The Alternative Press

HOPTACONG, NJ – An addition to the borough’s traditional board of health will meet for the first time on Wednesday, July 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the Civic Center.

The Health Advisory Board was formed to “look over the health issues concerning all phases of our populations and design programs and wellness activities to raise health awareness in Hopatcong,” according to a statement by Mayor Sylvia Petillo.

Petillo said at the Wednesday, July 11, council meeting: “This is a new direction on health issues and initiatives.” She explained the new group will design programs to increase health awareness.

When the council sent out a call for members of the board, quite a few interested residents sent resumes.

“We were looking for two or three people with a medical background and others who have been involved in various ways in the community,” she said.

They got what they were looking for.

Yvonne Quinones Syto is a former member of the Hopatcong Board of Health. She received her bachelor of science degree in foods and nutrition from the College of St. Elizabeth and took part in a dietetic internship program at New York-Presbyterian Hospital – The Medical College for Cornell University. Quinones Syto received a masters degree from Vermont College and is a certified diabetes educator. She is the sole proprietor of a private nutrition consulting service and is the author of “Nutrition Map: Your Guide in Eating Healthy in the Real World.”

The other medical professional is Aaron J. Siegel. Siegel received his bachelor of science in nursing from Chamberlain College of Nursing and is enrolled in a masters program in nursing at Felician College. The director of nursing at Comfort Care in Succasunna, he is an American Heart Association Basic Life Instructor.

The other three new members of the advisory board are people who have been involved in the community for years.

Loretta Rankin is the newly elected president of Hopatcong Seniors, Inc., and serves on the Hopatcong Senior Advisory Committee. She has been involved with the senior population for years.

Henry Schmidt is a 43-year veteran of the banking industry. He served on the Hopatcong Board of Education for 14 years and is presently a trustee and head of the finance committee of St. Jude’s Church.

Fran Velarde is a certified paralegal from the Fairleigh Dickinson University program and is working toward a bachelor of arts degree in political science at Rutgers University. Fluent in three languages, she also has a retail and customer service background.

Some younger people were honored at the council meeting.

Four members of Troop 59 received their Bronze Award, the highest award for Junior Girl Scouts.

Brianna Csegeto, Wiktoria Plewa, Elizabeth Tarsitano and Hailey Torres just bridged to Cadette Scouts.

To received their Bronze awards they had to be in fourth or fifth grade and complete a Junior Journey – plan a project, put it in motion and bring it to completion.

Petillo said she and the council are pleased the scouts chose a project that fits community needs.

The girls met with Animal Control Officer Dale Sloat to learn what the needs at the pound are. They organized a donation drive at the Path-Mark in Landing all day on a Sunday. They raised $250 and decided to take $50 from their cookie sale money to give the pound $300. In addition, people donated enough items to fill the back of Scout Leader Betty Reid’s 15-passenger van.

They also took photos of the pound and created a display board for information about the pound.

The girls also cut up donated quilts into cage-sized pieces and sewed the edges so they could be used as bedding. They made 24 sets of bedding for dogs and cats and also made healthy treats for the animals in Betty’s kitchen.