The Alternative Press

SPARTA TOWNSHIP, NJ – During the Sparta council meeting on September 25, Lisa Orloff, founder and executive director of World Care Center, presented an opportunity for volunteer training in the community.

The World Cares Center was founded after September 11, 2011 to help with disaster relief training within specific small towns.

“Instead of having community members feeling like victims needing help from the outside, they can find help within their community and are already trained for the situation,” Orloff said.

This disaster relief training came into use recently after Hurricane Irene, when the World Cares Center helped 18 families in Sussex County. Six of those families were from Sparta Township. World Cares Center volunteers worked seven days a week for six months after the hurricane.

“We have created a curriculum to teach local leaders to emerge as disaster managers, address immediate local needs, and link members into the system to provide additional support during disasters,” Orloff said.

The Center has been working in 35 different communities in New Jersey, but also serves in New York, Connecticut, and Haiti.

“Our offices are in New York City and Montclair, but more importantly, most of the work that we do is very mobile,” Orloff said.

Orloff stated that they receive funding through fundraisers, such as the Iron Skillet Cook Off, state grants and many local donations.

The council was assured that the local community emergency squads would be involved in leading training.

To learn more about the World Cares Center, click here. 

In other business:

-       The Sparta Township Manager David Troast, introduced his goals for the 2013 budget, which includes having detailed expenses and adjustments based on current trends. Troast said he believes having detailed line items of expenses will help to cut back spending by encouraging proper planning. He has also anticipated the times of lower revenue during the year to avoid unexpected spending in that area, as well. Beginning in 2013, the council will require each department to develop goals and detailed plans to meet those goals. The goal of the council is to reduce the tax increase, while still maintaining Sparta community assets. The budget will be available for review and discussion by February 2013.

-       After much discussion over the parking ordinance for Homer's Restaurant at 18 Sparta Avenue, Troast announced that the parking signs had been replaced. He also mentioned that the lot maintenance, such as sweeping and striping, has been followed according to the ordinance. The revision of this ordinance is still being discussed and could possibly be presented at the next meeting, but the council is not clear on this timing.

-       The Sparta Township Schools recently received a municipal alliance grant to fund substance abuse education programs through the Center for Prevention. This year, these programs will not be limited to the public schools, but will be available for private schools that wish to participate. “Substance abuse education is important for the whole community. Anyone is susceptible, no matter whether you go to private or public school, and anyone will benefit from this education,” Councilwoman Molly Whilesmith stated.