Dr. Frederick Hummel, Crestwood Manor, Whiting, NJ

For Dr. Frederick Hummel, working with his hands has been both his hobby and his profession.  This retired surgeon, who moved to Crestwood manor in February together with his wife Ruth, has been a woodworker for much of his adult life.  His hobby, he estimates, dates back some 40 or 50 years.

Unlike some hobbyists whose creations are more attractive than functional, Dr. Hummel’s natural affinity for woodworking has yielded a lifetime of useful—and handsome items.

“I’ve made tables, bookcases, chairs, dozens of coasters, wastebaskets out of beer cans and credit cards,” Dr. Hummel said.

“I made an eight-sided poker table from eight kinds of hardwood and pockets that open for chips and beer.  “I’ve made lamps—I call them ‘Tiffanoid’ because I’ve embedded the glass in oak strips not in lead.

Dr. Hummel said his woodworking interest and expertise began after he left the service in 1945 and bought a home in Belmar together with Mrs. Hummel.  Doing all the work himself, Dr. Hummel remodeled the home’s interior with knotty cedar.  It’s a talent that runs in the family—Dr. Hummel’s father and his son are both woodworkers as well.

Dr. and Mrs. Hummel, originally from Brick Township, have lived in Crestwood Village for 21 years, with a four-year detour in Vermont from 1988 to 1992.  In fact, just after retiring from surgery in the mid-1970s, Dr. Hummel was a doctor at Crestwood Village. “I made house calls and I got to know the area,” he said.

Eleanor Pearson, Crestwood Manor, Whiting, NJ

When Eleanor Pearson’s father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 1984, he became one of the nearly 2 million Americans afflicted with the devastating illness.  Like most loved ones of Alzheimer’s patients, Eleanor, a Crestwood Manor resident, developed a new awareness of the condition and vowed to learn all she could about it.

Over the past 15 years—during which the number of Americans with Alzheimer’s skyrocketed to 5 million—Eleanor has worked tirelessly for the Greater New Jersey chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.  As a board member, she does whatever is necessary to help the organization meet its goals: promoting awareness of the disease and publicizing the importance of finding breakthroughs in its prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cures.  She does this, in part, by attending board and committee meetings, participating in various fundraising events, and taking part in the primary educational conference the chapter conducts for social workers and health educators.

Eleanor shares her passion with fellow Crestwood Manor residents, many of whom have loved ones with the illness.  At her initiation, the community will conduct its first candlelight vigil on November 3, the first Monday of November—the day that New Jersey Governor Corzine designated “Alzheimer’s Awareness Day.”  The vigil will become an annual event at Crestwood Manor, as the community rallies around Alzheimer’s awareness.

Sylvia Weiss-Meadow Lakes, East Windsor, NJ

Sylvia Weiss crosses my path once in a while, but she is never cross.  She is always delightful.  If you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting this much admired former East Windsor Councilwoman, you are in for a treat.  Recently she proposed that we dedicate 9/11 as “Good Deed Day.”  I think this is a wonderful idea.  As this will appear after the one-year remembrance of 9/11, I suggest that Good Deeds never go out of style, and that we pledge at least one Good Deed in memory of those we lost, as a tribute to those who acted so heroically, and as a kindness to those who lost a loved one.

Sylvia will be glad to know that youth volunteers and those who work with youth like the idea of good deeds as well.  Champions of Hope’s United Day of Service kicked off the Seasons of Hope campaign on September 11, 2002.  This special day began a yearlong focus on five worthy Freedom Programs.  Young people from all 50 states and from around the world are tackling everything from literacy, hunger, environment and polio to supporting local fire, police and rescue organizations.  They plan to collect 911,000 books for literacy programs, collect and deliver 911,000 tons of food to the hungry, plant 911,000 trees and raise $911,000 through car washes for local fire, police and rescue organizations.  That is indeed, a good many deeds

Caroline Stuart, Meadow Lakes, East Windsor, NJ

Caroline Stuart, A former guidance counselor and a resident at Meadow Lakes for the past 16 years was presented with the 2007 Sylvia Weiss Senior Citizen Award for Outstanding Service as a Volunteer by East Windsor Mayor Janice Mironov.

The Sylvia Weiss Award, presented annually by East Windsor Township, recognizes a senior citizen who has exhibited outstanding service through volunteerism to the community by way of schools, religious institutions, service organizations or directly to the public.

“Caroline Stuart’s involvement demonstrates a passion and deep dedication to encouraging and assisting people, providing care and comfort to Meadow Lakes residents and assisting our local students in preparing for future educational and professional opportunities,” said East Windsor Mayor Janice Mironov. “We are proud to have Mrs. Caroline Stuart as a part of our community.”

“Mrs. Stuart is not only a tireless volunteer at Meadow lakes, she is a leader and a role model in thought and in action,” said Meadow Lakes Executive Director Jay Zimmer. “Her recognition today is well deserved.”

She has chaired the Health Care Committee, the Master Plan Committee and the Education Award Committee at Meadow Lakes. She has been president of the resident leadership body, “the Forum,” and she has served for several years as regional vice president of the Organization of Residents Association of New Jersey.