2nd Annual Hoedown for Humanity
Saturday, September 16, 2006, 5-9 p.m.
Community Lodge, Camp Jefferson
81 Weldon Road, Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey
Two hundred people filled the rustic halls of Camp Jefferson on a beautiful late-summer evening and raised over $5,000. Those funds will, in turn, be used to raise a new house in Jefferson Township for a deserving low-income family. Johnny Preston established the Hoedowns for Humanity organization as a new way to raise funds and friends for local Habitat affiliates across the country while at the same time bringing square dancing back into the American mainstream as a wholesome family activity.
Hoedown participants feasted on a delicious home-cooked barbecue including pulled pork, a specialty of head chef Tom Sullivan and his wife Michele of Budd Lake. Diners enjoyed the beautiful weather while eating picnic-style under tents overlooking the little lake. After dinner, the Community Lodge was the site of square dancing and line dancing for all ages, led by square dance caller Johnny Preston of California and line dance instructor Ronnie Landolfi of Lake Hopatcong. Dancers got breathing breaks during a short concert by Johnny Preston and a magic show by Tom Kennedy of North Bergen, who kept the audience involved and amazed.
The youngest participants were ecstatic over the free face-painting and crafts offered by Michele Pulis and Christian DuBow of Lake Hopatcong, while adults were treated to chair massages for a dollar a minute by Karen Tweedley, also of Lake Hopatcong. The tricky tray featured more than 75 fabulous items donated by local businesses and individuals. Other articles for sale included Hoedown for Humanity t-shirts; books by Millard Fuller, the founder of Habitat for Humanity International; and home-baked goods contributed by three local square dance clubs—Kittatinny Rangers of Andover, Ironia Reelers of Randolph, and Lakeland Squares of Montville. Additional information on local square dance clubs and lessons is available at www.nnjsda.org.
All the individuals noted above donated their services. Other key volunteers were Valentino Ianetti (assistant chef), “Joe Tree” Gorgolione (sound system and western music), Randy Davis of the Jefferson Township Fire Company No. 1 (tents), and the Morris County Sheriff Explorer Post 140 (parking). Jefferson Township recreation director Grace Rhinesmith and superintendent of parks Roland Sparling generously gave of their time to arrange the outstanding camp facilities.
Debi Merz, vice president of the Jefferson Township Council, expressed the township’s firm commitment to supporting the work of Morris Habitat locally. Township officials were instrumental in providing the site of a former schoolhouse on Collins Avenue in Lake Hopatcong for building the new Habitat house as well as offering the Camp Jefferson facilities for the Hoedown. All funds raised at this Hoedown will be used for the Jefferson Township house, whose owners will be selected from applications submitted last spring. Construction professionals interested in being involved in the building (especially as volunteers) are encouraged to call the Habitat project coordinator at 973.476.4839.
A planning committee worked throughout the summer to organize the Hoedown. They are Lise Greene (chair), Kay Davis, Lee Delitzscher, Francine and Bob Leshnower, Kay Money, and Scottie Teschner. Major support was provided by “Gold Nugget” Sponsors BAE Systems of Wayne, Jefferson Township, and Office Depot of Rockaway; and “Silver Spur” Sponsors Skylands Community Bank, D&R Central Baking Corp., Jefferson Fire Company No. 1 of Milton, ReMax Realtors, and Weichert, Realtors. View all 2006 Sponsors.
- View pictures in a new window. All photos by Mike Peters and Gene Belote.