COUGARS LEND HELPING HAND ON HALLOWEEN

11-2-07
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.