What's Happening

Henderson Earns
Scholarship, Master's Degree
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. believed that when you open a door for yourself, you open it for all people. Margaret Henderson, an assistant social worker supervisor at Northern State Prison in Newark, shares that belief.

A single parent, Henderson never wavered from her commitment to education. At age 55, when her son was 18, she enrolled at Upsala College in East Orange, ultimately earning an undergraduate degree in business and economics. From there, she pursued a graduate degree at New Jersey City University in Jersey City. On January 31, at age 63, Henderson received a master's degree in criminal justice.

The American Correctional Association (ACA) took notice. In response to an essay Henderson submitted chronicling her contributions in carrying on King's legacy, the ACA awarded her with the $1,000 Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship. She was presented with the scholarship on January 13, during the ACA's winter conference in Charlotte, N.C.

"Dr. King always talked about the importance of education," said Henderson, who teaches inmate classes that focus on such topics as reentry into society and parenting. "He also stressed that you should never give up. I've tried to live by those words, so the scholarship has a great deal of personal meaning to me."

Cumberland County
Fetes 9/11 Volunteers
Correction officers from the three state prisons in Cumberland County were honored by the county's Board of Chosen Freeholders for their post-September 11 volunteer recovery efforts during at November 18 ceremony.

New Jersey Department of Corrections Commissioner Devon Brown, who spoke at the event, noted that officers as well as civilians gave of themselves under some of the most gruesome circumstances imaginable.

"The emotional toll taken upon these individuals can never be calculated," the commissioner said.

Freeholder James Sauro surveyed the officers in attendance and added, "These are real heroes, those who serve and do not seek to be recognized."

New Milford Police
Recognize Holvey
Principal Investigator Ron Holvey of the New Jersey Department of Corrections' Special Investigations Division, Intelligence Section, was honored by the New Milford Police Department at its 2002 Citizens Appreciation Night. The event was held December 4 at New Milford High School

Holvey received a Certificate of Appreciation for his efforts on behalf of the Gang Awareness and Prevention Program (GAPP) as well as the gang awareness training he has conducted for the New Milford police.

Through GAPP, which Holvey developed, the NJDOC provides presentations to schools and community groups utilizing former gang members who are presently incarcerated.

Radio Technician
Receives Medal
Martin Friedel, a communications operator based at Central Office headquarters in Trenton, received the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal -- the state's most prestigious military award -- in a ceremony at the National Guard Armory in Cherry Hill.

The 45-year-old Friedel, a former Burlington County resident who now resides in Lambertville, was given the award in recognition of exemplary service as a member of the Air Force during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He also was a recipient of the Burlington County Service Medal in appreciation of his service.

"All of this was totally unexpected," said Friedel, an NJDOC employee since December 2001. "The reason I joined the Air Force was to serve my country, and it was a privilege to do so. I certainly didn't expect any kind of recognition for what I did. When I was told I'd be receiving the medals, I was shocked. But more than that, I was honored."

NJDOC Donates
Food, Coats, Gifts
Recognizing that many New Jersey families might have difficulty providing adequately for loved ones, particularly during the holiday season, the New Jersey Department of Corrections organized a food, coat and toy drives to help New Jersey's most needy citizens.

In late November, NJDOC staff at all state prisons donated canned and packaged goods for delivery to the Northwest New Jersey Community Action Program. The NORWESCAP Food Bank, located in Phillipsburg, supports 130 charitable organizations, including soup kitchens, emergency food pantries, shelters, on-site feeding programs and adult and children's day care centers in Hunterdon, Sussex and Warren counties.

The department collected more than 2,000 pounds of food. East Jersey State Prison in Rahway led the way, donating 475 pounds. The Central Office headquarters in Trenton collected 408 pounds, followed by New Jersey State Prison, also in Trenton, with 306 pounds.

"Many of us made plans for the holidays: family dinners, a night out with friends," NJDOC Commissioner Brown said. "Imagine if the question you had to ask was not what to feed your family for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but whether you were going to be able to feed them at all. We asked that question of our staff, and they responded commendably."

The commissioner was equally gratified by the staff's response to holiday coat and gift drives.

NJDOC staff members donated 651 winter coats to the Governor's Coat Drive, including 60 from Riverfront State Prison in Camden and 59 from Northern State Prison in Newark.

The department also collected more than 400 toys for the Gifts for Kids project. The Central Office supplied 82 toys, while Albert C. Wagner Youth Correctional Facility in Bordentown had 66. The gifts were given to needy children all over New Jersey in time for the holidays through the Department of Human Services' Division of Youth and Family Services.

Marie Gervasio, who coordinated both of the charitable projects on behalf of the NJDOC, credited the coordinators at the various institutions for helping the endeavors to operate as smoothly as possible.

"So many of our employees are committed to these projects," said Gervasio, who has been involved in the Governor's Coat and Gifts for Kids drives since 1992. "It's great to see so many people pull together for such worthwhile causes. It makes me feel good, just as it makes everyone who participates feel good."

Holiday Food Drive
Held in Sea Girt
Staff members at the Correctional Staff Training Academy in Sea Girt decided not to exchange Christmas presents this year. The alternative, they believe, truly captured the essence of the holiday season.

Every member of the staff -- custody and civilian -- participated in a drive to collect food for needy families. In addition, staff members set up a food drop-off point in front of a nearby supermarket.

The initiative culminated on December 19, when Senior Correction Officer Kevin Koch and SCO Dan Braun delivered a van full of food to the Monmouth and Ocean County Food Bank, located a few miles from the Training Academy in Neptune.

"It's a wonderful feeling to be able to give something back to the community in which we serve," Koch said.

"I'm glad I was part of it," added Braun. "In fact, I plan to do something like this every year around the holidays."

Clothing Donated
To Newark Church
A holiday clothing drive at Northern State Prison in Newark resulted in the donation of 35 bags of clothes to St. Luke's African Methodist Episcopal Church in Newark. The church distributed the clothing to the needy citizens in Newark.

The drive was spearheaded by Northern Administrator Lydell Sherrer and the Policemen's Benevolent Association Local 105.

Golf Tournament Slated
in Baker's Memory
The sixth Fred Baker Memorial Golf Tournament will be held Saturday, June 21, at the Cape May National Golf Course.

Baker died in the line of duty on July 30, 1997, at Bayside State Prison in Leesburg.

Tournament proceeds will go to the Fred Baker Memorial Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships to students who reside in Cumberland, Salem, Cape May or Atlantic counties and are pursuing careers in law enforcement and/or fire emergency services. Cost for the tournament, which attracted 164 golfers and a record number of sponsors last year, is $95 per player. Hole sponsorships are available, and donations to the scholarship fund will be accepted.

For more information, call Charles Egbert at 856-785-2764.

NJDEP Applauds
Recycling Efforts
Employees at Bayside State Prison in Leesburg, Southern State Correctional Facility in Delmont and South Woods State Prison in Bridgeton were honored by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for outstanding achievement in recycling during the state's 22nd annual Recycling Symposium and Awards Luncheon. The event was held October 16 at the Princeton Marriott.

According to a press release distributed by the NJDEP: "The employees of the three correctional facilities in South Jersey have consistently proven their commitment to recycling by investigating opportunities for regional cooperation. For example, they have incorporated the purchase of recycled paint and surplus equipment into their purchasing practices. Each facility has its own comprehensive recycling program."

Northern Inmates
Stage Production
A group of inmates at Northern State Prison in Newark -- collectively known as the Northern State Drama Club -- took to the stage in early December to perform "Choices," a play revolving around two teenagers who are faced with some difficult decisions after their fathers are sent to prison. The production was written and directed by inmate David Conley.

Many of the cast members previously performed in the drama club's production of "12 Angry Men."

Inmates Demonstrate
Green Thumb
The Vocational Training Horticultural Shop of East Jersey State Prison in Rahway donated 150 hanging plants and baskets to the Veterans Hospital of East Orange on December 13. East Jersey Administrator Terry Moore expressed hope that the donation will launch an annual tradition.

The plants were grown by a group of inmates who work in a greenhouse located within the prison walls. The inmates grow a variety of plants and flowers and also learn floral arrangement and design.

The program provides floral services for correctional institutions and other entities throughout the state.

CRAF, Northern
Honor Staff Members
Head Clerk Penny Powell was selected as Employee of the Month for December at the Central Assignment and Arraignment Facility in Trenton. Other CRAF employees who recently received similar recognition are social worker Ashanti Baker (November), Senior Correction Officer Tyro Norman (October) and Recreation Supervisor William Houseworth (September).

Abdool Khan, vocational supervisor, was named Supervisor of the Month for December at Northern State Prison in Newark. The facility's Custody Employee of the Month for December was SCO Beverly Nottingham, while Wanda Carrero, social worker, was the Civilian Employee of the Month. Northern's winners for November were Lt. Johnnie L. Boyd (supervisor), SCO Melissa Askew (custody) and powerhouse supervisor David R. Perry (civilian). October winners were classification officer Nancy Arrington (supervisor), SCO Chuck Jackson (custody) and project specialist John Migliaccio (civilian). September winners were Sgt. Valerie Smith (supervisor), SCO Paul Gaillard (custody) and communications operator Victoria Ayodobo (civilian).