Memorial Day 2021 Issue

More documents

Recommendations

Info

The Davis family gathers with friends after breaking ground at their Lake Shawnee home in October. Messages of hope and good luck were painted on wall studs. Frank Caccavale with two of his students, Randy DePalma, left, and Matt Seminara, right. Photo courtesy of Morris Habitat for Humanity Volunteers, Families Don’t Let Pandemic Get in the Way of Housing Dreams Roxbury School s Mon Whi helps buil first se of a mo h 22 Story by MELISSA SUMMERS Photos by KAREN FUCITO The coronavirus pandemic has slowed down many things in the last year, but it has not stopped the hammers from swinging as Morris Habitat for Humanity took on two ambitious projects that will provide homes to some very deserving families. Chief Executive Officer Blair Schleicher Wilson said the organization continues to face challenges related to COVID-19 and has had to continually adjust. “The [housing] need isn’t going away, in fact it’s gotten worse,” she said. “We lost our volunteer program,” Wilson said. “Corporate groups have not been there. We had to take a good hard look at our business model and how we’ll continue to deliver on our mission. And we’re doing it.” That’s where thinking outside the ‘tool’ box came in. On World Habitat Day—October 5, 2020— a truly extraordinary venture kicked off via virtual meeting. Roxbury High School students set out to construct a modular home on the school campus that will be transported and assembled at a site in Landing. The build centers around two sections of an innovative class at Roxbury called Structural Design and Fabrication (SDF), led by teacher Frank Caccavale. LAKE HOPATCONG NEWS Memorial Day 2021 Caccavale, who describes himself as one of the “Habitat faithful,” has been a frequent volunteer with the organization and had brought students over the last few years to one of Morris Habitat’s previous builds at 119-121 Main Street in Succasunna. It was during that process, in February 2020, that Caccavale collaborated with organizers to design a program for high school students. “They really believed that Roxbury was the right school to take this on,” Caccavale said. “Habitat already had a relationship with the town and Roxbury schools had a strong commitment to teaching students to work with their hands and an education in the skilled trades.” Roxbury High School’s original auto shop, which had been used as district storage since the early 2000s, was converted to a 2,000-squarefoot classroom space in 2019. SDF had been focused on smaller district and community projects, but Caccavale believed his students were ready for more. “We had a space that was well-equipped, and it became a partnership that really made sense,” he said. “We are the first school that I’ve heard of that is doing anything like this in New Jersey.” According to Wilson, this type of joint effort has been successful around the country. “We would love to replicate it,” she said of the opportunity to make it part of a high school education. “Because the world needs people who know about all aspects of building, from the first shovel in the ground to every level of contractors.” Plans for the Landing home were drawn up over several months of discussion and donated by Babula Architecture of Morris Plains to fit the unusually shaped plot of land at the corner of Edith Road and Mansel Drive, Caccavale said. “We are building it in two halves that are going to be transported by trailer to the site. We made one half relatively ‘easy,’ in the sense that it doesn’t include plumbing, and therefore involves fewer steps.” It’s a plan that has suited this already challenging school year well. “Scaling it back a little made sense, and we are still hopeful to have the first half done by the end of the 2020-2021 school year,” Caccavale said. The second half and final details will be completed by students enrolled in the program during the 2021-2022 school year. The foundation for the home, designed primarily as a ranch with a garage and basement under the living space, will be constructed by Morris Habitat, and Caccavale said the home they build must fit the footprint exactly. Walls have already begun to rise from the structure currently situated outside the SDF lab. Not only that, but each half of the home must be able to be successfully transported from the
ht. Phyllis Chanda pulls a chalk line across a piece of plywood. bury High ool senior Monique Whitfield build the st section a modular home. Construction Site Supervisor Mike Dakak works with volunteer Ray Hom at the Lake Shawnee location. high school to the site. “The roof is unique, with trusses that fold flat in order to clear powerlines,” Caccavale explained. “GAF in Parsippany, who is donating all the materials for the project, is bringing in some of their instructors who will teach us how to do the roofing, once the home is in place.” Caccavale also decided to bring on a Master in Residence. John Martin, who spent seven years working with Habitat for Humanity, had to step down to help manage family life during the pandemic. Caccavale jumped at the chance to bring Martin to Roxbury part time and approached him with the idea. “We realized that with the partnership with Habitat, I was the perfect fit,” Martin said. The best part is getting to see students experience “aha” moments, said Martin. “In construction, we use certain areas of math quite often,” he said. “If they see it in the real world, they see where it’s applicable—where it can be used.” The project has become the highlight of the school day for the 15 students enrolled in SDF. For them, it’s an opportunity for open-air, hands-on, in-person learning that could lead to a career in any number of fields. “I’ve taken classes like woodshop, and I really love working with my hands,” said 18-year-old senior Kyle Finnan of Landing. “When I saw this class—I love construction, planning and designing—I thought it would be a good fit.” Senior Alex Harrington, 18, of Ledgewood, had been planning to take the class since he was a sophomore. With hopes of becoming an architect, he wanted more than just a classroom introduction. “It’s so much more handson,” he said. “You learn more when you are actually building something. Every day I learn something new.” As the sole female currently in the program, senior Monique Whitfield, 18, of Landing, said she wasn’t the least bit intimidated in a field dominated by men. “They don’t treat me differently,” she said. “In the future that might happen. I’m not scared of it, because I’m not going to let anyone hold me back.” Whitfield, who wants to major in civil engineering and own her own business, can’t wait to see the final product. “I drove past the lot already, and I can’t believe we’re doing this,” she said. Roxbury High School students attach a wall to the first floor platform of a modular home. Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill watches as Marly Davis drives a screw into a sheet of plywood at Davis’ Lake Shawnee Habitat house. BUILDING THEIR HOME IS A FAMILY AFFAIR Another major undertaking by Morris Habitat for Humanity broke ground in October 2020. A four-bedroom house in Lake Shawnee will become home to a family of eight, currently living in a two-bedroom Newark apartment. Scott and Marly Davis and their six children Continued on page 24 lakehopatcongnews.com 23
Page 1 and 2: INFORMING, SERVING AND CELEBRATING
Page 3 and 4: Majestic Lakefront Retreat Exclusiv
Page 5 and 6: ANNUAL VETERANS' CRUISE LAKE HOPATC
Page 7 and 8: positive to have four towns working
Page 9 and 10: Lake Front Homes by Christopher J.
Page 11 and 12: CLINTON HILL LOCAL VOICES A native
Page 13 and 14: SOLD! SOLD! LIST WITH US We Can SEL
Page 15 and 16: made and the trumpet remained untou
Page 17 and 18: Specializing in getting your boat b
Page 19 and 20: misinformation that’s out there.
Page 21: ...because as soon as you look away
Page 25 and 26: Peter had a hand in laying the roof
Page 27 and 28: Septic Pumping Drain Cleaning Pump
Page 29 and 30: Kristin Hackett, Liz Hackett, Paul
Page 31 and 32: plays in front of sparsely-filled s
Page 33 and 34: Need more Space? We Frame Anything!
Page 35 and 36: state police staged simultaneous mi
Page 37 and 38: VELVEETA CHEESEBREAD Ingredients 1
Page 39 and 40: 15 Commerce Boulevard, Suite 201
Page 41 and 42: lakehopatcongnews.com 41
Page 43 and 44: • 973-663-2490 • Connect with u

Memorial Day 2021 Issue

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?