Program brings beauty, safety to E. Hanover Middle School

EAST HANOVER – For one day, at one school, a small armada of volunteers banded together to carry forward the dream of a fallen friend.

This year's edition of the One Day One School volunteer program drew the usual huge crowd of landscapers, community leaders, educators and students to East Hanover Middle School, where old trees were trimmed, new trees and plants were planted, and a lot of sausage and peppers were consumed.

The a

nnual program, organized by landscaper and Hanover Township Committeeman Thomas "Ace" Gallagher, targets one school for tree-trimming with an eye on safety and landscaping designed to beautify the property.

A stump-grinding specialist, Gallagher and other community leaders launched the program in 2008. Gallagher's lifelong friend and well-known East Hanover community leader Ralph Politi Jr. pushed to add the beautification aspect of the program.

Politi was struck and killed by an alleged drunk driver in 2012. This year's One Day One School program, as it will be in the future, was dedicated to Politi's memory.

"He brought something to this program that will be part of this program as long as we run it," Gallagher said. "If he were alive today, he would be here and telling me what to do. And I would listen. We miss him every day, but what you see here is a tribute to him."

Gallagher said they even consult with environmental experts to choose the right plantings for the right area.

"If you plant a tree that is native to the area, it will grow better," he explained.

While a DJ blasted a mix of classic rock and Italian opera, landscapers took to buckets to trim trees, public works staffers hauled debris, police directed traffic, students dug holes for new bushes and politicians rolled up their sleeves to lend everyone a hand.

"The entire initiative is based on encouraging students to come out to participate and take ownership of their schools," Gallagher adds. "It provides a way to give back to the community to provide our students and our community a school that is safe, beautiful and a place we can be proud of."

John Centanni, East Hanover's Office of Emergency Management coordinator and the fire chief of Newark, said this was the perfect time of year to address safety issues on the campus.

"You have storms and winter coming in, there will be ice on the branches and the danger of them falling, causing damage or injuring children," he said. "You clear that up and you eliminate the hazard."

The tree-trimming at East Hanover Middle School this year served a dual purpose as the facility functions as the township's primary emergency shelter, where hundreds of people sought refuge and 3,000 meals were served in the 15 days following Hurricane Sandy.

"We make the school safe, we help beautify the school, we help save the taxpayers money," said East Hanover mayor Joseph Pannullo. "All the work you see being done here is being done by volunteers. It's a win-win for everyone, a great program and great for the town."

Pennullo was one of four mayors in attendance along with councilmen and other officials from Hanover, East Hanover, Florham Park and Morris Plains, all of which have benefited from the program in past years.

Dr. Scott Rubin, who took over as superintendent of the East Hanover school district in July, was amazed by the turnout.

"This is saving an amazing amount of money for the school district and is providing a safer and nicer environment for the kids," he said. "What better motivation can there be?"

"I grew up in this town, went to school in this town, taught here and now I am back as principal," said East Hanover Middle School Principal Stacie Costello. "I know this community, and when they say they are going to do something, then you know it will be done, and done better than expected."

Taking it all in with pride were Politi's parents, Ralph Sr. and Rita.

"Ace and Ralphie were buddies since they were in school," Rita Politi said. "This is their dream, and it's reality. I think it's wonderful to get all these people together. That's what's most important, and that's what Ralphie would want."

"Each year has been better than the year before," Ralph Politi Sr. said.

After serving coffee and bagels for breakfast, volunteers from the Knights of Columbus Elizabeth Ann Seton Council 6904 in Whippany were cooking hot dogs and other treats for lunch, including large trays of aromatic sausage and peppers for the estimated 175 hungry volunteers.

"We don't mess around here," one of them said.

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-428-6627; wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com.