VOL. XII NUMBER 1 May 2000
The speculative fever that seized a country before the new year has passed. And without the calamity so many predicted. But one general prediction about emerging diseases and mosquitoes came with us into the new century. Less than one year ago West Nile Fever was barely in our vocabulary when abruptly it became out most often spoken term. West Nile virus control was easily drawn into out operational plans due to its similarity to St Louis Encephalitis that we have been preventing. The years of apprehension, fed by not getting the funding not status nor even keeping the status quo, have ended. Political leaders are this year providing funds. Millions of citizens are anxious about the return of West Nile Virus and about our ability to control this threat. A new year, a new century, a new status and a new mosquito season are upon us. They are demands and opportunities.
This year's revisions to the N. J. Pesticide Regulations do not seem as intimidating as in the past years. The regulators have, in recent years, been found to be reasonable and new discussions have been opened. Regulators who impact out Water Management projects have been shown again the need for our work and how it can be conducted in harmony with good environmental balance. The permit process is not the impediment it was first perceived to be, but considerable work is being performed under countywide blanket permits.
The recent annual meeting held jointly with AMCA was a great success in part due to the work of members of this Association. They will again pull together to make the relocation of the central office of AMCA to New Jersey a success. Placing the central office of the international association on the Rutgers University campus - proximate to Washington DC, and near the news media attention of multiple urban centers - holds benefits for the mosquito control community nation-wide.
Surely, much of the state of New Jersey was exposed to West Nile Virus last season. In New Jersey, just as surely, every mosquito killed and every generation prevented in the name of nuisance control - or, with even a thought towards SLE control - was also a strike against the spread of West Nile Virus. So, while it is easy to find pessimistic and foreboding stories in the Proceedings from some eras, this year should be the beginning of an optimistic era. All of us - staff, management, and commissioners - have at times rightfully felt under funded and under appreciated, That needs not happen this year. As in every year, we have the well being of the public in our hands. Now, after many years we also have their attention. I am sure we will meet the demands., I hope we also take the opportunities.
Howard Emerson, President, New Jersey Mosquito Control Association, Inc.
News from the 87th Annual Meeting of the NJMCA, Inc.
25 Year Service Award: The 25-year service award was presented to Claudia O'Malley, Burlington County Mosquito Control, John Kranz, Middlesex County MEC, and Thomas Candeletti, Ocean County MEC.
12 Year Service Award: This year the Achievement award was presented to five professionals in the mosquito control family. These individuals have at least twelve years in mosquito control and are about to retire, and they are: Walter Goodwin 25 years (Cumberland County Mosquito Control), Leonard Soccio 39 years (Passaic County), Chester Stahecki 37 years (Delaware Mosquito Control), Richard Newmann 14 years (Delaware Mosquito Control), and Joyce Hoffman 14 years (Cape May MEC).
"Bunny Hajek" Award: William (Bill) Zawicki was honored as the recipient of the Association's "Bunnie Hajek" Award.
Election Results: At the NJMCA Inc business meeting held during the Annual Meeting of the AMCA & NJMCA, Inc at Bally's Park Place Hotel Casino in March 2000, the following were elected as the officers of the Association: President, Howard Emerson (Camden County MEC), 1st Vice President, Rod Schmidt (Middlesex County MEC), 2nd, Vice President Claudia O'Malley (Burlington County Mosquito Control), Secretary Dr Wayne Crans (Rutgers MC&R), Treasurer James McNelly (Clarke Mosquito Control).
The following trustees were elected as at-large trustees to the Executive Committee: Marc Slaff (Morris County MEC), Bill Zawicki (Vector Mgt. Consult, Inc) and Marc DiDominico (Essex County Mosquito Control).
Five regular members of the Association were elected to be at-large trustees to the Association Board of Trustees: Dave Adams (NJ Dept Health and Sen Services), Peter Bosak (Cape May MEC), Lisa Reed (Rutgers MR&C), Dr Donald Sutherland (Rutgers MR&C, ret.), and Bill Zawicki (Ocean County MEC).
Scott Crans, Presiden of the Associated Executives of Mosquito Control Workers of New JErsey presented the Associated Executives "Jessie B. Leslie" award to three individuals at the NJMCA annual business meeting March 13, 2000.
The first award was presented to Dave Adams for "outstanding service" from an individual outside the :professional ranks" of the mosquito control fraternity. Dave is a coordinator of Health Projects for the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services and has served on the State Mosquito Control Commission wince 1978.
The second "Jessie B. Leslie" award was given to Leonard Soccio for "meritorious service" to mosquito control work. Mr. Soccio, recently retired as the Director of the Bergen County Division of Mosquito Control, spent 39 years doing mosquito control in Bergen County.
An unprecedented third "Jessie B. Leslie" award was presented to Dr. Wayne J. Crans, also in the category of "meritorious service" to mosquito control work. Dr Crans, currently the Director of Mosquito Research and Control at Rutgers University, has given 41 years of unselfish service to mosquito control.
Commercial
Exhibits: J. Kranz (CH), R. Kent, R. Candeletti, J. McNelly
Convention Arrangements: M. Chomsky (CH), A. Crans, T. Candeletti, C. O’Malley, J. Hansen, J. McNelly, W. Reinert, L. Undercuffler, T. Sellers, C. Vollero, W. Zawicki
Program: T.
Candeletti(Co-Ch), M. Slaff(Co-Ch), W. Crans, R. Kent, V. Thompson, B.
Duryea
Projection:
L.
Reed (CH), A. Juszcyk, S. Longo, J. Nunemaker, M. Romanowski, Rutgers
Graduate Students
Registration/Companion:
L.
Undercuffler (CH), L. Dickson, M. Banks, P. Gillis, A.
Crans,
G. Lillis, K. Grace
Awards/Resolutions: M. Hajek (CH), R. Outlaw, J. Kuschke, C. Vollero, P. Conover
Auditing:
T.
Sellers (CH), C. Musa, R. Candeletti
Editorial
Board:
M.Slaff (CH),
K. Bruder, W. Crans, L. Spiegel, P. Bosak
Pesticide
Training: G. Hamilton (CH), S. Crans, R. Duryea, J. Pannone, C.
O’Malley
Education:
R.
Schmidt (CH), M. Slaff, D. Markowski, C. Musa, C. O’Malley, K. McMorland,
P. Bosak
Legislative:
M.
Chomsky (CH), W. Reinert, R. Kent, W. Meredith, H. Rupp
Membership: J. Nunemaker (CH), C. Musa, R. Schmidt, W. Crans,
J. McNelly
Newsletter:
W. Reinert (CH), W. Crans, R. Duryea, C. O’Malley,
M. Romanowski,
L. Undercuffler, T. Moran
Public
Relations: C.
Musa (CH), M. Romanowski, S. Crans, C. Vollero,
R.
Kent, M. Hajek, E. Sokorai, D. Ninivaggi, J. McNelly, M. DiDomenico
Research & Development: M. Romanowski (Co-CH), R. Kent (Co-CH), D. Chort, R. Duryea, P. Bosak, F. Mahmood, D. Guthrie, R. Schmidt, C. O’Malley, C. Lesser, K. McMorland
University
Liaison: M. Chomsky (CH), W. Crans, T. Sellers, D. Sutherland,
M. Slaff
Interstate:
S. Crans (CH), D. Arbegast, R. Candeletti, A. Gettman,
D. Ninivaggi, C.
Lesser, R. Wolfe
Historical/Archives:
R. Schmidt (CH), A. Juszcyk, M. DiDomenico, K.
McMorland
By-Laws:
T. Candeletti (CH), W. Reinert, M. Slaff, C.
O’Malley
Computer:
S. Crans (CH), W. Crans, W. Reinert, T.Rainey, E.
Sokorai, J. Nunemaker
Scholarship:
J. Hansen (CH), D. Sutherland, W. Crans, L. Spiegel
PESP:
W. Crans (CH), M. Chomsky, W. Zawicki, W. Reinert, K.
Bruder
Executive:
H. Emerson (CH), R. Schmidt, W. Crans, J. McNelly, C.
O’Malley, J. Hansen, M. DiDomenico, W. Zawicki, M. Slaff
Camden County: To fill the giant void left by the retirement (retiring?) of two employees last year, the Camden County MEC has hired two new employees. William Holland has been hired as an inspector. Mr Holland actually worked for the Commission in this capacity six or seven years ago, and is therefore quite familiar with mosquito control operations. Michael Trocajlo has been hired as an Inspector Trainee. Mr. trocajlo comes to the Commission with experience in the lawn care profession.
Warren County: Greg Steidl was hired by the Warren County Mosquito Commission in May this year. Greg will be the Marsh Specialist for the Commission and will obtain permits, do site plan review and other activities for the Commissions water management program.
Florence Miller Gaspari 1935-2000
Florence was a long time resident of North Brunswick, Middlesex County. She was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
She was a graduate of Rutgers University and worked as a mother, interior designer and licensed realtor/broker. It was her job as an interior designer that put her in contact with the Middlesex County Mosquito Extermination Commission. She redesigned and renovated the laboratory and offices of the Commission. It was this contact that got her interested in mosquito control and ultimately led to her becoming a commissioner. Florence was a commissioner since 1974.
During her terms as commissioner she held the offices if treasurer, vice-president and president. She was a very giving person who was always willing to take the extra effort to make sure to fulfill her responsibility and satisfy the people she worked for.
Florence is survived by her husband James S. Gaspari who was a member of the State Mosquito Control Commission, a son, Charles and two daughters, Carol and Jennifer.
She will be greatly missed as a commissioner but even more so as the friend she was to everyone.
Rod Schmidt, Middlesex County MEC
Many of us in mosquito control, public health and pest control have fond memories of Walter, recalling numerous examples of his humor, professionalism, dedication to both his family and the job, honesty, love of politics and social conscience, while working for 30 years as an entomologist with the New Jersey Department of Health until his retirement in 1988.
Walter was in the Civilian Conservation Corps and was an army veteran of World War II, serving in North Africa, Italy, and France. He graduated from Cornell University and received an M. S. degree from Cook College [from Jobbins in 1972: Indicators of physiological age in Aedes sollicitans]. He actively participated in many Jamesburg community organizations, as well as the Ethical Humanist Fellowship and the Civilian Conservation Corp Alumni. Walter is survived by his wife Rosemarie, who took care of him through years of difficult health problems, and his son Reed and his daughter Holly.
Following the 1959 outbreak of EEE, Walter had much of the responsibility for establishing the EEE mosquito surveillance at four study sites in its early years of existence. He constantly tried new innovations, such as modifying light traps for better mosquito survival, and searching for overwintering vectors and reservoirs of EEE. He was responsible for training many in public health and pest control in the areas of rodent and cockroach control and bat management. He participated in cockroach control research with Cook College which demonstrated the effectiveness of pyrethrins as a flushing agent and boric acid powder as a control agent. Above all, Walter was always willing to help those in need with a problem whether it was someone with a hornets nest which required immediate attention, or a friend in need of a little humor.
I will greatly miss my good friend and long-time associate.
Dave S. Adams, NJ Department of Health and Senior Services
by Wayne J. Crans, Rutgers University
They sprayed and sprayed till their eyes got sore,
Then they refilled their machines and sprayed some more,
They worked most of the while night through,
Killing mosquitoes for me and for you.
Their labors resulted in great success,
Of every one hundred mosquitoes, there were ninety-nine less.
But they were mocked and they were scorned,
Their heads with criticism were adorned.
What could be the problem then,
That such reward befell these men?
The answer is as simple as numbers can be,
And the calculations reveal for all to see.
That if ninety-nine percent of one billion are slain,
Ten million of those devils still remain.
Matt Yates, May 1999.