Audio Transcription

00:00:00 Bert Baron
Another year of partnering with the Arc of Warren County! That’s very exciting news with us here at the RNJ morning program, where we’ll get some monthly updates just to keep you in the in the know of all the great upcoming events, things that are going on with the Arc of Warren, signature events that we look forward to every year. We’ll give you that and even some new things as well.

Annamaria Lalevee is here with me here, live in the RNJ studio. It’s our first one of 2025. How are you doing?

00:00:25 Annamaria Lalevee
It is. Happy New year. I’m doing well. How about you Bert?

00:00:28 Bert Baron
Happy New Year to you too. I’m weathering this cold weather as best I can, but we will be OK and I’m really excited. I- I sense a breakout year for the Arc of Warren County where you’re just going to encounter so many incredible things and it seems like no matter where I am I see somebody wearing like a Warren Arc shirts or jackets or something, or a drive by one of the other locations in the state and right away I think of you and all the great work that you and everybody in Warren are doing.

00:00:59 Annamaria Lalevee
I love that.

00:01:00 Bert Baron
I was somewhere somebody had an Arc T-shirt on like, “Look! An Arc T-shirt!” And it was somebody for one of the other chapters and I thought, “That reminds me, I got to make sure Annamaria is good for next week…”

But it’s just that the brand continues to grow and I think word just continues to get out about the great work and the families and I mean 70 years, I mean, obviously things you’re doing something right for 70 years, right?

00:01:23 Annamaria Lalevee
Thank you.

00:01:23 Bert Baron
But year 71 is upon us here now, and some things you want to talk about this morning. I’ll let you go ahead. What’s first for us?

00:01:30 Annamaria Lalevee
Well, I just wanted to say thank you to the John and Margaret Post Foundation. They funded the cost of two power generators, one of which will be earmarked for one of our residences in Greenwich Township and the other generator is going to be earmarked for our Camp Warren location.

00:01:53 Bert Baron
Oh, nice, good.

00:01:53 Annamaria Lalevee
So we are thrilled about that. We have been submitting grant proposals to this foundation since 2019 and they have funded multiple ones throughout the years and I cannot say what a benefit that has been for us. I cannot emphasize that enough because, basically, If we lose power our residents have to be relocated. The state of New Jersey mandates that relocation is necessary in extreme cold or hot temperatures, and plus, it’s not safe in general, right?

00:02:27 Bert Baron
Imagine a day like this, as if it’s just forget about the uncomfortable that is. Now you like you said, you got to relocate people. I mean, and it’s difficult for them to have to pack up and travel in cold weather like this. The fact that they can stay in an area that they’re used to, that they’re acclimated in. That’s really huge.

00:02:45 Annamaria Lalevee
Absolutely.

00:02:45 Bert Baron
Thank you to the to the folks that made that possible.

00:02:47 Annamaria Lalevee
Yes, thank you so much. It’s a huge benefit for us. You know, we had situation like I mean I know it was many years ago, but Hurricane Sandy where we had to relocate most of our residents and you know there were there weren’t even hotels nearby to go to so.

00:03:00 Bert Baron
Oh boy, Yeah, that’s right.

00:03:08 Annamaria Lalevee
It’s very frightening and it’s very disruptive to the people that we serve.

00:03:12 Bert Baron
So this is good. This will go a long way. That’s excellent.

All right. What’s next that you wanted to cover for us today?

00:03:18 Annamaria Lalevee
Yeah, So we put out our Annual Appeal and it was really focusing on the culmination of 70 years of service. We put it out last month in December, so it’s still active. It goes toward any of our services. If anyone is interested in donating to our annual appeal or you know we’re wrapping it up this month so you can do so, you can always give me a call 908-223-0884 or go to arcwarren.org/70Years

Now we’re in our 71st year, so it should no longer 70 years, but…

00:03:54 Bert Baron
There we go- year 71!

00:03:56 Annamaria Lalevee
Still, you know that was a focus of our Annual Appeal. And really, you know, that was a focus of our gala and we kind of just extended it out with our annual appeal.

00:04:04 Bert Baron
So when I post this audio later, I got to go back to the old. The 71 for last year only okay.

00:04:08 Annamaria Lalevee
Yes, the 70.

00:04:10 Annamaria Lalevee
Yeah, but if you don’t, you know it’s all good.

00:04:16 Bert Baron
Annamaria Lalevee is here for our first monthly segment with the Arc of Warren County catching you up on some things that are going on currently, of course. So we’re going to keep you updated all year long of all the great events that are coming up with The Arc. And you also had our final thing… A return of an event that maybe some folks look forward to every year. It took a little bit of a break, but it’s coming back this year. What’s that about?

00:04:39 Annamaria Lalevee
Yeah, we are really thrilled to partner with the Key Club of Hackettstown High School. We did the Mini-Carnival at Hackettstown High School for probably 20 or more years and then COVID hit and we haven’t done it since, so it’s five years.

00:04:53 Bert Baron
Wow.

00:04:59 Annamaria Lalevee
We’re working with Mrs. Katelyn McSweeney, who is the Advisor there and we’re bringing it back and I’m so thrilled and we’re going to be working directly with the students to do.

00:05:09 Bert Baron
Nice.

00:05:14 Annamaria Lalevee
It’s basically just an awareness event where there’s a lot of different activities at the high school. It used to be on a Sunday, but we are doing it on a Saturday this year. You know, changing it up right?

00:05:25 Bert Baron
Nice.

00:05:25 Annamaria Lalevee
So it’s going to be on March 8th, 2025 from 11:00 to 2:00.*Correction: The Mini-Carnival will be held from 10am to 1pm on March 8th, 2025. More details here: https://www.arcwarren.org/events/  *

We’re going to have all different kind of you know activities. We’re in the we’re in the planning process. So it’s going to be an inexpensive way to entertain your children while also benefiting a great organization.

00:05:53 Bert Baron
I’ll see you between now and then, but I just wanted to take note of that and get in my calendar now. So that’s cool.

00:05:54 Annamaria Lalevee
Oh yeah.

00:05:58 Bert Baron
Glad that’s back. Good.

00:05:59 Annamaria Lalevee
Yeah. And I’ve also, and I’ve I believe WRNJ might have a presence there too.

00:06:03 Bert Baron
II think that is an outstanding idea. I think we should have some kind of presence there. You’re right.

Hopefully you’ll do the same and mark your calendar and look forward to the return of that great event too. Good stuff, Annamaria.

Where can someone go online to learn a little bit more about what the Arc does on a day in-day out basis?

00:06:20 Annamaria Lalevee
You can absolutely follow us on Facebook on LinkedIn, on Instagram, and also go on our website, arcwarren.org.

00:06:32 Bert Baron
Wonderful. Alright, we’ll see you again in February.

00:06:34 Annamaria Lalevee
Looking forward to it.

00:06:35 Bert Baron
You’re not working outside today, are you?

00:06:37 Annamaria Lalevee
I am definitely not. Definitely not.

00:06:38 Bert Baron
All right, good. Just checking.

[End of recording]