April 7, 2025 REGULAR MEETING

STILLWATER TOWNSHIP
RECREATION COMMISSION
April 7, 2025 @ 7:00pm

MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Carovillano (7:55 p.m.), Mrs. Minervino, Mrs. Falotico, Mrs. DiBattista, Mrs. Richardson, and Mrs. Tosti
LIASION: Mrs. Delaney and Mr. Manser were both in attendance
MEMBERS ABSENT: Mrs. Trotter

Mrs. Tosti called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. with the statement that this meeting follows the Open Public Meetings Act. Regular meetings are held on the first Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m., at the Stillwater Township Municipal Building located in Middleville, New Jersey. This meeting was held at the Stillwater Township Municipal Building.

The flag was saluted and roll call taken.

Approval of Meeting Minutes:
Mrs. Tosti made a motion to approve the minutes of the March 3, 2025, meeting, seconded by Mrs. Falotico.

Roll Call Vote: Mrs. Minervino, yes, Mrs. Falotico, yes, Mrs. DiBattista, yes, Mrs. Richardson, yes, Mrs. Tosti, yes

Payment of Bills:
Mrs. Minervino made a motion to approve the payment of the following bills totaling $1,089.29, seconded by Mrs. Richardson:
Septicare (February 2025 Porta John Rentals) – $290.00
Septicare (March 2025 Porta John Rentals) – $290.00
Amazon (Egg Hunt Supplies) -$72.79
Amazon (Egg Hunt Supplies) – $310.50
Straus News (Garage Sale Advertisement) – $126.00

Roll Call Vote: Mrs. Minervino, yes, Mrs. Falotico, yes, Mrs. DiBattista, yes, Mrs. Richardson, yes, Mrs. Tosti, yes

Correspondence:
Mrs. Richardson relayed requested senior events. One being card games and bingo, which Mrs. Richardson said will be included in the senior game night.

Open Public Session – Agenda Items Only:

The meeting was opened to the public at 7:11 p.m.

“Forest Bathing” Proposal:
Leona Kral is certified through Nature and Forest Therapy, as well as a breath and meditation coach and would like to offer “Forest Bathing” to our residents. It’s described as bathing in the atmosphere and began during the 80’s in Japan. Leona mentioned its health benefits both physically and mentally. Chemicals released from trees can improve our overall health, especially when intentional focus is taken on correct breathing measures to ensure our bodies receive these chemicals. It also allows participants to reconnect with nature and eliminate the noise of the mind and the world around us. Each session is typically between two and three hours. She prefers at least 10 participants, but 15 participants would be her maximum allowance. These sessions would be seasonal, allowing each season to follow a theme. The Recreation Commission was interested in offering this to our residents. More details to follow.

Field Use Applications:
No applications to review

Water Safety Update: Maureen Tsadilas
Mrs. Tsadilas was unable to attend our meeting, therefore no updates are available.

The meeting was closed to the public at 7:27 p.m.

Amendments to the Agenda:
There were no amendments made to the agenda.

Old Business:
There is no old business to report.

New Business:
There is no new business to report.

Sub-Committee Reports:
a. Clean Up Day 4/5/2025 – Mrs. Tosti:
There were 13 groups total, which will receive funds from the Clean Communities grant. Mrs. Tosti mentioned rough estimates on totals for garbage, recycling, and tires. However, final totals will be read at the next meeting. Mrs. DiBattista, who volunteered for a non-profit group during clean-up day, took notice on how dangerously close some vehicles came to them, regardless of the cones they had set out, vests they were wearing, and having their hazards blinking on their own vehicles. The Recreation Commission determined that there will need to be more safety awareness measures moving forward as well as asking our CFO if there is any grant money available from Clean Communities to purchase additional safety items for next year (window flags for example). Although a safety speech is given before the groups head out, it was mentioned that not all participants pay attention as well as some not seeing the importance of wearing the required brightly colored clothing or vests. Mrs. DiBattista’s observation confirms
that Mrs. Tosti thanked all the members who volunteered and provided feedback.

b. Miss Stillwater, Little Miss and Mr. Stillwater 6/1/2025 @ 3pm – Mrs. Minervino:
There are two applicants thus far. One for Little Mister and one for Junior. Judges have been chosen: a dentist, an oncology nurse/business owner, and a criminal justice student/intern. A fourth judge, a teacher, has also been contacted if one of the three other judges cannot be in attendance. The event flyer has been advertised in the school newsletter as well as submitted to the newspaper.

c. Stillwater Day 6/7/2025:
There was quite a bit accomplished at the meeting held on March 25, 2025. The parade route (Main Street to Veteran’s) was discussed with the engineer. The roads will hopefully be closed from 10:00 a.m. on, this still needs to be confirmed. The horse and carriage have been secured from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Phyllis McGeehan has 25 artisans for the map on Main Street. She
is also working on flags – there will be 37 in total. Hyde Away will be open. There are 12 food vendors who filled out applications, but only 5 confirmed who have paid thus far. Save the dates have been sent out. Mrs. Tosti and Mrs. Richardson are taking care of the games. The Historical Society have two historical plaques through the county for the Academy and Keens Mill. The Township will be paying for half of the expense with the County. The Proclamation has been set. Mrs. Tosti mentioned that non-profit (lacrosse, soccer, and baseball) were interested in running games to raise money for their fundraising – $1.00 to play for example. Mr. Carovillano said baseball may participate in the dunk tank, but no commitments have been made. Ed Caffrey
typically donates and transports this for us, so Little League would only be responsible for manning the operation. Mrs. Delaney mentioned what a great job our DPW has done at Veteran’s and said to please thank them if you see them. The next Bicentennial workshop meeting will be held on April 29, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.

d. Garage Sale Weekend 5/17/2025 & 5/18/2025 – Mrs. Wunder:
Mrs. Wunder requested that Mrs. Delaney (of Minisink Press) provide a quote for printing new signage for advertisements. The signage will be like the ones we have used in the past, but with an option to easily and neatly change out the dates in need with Velcro. Mrs. Delaney obtained quotes for 18 x 24 signs at $24.00-$25.00 per sign (10 signs total). The cost was more than the Commission expected, so we may revisit this option at a later date. For now, we will reuse the signage that we have, and Mrs. Delaney offered to print out the new dates needed for our existing signs – thank you! Signs will be updated and displayed for advertisement before May 1st.

e. Summer Camp 8/11/2025-8/22/2025 – Mrs. Tosti:
No updates.

f. Sussex County Day:
No updates.

g. Decorating Contests (Holiday) – Mrs. Minervino:
No updates.

h. Tree Lighting – Mrs. Tosti/Mrs. Richardson:
No updates.

i. Egg Hunt 4/12/2025 RD: 4/13/2025 – Mrs. Falotico and Mrs. DiBattista:
Eggs have been stuffed. Prizes and supplies are still being delivered. There will be 512 eggs per age group (mix of candy/non candy). There are four prize baskets per age group. There are plenty of additional prizes available as well. The Easter Bunny has been secured. The Fire Department will be in attendance. Set up will begin at 10:30 a.m. If you can volunteer in any way, please contact Mrs. Falotico or Mrs. DiBattista. Festivities will begin at 1:00 p.m. Cones are still needed. Mrs. Tosti mentioned that JoJo will get them. Mrs. Tosti also said she knows someone who is willing to do face painting if needed. Due to the possibility of inclement weather, Mrs. Falotico said the decision to hold the event on Saturday or move it to its rain date will be made Friday morning.

j. Field/Pavilion Application Approvals, Scheduling – Mrs. Tosti:
Mrs. Tosti read a list of all field applications she has received, which fields were requested, dates, times, and confirmation of insurance. All applications have been previously discussed and approved in prior meetings, but a motion was made to approve all applications as final confirmation of their review and acceptance.Mrs. Tosti made a motion to approve all field use applications received, seconded by Mrs. Richardson.

Roll Call Vote: Mr. Carovillano, yes, Mrs. Minervino, yes, Mrs. Falotico, yes, Mrs. DiBattista, yes, Mrs. Richardson, yes, Mrs. Tosti, yes

k. Field Maintenance – Mr. Carovillano:
Mr. Carovillano had a conversation with all coaches reminding them about the importance of maintaining and caring for our fields. All fields look good. He is working on the third quote for the mound. Mr. Carovillano confirmed that Little League will be contributing to the mound. Their portion shall not exceed $1,500.00 (about half of the cost). It was noted that the large soccer nets at Volunteer Field are in bad condition. Mrs. Tosti will obtain quotes for our next
meeting. Mrs. DiBattista mentioned that a group of people have been repeatedly spotted at Veteran’s Field smoking around smaller children during her daughter’s softball practice. She was unsure if it would be acceptable to say something to them. The Commission encouraged anyone who sees something unacceptable, especially around small children, to say something. Air pods were left behind, they are in the shed if someone claims them.

l. Senior Wellness Program – Dawn Tighe:
The WISE (Wellness Initiative for Senior Education) Vets Wellness Program is for all seniors 55 and older. It addresses veterans’ unique health challenges by providing educational tips on managing health, reducing disease risk, and improving overall well-being. Participants will benefit from interactive sessions covering the aging process, disease prevention, medication management, and strategies for a healthier lifestyle. The program also offers a platform for veterans to connect with peers, share experiences, and learn about veteran-specific resources. Free lunch, educational discussions, activities, and guest speakers are included. Members of the Recreation Commission do not have to attend, but please relay this information to anyone who may be interested!

m. Senior Game Night 4/24/2025 @ 6-8pm @ Community Center– Mrs. Richardson:
No updates.

n. Veteran’s Event 11/9/2025 @ Community Center– Mrs. Minervino:
No updates.

o. Emergency Services 9/11 Recognition Luncheon 9/7/2025 – Mrs. Minervino:
No updates.

p. Sheriff’s Office @ 1-2pm @ Community Center – Mrs. Minervino:
All are welcome!

SCHEDULE
3/18/25 13 Signs Your Home is Vulnerable – This was a well-attended event!
5/13/25 – Senior ID Cards
7/15/25 – Phone Numbers to Know
August (during Summer Camp – date to be decided) K-9 Demonstration
9/16/25 – 911 Center
11/18/25 – Car Theft Device

q. Trunk or Treat 10/26/2025 @ Veteran’s Park –Mrs. Trotter:
No updates.

r. Pop Up Vendor Fair – Mrs. Tosti:
No updates.

s. Plant Exchange – Mrs. Tosti:
No updates.

Open Public Session:
The meeting was opened to the public at 8:34 p.m.

No one from the public wished to speak.

The open public session was closed at 8:34 p.m.

Committee Member Comments:
There were no Committee member comments.

Liaison Report: Mr. Manser and Mrs. Delaney
Residents were present during the Township Committee meeting to discuss the Division of Planning and Economic Development. The state of New Jersey would like Sussex County to look at the Township’s inconsistencies in regard to planning. Specific areas in Stillwater were recognized. These areas will be reviewed, and information will be used to update the Planning and Economic Survey. This will be completed in either September or October.

There will be three or four Board of Health meetings held prior to the Township Committee’s meetings. Septic issues amongst other concerns will be discussed.

The Sheriff’s office was given $20,000 to do road trafficking to reduce the presence of tractor trailers in Stillwater. If you see anything, please take down any information possible to assist in tracking down violators.

A recycling book drop off will be placed at the recycling center near the newspapers/papers.

Sixth graders at Stillwater school will be planting plants and shrubs around the Community Center.

The next Township Committee meeting will be held on April 15, 2025, where our budget will be voted on.

Unfortunately, we were not chosen for the grant (designated for projects/improvements at the Community Center), but Stillwater School did receive the grant so at least it stayed within our community and for our children.

Adjournment:
Mrs. Tosti made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:48 p.m., seconded by Mr. Carovillano. A vote was taken, and all were in favor.

Respectfully Submitted,
Danielle Wunder, Secretary