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CALDWELL, N.J. - Several Caldwell College student-athletes helped
some local trick-or-treaters celebrate Halloween by passing out
candy on Bloomfield Avenue in Caldwell, N.J., yesterday. Assistant
Director of Athletics Linda Cimino, who
coordinates Caldwell College's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee,
and Rebecca Naylor, President of the Residents
Council, worked with Ann Dassing of the Caldwell Merchants
Association to provide students to hand out treats in front of
three shops in downtown Caldwell.
Every Halloween night, many children in the Caldwell area
trick-or-treat at the shops and storefronts down Bloomfield Avenue
and along some of the side streets. However, at a recent meeting of
the Caldwell Merchants Association, some of the business owners
expressed concern about the ability to hand out candy to the kids
while still tending to business. Also in attendance at the meeting
were Caldwell College's Roxanne Knott-Kuczborski,
Senior Academic Advisor in Continuing Education, and Lisa
DiBisceglie, Associate Dean for Graduate and Continuing
Studies.
"The merchants were talking about how they were often too busy to
pass out candy, and they asked us if our students were available to
help," said Knott-Kuczborski. "I contacted [Vice President for
Student Life] Sister Elaine Keenan, and she had
Linda Cimino and Rebecca Naylor coordinate with Ann Dassing."
The Caldwell College students and student-athletes served the
trick-or-treaters all different kinds of candy in front of four
shops: Minuteman Press, Streamers, Cedar Grill Pizzeria and Smith
Shop.
"I loved seeing the little kids in their costumes, and seeing the
smiles on their faces when you give them candy," said Janay
Prim, a junior forward on the Caldwell College women's
basketball team. "The parents also were very friendly towards us.
It was nice doing something in the community and mixing and
mingling with the people."
The merchants also were appreciative of the Caldwell College
students' efforts on Halloween. "The student volunteers were a
great help to the shop owners who were working but needed to give
out candy to the kids," said Dassing, the secretary of the Caldwell
Merchants Association and a graduate of Caldwell College. "Some
shop owners said that [the students] were invaluable to them and
that they are looking forward to next year."
Most of the Caldwell College student-athletes who volunteered are
active with the College's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
(SAAC), which is involved in community service, community
engagement, campus events, charities and other activities. Last
year, Caldwell's SAAC raised over $1,000 for the Make-A-Wish
Foundation.
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