstanding volunteerism, Bean has been awarded $1,000 by Bank of America to donate to an organization of his choice. Bean has chosen to direct this generous donation to the Wild Bird Research Group, an organization dedicated to the conservation of avian populations and their habitats through bird banding.

Bean’s passion for environmental stewardship extends beyond his personal endeavors, as he actively educates the community on sustainable practices and inspires others to become stewards of the land. His dedication to creating a positive impact on the environment aligns seamlessly with Bank of America’s commitment to strengthening the communities they serve.

Mark Bean, Vice President of Compliance and Operational Risk Manager at Merrill Lynch, has been named one of the recipients of the 2023 Global Volunteer Award by Bank of America.