Piscataway Stories: Our Community Exhibition Catalog

An Exhibition
at the Piscataway Public Library
On View February 1 – April 30, 2022
John F. Kennedy Library
500 Hoes Lane
Piscataway, NJ 08854
www.piscatawaylibrary.org

What makesS
a community?
A sense of community may be found in every facet of our lives.
The Piscataway Stories: Our Community project was designed
to engage local residents in an investigation of concepts of
community, learning and teaching about specific communities,
and exploring and sharing personal histories.
Over the past year, many members of our community joined us
to learn about the history of the local area and beyond, exploring
the cultures and communities of the diverse populations of
Piscataway. Through active participation in workshops,
presentations, and discussions, we examined communities as
defined by geography, participation, volunteerism, occupation,
cultural and religious backgrounds, and more, uncovering unifying
beliefs and values.
This project is also a part of the Library’s ongoing effort to enhance
our local history collections and add information and materials
that are reflective of contemporary Piscataway.
The culmination of Piscataway Stories: Our Community is a display
of objects loaned by local residents and their stories about what
“community” means to them. This community-curated exhibit
offers opportunities for reflection, introspection, engagement,
and connection.

Bharatanatyam is the oldest Indian
classical dance form and is regarded
as the mother of many other classical
dance forms of India. The costumes of
Bharatanatyam are made from specially
stitched silk saris. There are two types —
Salwar (pant) style or the skirt style.
My daughter and
I participate in
Medha Gupta
community service
through dance.
We often perform at community events,
such as the Diwali program held annually
by the Piscataway Public Library.
Dance brings the community together
by telling stories. Bharatanatyam uses a
sophisticated vocabulary of sign language
based on gestures of hands, eyes, and
face muscles. It allows us to tell any
story through dance. They are universal
stories that most people can relate to.
Dance Costume on loan
from Monika and Medha Gupta
I learned to dance 15 years ago. I used to
go to a private dance studio in South
Brunswick. For three years, I taught dance
in a temple in Edison. I used to bring my
daughter to dance class with me, and she
learned by watching. She is in seventh
grade now and has been dancing since
she was three years old. This dance
represents our Indian culture. There is a
large community of Indian Americans in
Piscataway.

This oil lamp is rooted in Sri Lankan
culture and is used during many
ceremonies, often lit as a symbol of new
beginnings. These lamps come in many
shapes and sizes. There are tall ones that
have a rooster at the top, and there are
smaller household lamps that are only
a couple inches tall.
Traditionally, the head of the household
buys the lamp and everyone uses it as
a family during special occasions such
as New Year’s, Weddings, Birthdays,
and opening ceremonies. As such, the
lamp is part of every part of our lives from birth to death.
Traditionally, the lamp is also lit when moving to a new place to
welcome everyone into their new home.
When we moved to Piscataway and into our first home in 2003,
we asked the priest at our temple to give us an auspicious time.
We lit the lamp to symbolize
new beginnings and to bring
prosperity to this new chapter
of our lives.
Since this is a traditional
ceremony and is done with all
the important people in our
lives, it helps build a sense of
community, love, and safety.
We lit this lamp when we first
moved to this community and
when we welcome new people
we also light the lamp. It is a
tradition that is passed down
and used to welcome
everyone. It is a reminder of
our shared cultures and
practices.
Brass Lamp on loan from
Sayuni and Manouri Dias

This silver-plated “loving cup” was awarded to my
great-grandfather in recognition of his service as the first
president of the New Market Fire Department from 1908 to 1912.
I am proud to have a family member as one of the original
residents who established the first volunteer fire department
in Piscataway. The cup was passed down through the family
to the oldest member of each generation. Beginning with my
great grandfather A.E. Nelson, who was presented with the
award, then to his oldest son Emile B. Nelson, my grandfather,
who gave it to his oldest son Robert L. Nelson, my father. I
received it in about 1980 from my dad and ultimately it will
be passed to my son Michael who is a former member of the
New Market Fire Department.
It reminds me of a time when the village of New Market was
a thriving, growing area of Piscataway. It was a major
advancement for a group of dedicated residents who fought
fires as a “bucket brigade,” drawing water from New Market
Pond to an organization of men with the proper equipment
and training to fight fires in the growing village. It is part of
my heritage.
Incoming new residents will
feel secure in the knowledge
that Piscataway has multiple
fire departments with well
trained and equipped fire
fighters. Also, as part of the
Piscataway community,
they too can participate in
community affairs such
as the volunteer fire
departments, school
board, library, etc.
Loving Cup
on loan from
Donald Nelson

This brass elk head represents an
organization within our community
that strives to promote and support
people of all ages through charitable,
educational, and patriotic activities.
The Elks, a fraternal organization,
practices charity, justice, brotherly love
and fidelity. This object was donated
to Piscataway Elks Lodge #2414 two
years ago through the daughter of a
deceased member who had been in
good standing for many years.
My husband first became a
member of the Elks in 1975. Looking
at this older brass piece reminds me
that this organization has grown in
many ways. After years of denial, the
Elks opened their membership to
include women and have reaped
many benefits by doing so. After
years of volunteering alongside my
husband and friends, I too joined
the Elks and now have a voice in
some of the decision-making. It
serves our community well that so
many women within our lodge have
taken on leadership roles.
Our lodge is located in Piscataway, which allows me to support
my neighbors and other organizations in my community when
needed. In addition to helping families looking for support for
their special needs child(ren), we support veterans, provide
scholarships for students, sponsor essay contests with the help
of our local school administration, purchase books for our library
and provide educational programs through the Elks Drug
Awareness Program.
The brass elk reminds me of what the Elks represent. Our
community-wide programs demonstrate to our neighbors what
the Elks can do for our town.
Elk Figurine on loan from Marie Kleeman

My bandurria is a
14-stringed musical
instrument from the
Philippines. Pear-shaped
with a round sound hole, it
provides the melody in the
Filipino native string
ensemble called the
rondalla. In 1992, I was a
member of an alumni group
from the University of the
Philippines who wanted to
establish a rondalla in New
Jersey in order to propagate
this Filipino art form. We
imported several indigenous
instruments from our home
country, including my
bandurria. Playing my bandurria gives me the opportunity to
share my cultural heritage with people here in the United States.
During my senior year in high school, I was a Youth for
Understanding exchange student. Living with an American
family and studying in Michigan gave me and the people
I interacted with the opportunity to understand each other’s
culture. Now as an adult, naturalized citizen, I continue to foster
appreciation of different traditions observed by many diverse
members of our communities.
There is a large Filipino-American population in Piscataway,
which has helped me assimilate into American culture while
being able to preserve Philippine traditions. I have been very
active with the Piscataway-based University of the Philippines
Alumni and Friends Rondalla, both leading this nonprofit
organization and playing my bandurria in this ensemble. We
present educational music programs that integrate Philippine
history, culture and traditions. Diverse audiences are delighted
and nostalgic when we play familiar international melodies with
our indigenous instruments. After all, music is the universal
language of love.
Bandurria on loan from Diane Valencia

These photographs
were taken
during the opening
and dedication of
the Rock of Ages
Christian Fellowship
here in Piscataway
on January 10, 2016,
which was attended
by many members
of the community, including Mayor Brian C. Wahler. Rock of
Ages Christian Fellowship is a dynamic, Spirit-filled, and
Spirit-led non-traditional church for all nations impacting
souls in our city, state, nation, and the world through Christcentered
faith teaching.
The church was founded as a place of refuge, restoration,
and release for all nations where healing of the soul, the heart,
and mind takes place. Each month, Rock of Ages Christian
Fellowship seeks out those
less fortunate among us,
believers and non-believers
alike to bless monthly. The
money may be given in cash,
to buy groceries or to directly
pay bills of the selected family
or individual.
These photos remind me
of the love and diversity of
the residents of Piscataway.
They represent the faith
community in Piscataway,
a community that helps to
build unity in diversity.
These photos remind me
that all are welcome here.
Photographs of Rock of
Ages Christian Fellowship
from Pastor Emmanuel Bada

This is a model of the Ross Hall Wall, which will be installed
in the forthcoming Forever the Fourth Gallery in the
Metlar-Bodine House Museum’s new educational wing. The
original wall was given to the Museum and the Township of
Piscataway in 2000 by the NJ Historical Society. This model
represents the original parlor wall, the only remaining piece
of Ross Hall, a colonial farmhouse built by Edward Antill and
sold to Dr. Alexander Ross in 1768. The house was located on
River Road in Piscataway. In July 1778, after fighting in the
battle of Monmouth, the Continental Army camped by the
Raritan River and George Washington made Ross Hall his
headquarters. It was there that he wrote the order for the first
national celebration of the 4th of July and where the troops
carried out the first salute to our nation’s independence.
The Museum has received a matching grant from the National
Park Service and Institute of Museum and Library Services to
complete its conservation, installation, and exhibition. None o
f this would be possible without people from the community
and region coming together. We have a team of volunteers
who come to the museum every week. This Metlar-Bodine

House was saved by volunteers who have been advocating for
its preservation since 1979. Both the Metlar-Bodine House and
the Ross Hall Wall were saved by people from the community
advocating for the township to take ownership of them.
Anybody in the community can become a member of the
Museum and contribute in any way, shape, or form. We are
planning to open the exhibit of the Ross Hall Wall to the
community in 2023, for our Fourth of July celebration.
Model of Ross Hall Wall
on loan from Metlar-Bodine House Museum
Front left to right: Junelynn Sadlowski, Executive Director;
Sharon Thomas, Volunteer. Back left to right: Manjari Malaviya,
Volunteer; Jeris Cassel, Archivist; Hara Durkin, Assistant Director

This is my Piscataway High School
Marching Band t-shirt from fall
2018. Beside it is a gold ribbon from
Piscataway’s 2019 Memorial Day
parade. My mom and I bought the
t-shirt at the beginning of marching
band season during my brother’s
senior year. We later received the
ribbon a few months later during
Memorial Day.
These two objects represent good
memories. They remind me of the
marching band, but they shall
always remind me of my older
brother too. He will always be older
than me, but as it turns out, I was
watching him grow as a person.
From his freshman year to his
senior year, I always got excited
seeing him and the band perform
at competitions, and I’ve never
been more proud of him than
when he became marching band
president. The band would always
be there for special occasions
representing the Piscataway spirit. On Memorial Day, the
marching band was the most exciting part of the parade.
Afterward, everyone would gather around and have free drinks
and hot dogs. During these events, parents worked hard to
support their kids. They would volunteer and raise money for
the marching band. My mom was a “band parent,” and I was a
“band sibling.” Together, the kids and parents are unstoppable.
It takes a lot of courage, perseverance, and commitment to be
part of a team. The band is not only a team, but they are also a
family. The most important part is being there for each other.
Anyone can pick up an instrument and play their heart out or
be a color guard and dance away! No matter who you are, you’ll
always be welcomed in this community.
Superchiefs T-shirt on loan from Phylicia Mak

This outfit is handmade and
represents the culture of Algeria,
the country I am from. It was first
designed about 700 years ago in
the 15th century when Algeria was a
part of the Ottoman Empire. The
pants of this outfit are called serval
m’dawwar which means “the round
pants.” Nowadays, they are referred
to as Aladdin pants.
I received this outfit in
December 2019 after my
son was selected to
participate in a cultural
event organized by the
Makteb program at Noor
Academy, showcasing
cultures from all over the
world. My sister ordered it from a traditional store in Algeria,
where they stitched it by hand, no machine involved.
The outfit placed first in the clothing category, and I shared the
award with family and friends by sending pictures to my mom
and sister. The event, which was held at the Muslim Center of
Middlesex County (MCMC), gave us the chance to feel at home
and showcased the rich diversity of the Piscataway community.
My son winning first place made me feel so proud and
reminded me of my childhood in Algeria, where I used to
participate in similar events.
I felt so at home in Piscataway. By encouraging assimilation,
while also giving everyone a chance to represent their culture,
Piscataway can take advantage of its diverse communities and
grow richer and stronger.
Traditional Clothing on loan from Assia Bourib

This object is a
small painting
of a nature scene.
It depicts a river in
a forest. It represents
new beginnings
through the cycle
of life, represented
by the sun.
I painted this a few
months ago using
acrylics. It took me
about two hours,
even though it’s
super small! The
object reminds me
of the sunrises and sunsets here in Piscataway. I believe the
views from this town are gorgeous and deserve to be recognized
as one of the many things I love about Pway.
I associate this with the natural aspects of our community. I’ve
always been an outdoorsy person, and this painting combines
the two things I love the most — painting and nature. This
painting helps me feel connected to Piscataway because this
town is filled with amazing views all over which motivates me
even more whenever I have the chance to see these during
sunsets and sunrises.
This painting will hopefully
remind others of the beauty
of this town and the scenery
which welcomes them into
this community. It brings a
sense of peace and serenity
into their lives and into
Piscataway.
Painting on loan
from the artist
Gia Patel

This French coffee maker
embodies the friendliness of the
Piscataway Public Library community.
In 2019, the library organized a special
event on popular games from various
countries. In that event, I presented
backgammon as the most popular
game in my motherland, Iran. I also
played this game with some of the
attendees to explain the rules. After
that event, Mrs. Kate Baker presented
me with this French coffee maker as a
memento. Still, after two years, when I
look at this gift, I remember all the
good memories that I had in the Piscataway Library.
Nine years ago, when my family and I moved to Piscataway, I
joined the library to participate in some of the activities. My wife
and I also joined the ESL classes to improve our English and
meet new people in our neighborhood. After a few months, with
the generous help and support of the library’s staff, especially
Mrs. Baker and Joe Petraroli, I had the opportunity to organize
two exhibitions of my own oil paintings, which exposed me to a
whole new world in my artistic life. I met a great community of
art lovers, which then led me to organize and teach several
classes on portraits and drawing in the
library. I cherish every moment of those
occasions; I made good friends and
learned so much.
The French coffee maker is much more
than a gift to me. It is an object that
brings to mind the most memorable
times of my life in Piscataway and it
reminds me how such great
communities can leave us with
unparalleled opportunities for friendship
and joy.
Coffee Pot on loan
from Shahriar Rokhgar

Navratri is an auspicious festival
in which people observe, fast
and pray to the goddess Durga for
nine days, following strict rules for
prosperity and wealth. The story
associated with Navratri is the battle
that occurred between Goddess
Durga and the demon Mahishasura.
The objects we are sharing are
Dandiya sticks, which are colorful
wooden sticks used during Dandiya
to represent the sword of the
Goddess Durga. Also known as
“The Sword Dance,’’ this dance is
a beautiful way of re-creating the
battle that took place between
the Devi and the demon and
signifies the defeat of evil.
Khushi and Leena Vyas
Our Dandiya sticks were brought
here by our grandmother from India,
when our daughter was 3 years old.
We perform the Dandiya dance in the
fall with family and relatives during
Navratri, a Hindu Festival lasting nine
nights and ten days. We also wear
colorful costumes called Chaniya
Choli, when performing the Dandiya
and Garba dance during this holiday.
The Dandiya sticks give us happy memories about celebrating
Navratri with family, relatives and friends in India. It gives us a
sense of belonging to the community of friends that celebrate the
significance of Navratri. We believe it is important to fight evil
because it helps everyone strive to do the right thing. Being a part
of a community that shares similar values, of wanting to do what is
right, is important because it keeps us happy, safe and respectful
towards others and that’s why this is an important tradition.
Dandiya Sticks and Dance Costume
on loan from Khushi and Leena Vyas

This piano book reminds
me of my childhood
and being raised by Asian
immigrant parents from
the Philippines. It was given
to me at age six, when my
parents signed me up for my
first year of piano lessons. It
reminds me of the principles
with which they raised me
— discipline, community,
and practice.
As a parent with two small
children, I feel a strong sense
of belonging to the diverse
community here in
Piscataway, where many
other parents were raised
by immigrants and first
generation Americans.
The diversity of Piscataway
allows me to connect to
other mothers who grew
up in a similar culture and
environment.
This book is a reminder that our pasts shape and mold who
we are and how we parent our children. It’s a reminder that
everyone is a work in progress and doing their best. It’s a
reminder to treat everyone with kindness and compassion.
Piano Book on loan from Charlene Almase

This abstract art piece captures
what Piscataway represents to
me — multiple, small communities
which intertwine to form one large
community.
Having grown up in Piscataway my
entire life, choosing one experience
to depict in this canvas painting
was difficult. As I sat down with
my sketchbook a few months ago,
brainstorming ideas for this piece,
one thing stood out: the diversity.
In addition to the diversity in
cultures, religions and ethnicities,
there’s also a strong diversity in
talents, interests and hobbies. This painting certainly has many
interpretations, but I hope that similar to Piscataway, it reflects
diversity in both appearances and personalities.
Essentially, this painting attempts to tell multiple stories. It serves as
a reminder of the people I was able to connect to — not because we
spoke the same language at home, but because we enjoy art and
are obsessed with stationery items, prefer biology as our favorite
school subject, or because we were left heart-broken and infuriated
over the same books. These communities of book nerds, artists and
makers have not only helped me create joyful memories, but have
also helped me grow as a person.
Diversity extends further than our visual appearances; it
encompasses character, passions and other aspects of a person
that are not so obvious initially.
Despite our differences, there is always
common ground between people.
In this case, each individual group in
Piscataway represents a window pane;
yet, at the end of the day, we all come
together to form a window —
to form a flourishing town: PWAY.
Painting on loan from the artist
Sareena Naganand

My love of the library started as
a child. In my home country of
Trinidad and Tobago, you were only
allowed to borrow one book at a time.
So imagine my surprise when I moved
to the U.S. and learned from the New
York Public Library that I was allowed
to borrow as many books as my heart
desired. I was in heaven.
"Welcome, new immigrant," said the
library to me.
When I moved to Piscataway almost
twenty years ago, the library proved to
be a reading haven and, in addition,
offered different types of classes that were free to its residents.
Though I don’t think of myself as a people person, Piscataway
was so diverse and welcoming that it gave me the impetus to go
out and talk to people. I registered for the sewing classes.
"Welcome, new resident,"
said the library to me.
Community is important
because it provides us with
goodwill and strength. I
attend classes as a way to
support the library and to
support the Piscataway
community. Of the many
things made in our sewing
class, this apron stood out
from the others. It
represents the cooking and the kitchen, which reminded me of
my family, especially barbecues with my dad back home. It
reminds me of family, friends, and my journey from a new
immigrant to a new resident, and a new citizen.
"Thank you!" I say to the library.
Apron on loan from the maker Ramona Fazzino

Porchtraits
In the summer and fall of 2021, the Friends of Piscataway
Public Library sponsored a socially distanced family portrait
project. These are some of the resulting portraits.
The following are featured with their families:
Valerie Anderson
Kasana Banks-Quarles
Nancy Dunham
Monica Fernandes
Denielle Lericos
Tracy Link
Glenna Orlando-Price
Jaswattie Singh
Vrunda Shah
Joanna Williams
The Friends of Piscataway Public Library work to support the
Piscataway Public Library and the community it serves.
Special thanks to volunteer photographer Nik De.

This photo demonstrates how families lean on the community
and early intervention when raising children. Michelle, our
developmental intervention specialist, came into baby Anaya’s
life six months ago, at a crucial time. Anaya is two years old. The
goal is to provide Anaya and our family with tools to educate and
prepare her for pre-school.
This photo is a reminder of the importance of family education
and represents opportunity and access. The early intervention
community has helped our family recover from the impacts of
the COVID-19 pandemic through education. We all need to
support one another to build stronger communities.
Early Intervention Specialist Michelle
with Anaya and Dominique Graham

This object is
a piece of
calligraphy, in
Arabic language,
which contains
my name. In my
perception, this piece represents the soul of
our town which is inclusion of people who
grew up within different cultures or
ethnicities.
I received this gift at a diversity fair held by
the Kennedy Library in 2018. In fact, a person
who represented the Islamic Center booth
at that event wrote this piece for me.
To be honest, the first thing this gift reminds
me whenever I come across is the fun I had.
It also brings the outfits exhibited in that fair
to mind. They were made of sparkling fabric
and bright lively colors. The materials
originated from a wide range of countries
spanning from Eastern Asia and Eastern
Europe to the Middle-East and West Africa.
Even though I had never met the man who wrote this piece, his
face and his gestures while writing this gift for me remained in
my mind. The time he devoted and the skills in calligraphy
created a lovely memory and a piece of writing for me. All of us
can add value to our community in Piscataway by sharing our
different backgrounds and expertise.
Apart from the fun and atmosphere of the fair, the calligraphy
gives me a sense of nostalgia and being at home. Living in the
U.S. now, I do not have that much access to written resources in
my mother tongue. The alphabet and the words in my first
language are so close to those used in this calligraphy. Therefore,
looking at this calligraphy makes me reminisce each time.
These are the reasons this gift makes me feel so connected to
the community of Piscataway residents.
Arabic Calligraphy on loan from Mojtaba Dadras

This cricket bat was
given to me by my
father as a birthday gift
two years back. My
father is a big fan of
cricket. He used to stay
awake the whole night
to watch games even
though he’d feel tired in
the morning during his
office hours. We used to
watch games and play
cricket together which
slowly triggered my
curiosity about the sport
and made me a fan.
The sport of cricket
originated in England,
but you can easily
associate cricket with
the Indian community
as there are billions of
fans from there who are
crazy about cricket. It’s
more like a religion in
India. I am American,
Arka Gupta
but my roots and family
are from India, so I became an integral part of that community.
There are many regular active cricket clubs, teams, and
tournaments around Piscataway that have existed for a long
time. I play with other kids my age around the community,
almost every day, depending on the weather. I believe that
cricket, like other sports, brings out the best in people by
encouraging fitness, discipline, integrity, and by spreading love.
You can easily connect with millions and billions of other people,
other fans, as we all speak the language of cricket.
Cricket Bat on loan from Arka and his parents,
Rohit and Suneeti Gupta

Henna is a plant-based product
derived from the leaves of the
Lawsonia inermis. The leaves of this
plant are dried and ground into a
powder. The ground powder is soaked
overnight in water and essential oils
to form a paste. Henna has been used
for centuries to dye skin, hair, and
fingernails, as well as fabrics including
silk, wool, and leather. Traditionally,
henna is applied on almost all body
parts, particularly the palms, the backs
of the hands, and on feet. It is a way to
adorn the body and enhance the
beauty of the jewelry and clothes that
people wear. One of the benefits of
applying henna is that it reduces stress
by having a cooling effect on the body.
My grandmother, mom, and aunts
always adorned their hands and
feet with Henna tattoos on special
occasions like weddings, birthdays,
Eid or other joyful events. I started
doodling with Henna at the age of 10.
I was fascinated by this art and it came
naturally to me.
Eventually, I wanted to explore this art
form on various objects around me, so
I started doing henna art on candles,
canvases, wooden boxes and any article
that needed decorating.
The designs vary from Arabic, Indian,
to modern. Each design expresses the
mood I was in while I was creating the
art. I often find myself so immersed in
the activity that I forget time. Henna
was originally used in West Africa, Arabia and India, but now its
popularity has reached all communities. I am glad to share this art
form with the Piscataway community.
Henna Designs on loan from the artist Rashida Chitalwala

This compilation of
photographs are of
the military base, Camp
Kilmer, and Timothy
Christian School which
share some of the same
ground on Ethel Road in
Piscataway. Camp Kilmer
cared for soldiers
entering WWII to fight
in a physical battle for
freedom. It represented
the depth of patriotic
American history in Piscataway. Now, Timothy Christian School
educates and cares for students who enter the world to fight a
spiritual battle for freedom in Jesus Christ.
Camp Kilmer was activated in June of 1942 and the camp’s
remnant closed in 2009. Timothy Christian School purchased
two of the barracks and converted them into school classrooms
and offices in 1960. Today, Timothy Christian School comprises 8
buildings, a gymnasium built in 1989, and several athletic fields
on 23 acres.
These pictures bring to mind the love Piscataway residents have
for our global community. Our military men and women entered
WWII in an effort to change the course of a war that had the
potential to impact every nation on earth.
Today, Timothy Christian School teaches our
students to enter the world with the love of
Jesus Christ and to enter into service of those
the world considers undesirable. Our school
is representative of our many Christian
communities within Piscataway and beyond.
Such a robust history of Piscataway should
not be overlooked but taught to future
generations as Piscataway continues to be a
warm community that welcomes all people.
Photograph Display of
Timothy Christian School and Camp Kilmer
on loan from Ella Mendalski

have lived in Piscataway for 50 years and have been a member
I of the Piscataway Rotary Club for 42 years. This thank-you
letter from a third grader for a dictionary, and this thank-you
poster for a year-end pizza party from a special needs class, both
remind me what Rotary service is really about. It’s not about
certificates or plaques of recognition. It’s about the interaction
with people, the smiles on their faces, and their in-person
comments and reactions.
Many other projects, such as Business Plan Simulations and
Career Days with Piscataway High School students, are about
the interaction with the people involved.
Over the years, we’ve received thousands of personal thank-you
notes that make us smile, laugh, and almost cry. Providing
service to the community with a group of colleagues isn’t work,
it’s fun.
Thank You Letters
to Rotary Club
on loan from
Fred Cassaday

These photos represent pride in my
community and myself. I was a socially
awkward teenager. Making friends didn’t come
easily to me. It didn’t help having a popular
older sister or transitioning from a small private
middle school to a large public high school.
However, the high school marching band, The
Superchiefs, was a well-known and respected
group full of talented students.
I remember going to games and festivals,
seeing them in the Memorial Day parade
cresting the bridge on Washington Ave. When
they played, the music would take my breath
away. I wanted to be a part of that group; more
specifically, I wanted to be in the color guard.
By the time high school came, I tried out and
made one of the two open spots. Being in the
color guard was hard work; we practiced for
many hours every week starting in the
summer. I still felt awkward, sometimes I
wanted to quit; but, everyone was supportive, especially Mrs. Mundi
who assisted with the color guard and was like a second mom to us.
Over time, I felt more sure of myself. Nothing beat the feeling of
marching onto a field to hear a crowd cheering before our show
even began. And when
everything clicked —
we called it being in our
bubble — there was
a sense of being a part
of something bigger
than yourself.
The group photo is from
November 1993 of my
senior year. The other
photo is from November 1992 — both were taken during the CMBC
Championships at Giants Stadium. We came in first at the
Championships all four years of my high school career.
I still live, work, and volunteer in Piscataway. I look fondly back on my
years as a Superchief and on those who supported us even when we
felt our worst.
Color Guard Photos on loan from Wendy Miller

Essential English Grammar
by Raymond Murphy was
the first English grammar book
that I read while recovering
from a brain tumor removal
surgery in 2018. It reminds me
of the breakthrough I made
after a very slow recovery from
the brain surgery; finally, two
years later, I was able to learn
English grammar.
I associate this book with the
ESL classes of the Piscataway
and Westgard libraries, which I
started to attend months after
the surgery. Not only did my
teachers help me relearn and
actually improve my ability to
communicate in English, but
they also gave me so much
warmth and support during the most difficult time of my life.
Because I was suffering from facial paralysis and memory loss
after the brain surgery, I had very low self-esteem and felt
extremely insecure. Letting people see my face was just too
dreadful, so I tried to avoid going out.
I don’t know how I gathered up the strength to register for the
ESL class — maybe deep down I realized that I had to get out of
the house so as not be sucked into deeper depression, or maybe
I just desperately wanted to regain the ability to communicate.
Little did I know that by doing so a door would open to a much
bigger world. I met lots of kind and sincere people from other
countries, learned their cultures and heard their personal stories;
actually, some became my best friends.
My teachers not only taught me English but also inspired me
to give back to the community. This grammar book reminds
me how my ESL experiences helped me connect with others,
and I want to pass on the same kindness and warmth.
Grammar Book on loan from Yi-Hui (Monica) Li

Vinithra Kathirvel
interned at Piscataway
Public Library through the
Public Library Association’s
Inclusive Internship Initiative
(PLA III) in 2021. This initiative
offers paid, summer-long
internships to high school
students at public libraries
where interns from diverse
backgrounds work with
mentors on a communitybased
learning project and
are introduced to careers in
librarianship. Host libraries
grow new audiences through outreach and programming.
Prior to the internship, Vinithra volunteered
at Piscataway Public Library before joining
the staff as a Page. The PLA Inclusive
Internship was an opportunity to broaden
her experience and responsibilities at the
library.
Vinithra developed a program to help the
library connect with older adults. Recognizing
that many seniors experienced isolation and could
not see their families during the COVID-19 Pandemic, and
building on her experience as a volunteer at a senior citizens’
residence, Vinithra invited local seniors to share their stories and
plans, and draw what they wanted to do after the pandemic.
This project allowed Vinithra to connect with many seniors,
including the Knitting Club at the Piscataway Senior Center
and those who visited both branches of the Library.
Vinithra is currently a student at Rutgers University, majoring
in Cell Biology and Neuroscience. She also plays the piccolo
as part of the Rutgers Marching Scarlet Knights.
Heart Balloon Installation
created by Vinithra Kathirvel
Participants: Val, Sandy Bardor, Cheryl Brantley,
Karen Dagnall, Bernice Gasaway, Eva Goodman, Usha Gupta,
Judy Isaacs, Greta Ji, Mary Kornhaber-Szucs, Pat LaSasso,
Barbara Sullivan, Debbie Tohtl, Sadhana Vedewala

My grabber was purchased
from an environmental
organization that is fighting to
protect our rivers, lakes, seas,
oceans and the wildlife therein
from human debris, especially
plastics, that are killing wildlife,
poisoning our seafood chain
and more. The item is made
from recycled fishing nets
recovered from our seas during
cleanup efforts. I use the
grabber while walking around
town at parks, neighborhoods
and while hiking to pick up
litter, occasionally clearing out
debris from stormwater drains.
I’ve lived in seven other towns
in my 50 years of life.
Piscataway is the best. It is
far from perfect, but it is
well-managed, safe and
relatively clean. Piscataway is a
wonderfully diverse community
that has tremendous public resources — outstanding libraries
and library staff, parks with bountiful equipment and spaces for
children and adults, very good schools, able and professional
first responders and more. But it definitely is NOT as clean as it
ought to be. Litter is ugly and disrespectful to us all. It clogs
storm water drains, damages vehicles, poisons our water supply
and food chain, and kills wildlife. Picking up litter around town
shows respect for my fellow residents and our Earth. It is also a
great way to receive positive reinforcement from others because
I’m frequently thanked by appreciative residents.
I love the Garden State. Perhaps it will never be the Garden of
Eden, but it shouldn’t be the Garbage State either. We can do
better in Piscataway and we SHOULD because we have it very,
very GOOD. Let’s keep it that way!
Trash Grabber on loan from Douglas Johnston

These objects represent what community means to me —
getting involved in activities and meeting as many people
as possible. I am an active person and an avid walker around
Piscataway. During my daily walks, while I’m riding my bike, or
when I’m taking my son to school, I always stop and talk with my
neighbors. One of my favorite people is Mr. Bill, a crossing guard
on Rushmore and Rock Ave., near Arbor Intermediate School.
He’s truly a joy to talk to every morning.
My coworker nicknamed
me the “Piscataway Town
Walker’’ because people
often see me walking all over
town. She said that seeing
me being active made her
realize that she’s responsible
for her own health, so she
has decided to commit at
least a few minutes each
day to improving it. I was
so touched when she
mentioned that to me.
I value knowing that I have
inspired her to get healthy
just by walking. My motto is
“it takes one step at a time,
one day at a time to make
a lifestyle change.”
Sneakers and
Jump Rope
on loan from
Desheca Copeland

Durham Park is a hub for children in our neighborhood to
come together every evening in the summer and play all
kinds of sports with their friends. In fact, we’ve made new
friends just by playing on the playground together or when
we’ve been walking next to each other on the trail.
There is one tennis court
in the park that we’ve
been going to since we
were little. Often it is
occupied, but as we wait,
we engage in casual
conversations to get to
know the people living
in our neighborhood,
especially newcomers.
We also learned to ride
our bikes in this park.
When the park was put
under construction, the
community seemed to
disband for a little while.
However, once it
reopened, slowly,
everyone got back
together like we all did
before it was renovated.
We all love to relax,
rejuvenate, exercise,
and come together as
a small, busy hub on
summer evenings to make new memories. One of our best
memories is of the green dinosaur that used to be in the park
before it was renovated when we were children. This tennis
racket represents all of those memories.
Tennis Racket on loan from Sonali and Sarika Jepal

have lived in Piscataway for
I over 25 years after growing
up locally and moving to a
neighboring town. We have
raised two children in
Piscataway where we love the
diverse community and the
opportunities that the libraries
and school district have to offer.
I consider Piscataway to be my
home and so I volunteer my
services with the Community
Emergency Response Team (CERT) to help keep our community
safe in times of disaster or when additional volunteer support is
needed by the Office of Emergency Management. This hat
identifies me as a volunteer member with the CERT team.
As a CERT team member, I have received this hat along with
other safety hats, safety glasses, protective gloves, t-shirts,
sweatshirts, flashlights and other equipment that I keep handy
in a backpack and duffel for when we go out for training or
volunteer our services. CERT has a trailer full of emergency first
aid supplies and other equipment to help in times of need.
Volunteering for the CERT team feels like a continuation of my
community service as a Girl Scout. During Hurricane Sandy,
CERT set up a shelter for residents in Piscataway where our
service was appreciated. I am proud to serve our community
by volunteering to keep Piscataway safe and to have the
opportunity to meet and work with the diverse group of
people on our team.
Community Emergency
Response Team Hat
on loan from
Karen Markley

Salma Arif generously
shares her talent with
her community every year,
displaying at the Library the
symbols of her Muslim faith.
The Kaaba, or “cube,”
represents the structure that
resides in the Grand Mosque
of Mecca. It is an important
part of the annual Islamic
pilgrimage known as Hajj.
The paper flowers, including
jasmine and daisies, are
examples of how Salma
reaches out to her
community and shares
her artistic skills.
Kaaba Model and Flowers
on loan from the maker
Salma Arif

crocheted this multicolored triangular shawl myself. It took
I me around two weeks to complete. My mother was into
sewing, crocheting, embroidery, and all kinds of needle work.
After she passed away in 2020, I believed that I should learn the
same creative work that she was passionate about. Then I would
be able to reconnect with her through our shared creative side
as well as our memories.
While I was growing up, I saw kind-hearted people donating
shawls like the one I made to poor and needy people. Thus,
when I started making crochet objects, it reminded me of such
good deeds and that I can also contribute to society by creating.
I associate this shawl with the Piscataway community. The past
16 years of my life have been spent here, alongside my husband
and son, after the three of us came from India. I am glad to be a
part of the Piscataway community because of its diversity and
inclusivity. Furthermore, it gives a vast plethora of opportunities
to talented newcomers, which is how I found volunteering work
and also my first job — working at the Piscataway library where I
learned the skill of crocheting among others.
Since 2016, I have been an integral
part of the international food, art,
gaming, and other creative programs.
These programs introduced me to
the other cultures we have in our
community. The shawl I have made
is another opportunity to showcase
the Indian community and
culture to others while
simultaneously displaying
my creativity.
Crocheted Shawl
on loan from the maker
Riya Pednekar

River Road Rescue
Squad was founded in
1961. These photographs
represent our history of
serving the town and the
valuable progress we have
made in delivering medical
care to Piscataway residents by providing basic life support (BLS)
care as a volunteer-run nonprofit.
The photographs carry our memories and remind us of the
improvements we have made in delivering care, and the
gratitude we have gotten from residents who’ve helped us
make our physical location in Piscataway a home. Our volunteer
EMS agency now operates 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. In
addition to our regular operations, we also often staff local
standby events in Piscataway like
fairs, parades, school events, and
storm standbys.
We have shared a commitment
to delivering the best possible
care to Piscataway over the
decades. The photographs
illustrate our organization’s
change and we hope they
illustrate some historical change
as well: the growing diversity in
Piscataway. This is a reminder
that the people of Piscataway
have always deserved a medical
service that makes them feel
welcome and safe.
Photographs of
River Road Rescue Squad

These garden gloves were a Christmas gift from my friend
Gale. We met in the ladies’ room at work over 50 years ago
and have been friends ever since, but she now lives in Florida.
They’re rose gloves and were given to me because gardening is
in my genes. Rose gloves come up to your elbows so you don’t
get pinched by thorns. I have used them so much that they now
have holes in them, so I have to take care when pruning roses.
They are special to me because they remind me of the
Piscataway Garden Club. I joined after I retired and eventually
became president. We used to maintain the garden behind
Quibbletown Middle School and the garden behind the
Vanderveer House at East Jersey Old Town in Johnson Park.
We also did flower shows and won awards under my tenure as
president. I was invited to join the Garden Club of New Jersey
about 8 years ago. I’m now a board member.
I have also volunteered at the Rutgers Display Gardens for
twenty years. When I do events at Rutgers, people come from
all over. Gardening brings people together. If you get a chance
to talk to someone about a subject you are both interested
in, it brings you closer. Who doesn’t like flowers? I was in the
supermarket and there were two women who couldn’t identify
a plant, so one turned to me and said, “Dorothy will know what
this is.” I enjoy sharing what I know with the people in my
community.
Gardening Gloves
on loan from
Dorothy Bukowski

Acknowledgements
The Piscataway Public Library extends our gratitude to the many
Piscataway residents who joined us for programs in this project
series or as exhibit lenders.
Maisy Card, Guest Humanities Scholar
Heidi Cramer, Library Director
Project Team:
Kate Baker, Kathleen DiGiulio, Joy Robinson, and Laizu Khanam
Vinithra Kathirvel, Intern
Desheca Copeland, Community Outreach
Additional staff support:
Doug Baldwin, Carina Gonzalez, and Kate-Lynn Brown
Photography: Justin Coleman, Heidi Cramer
Graphic Design: Linda Lobdell
This project was made possible by a grant from the New Jersey
Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National
Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings,
conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this project do
not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for
the Humanities or the New Jersey Council for the Humanities.