Estling Lake

Estling Lake Summer Jobs

Hello fellow lakers!

While the lake sits under snow right now, we are already dreaming of summer. It’s time to start thinking about the upcoming lake season, including workers.

Lifeguards: If you or your child are interested in lifeguarding, here are the parameters for being able to be a guard at Estling Lake:

• 16 or over
• Must be Open Water certified (not just pool certified.) (Attached are details for an upcoming Open Water certification class through the YMCA and another through Lake Mohawk.)
• Must be certified in CPR/First Aid
• Hours include 1-5:30 daily starting June 26-September 5.
• Schedule and number of hours will vary per week and are flexible to work around other commitments.
• Additional hours may be available coaching swim lessons (position TBD.) 

Additional positions needed throughout the season:

• Mail distribution
• Janitor for community house
• Beach raker

If interested in any of the positions above, please send an email to Pat G. and she will send you an application. You may also call Pat G. if you have any questions about the positions above.

Thank you in advance for your service to our community. It cannot run without everyone helping out! 
Until we meet again.
ᐧ

Full Season Rental

Greetings campers!

Rob and I have a dear friend who is looking for a full season rental (water on – water off). Unfortunately, there was a fire in her apartment building which severely damaged her home and it won’t be habitable again until October. She would love the opportunity to rent in the Estling community during this time. 

Her name is Dena and many of you know her already as she has been our guest many times. She lives in Montclair and works in Wayne. She is a doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine and will be, as a healthcare worker, fully vaccinated by the end of next week!

Please let me know if you’re interested in offering your camp for rent or if you know another camper who might be interested and I’d be happy to put you in touch.

With gratitude,
Erin (Camp 41)

Dr. Andrew Fono

I’m sorry to share that Andy Fono (Camp 7) passed away this weekend.  The family will be doing a small, private ceremony and hopes to have a community memorial during the summer.  I will pass along more information as it becomes available.  Here is a great memory of Andy captured in our July 10th, 1985 newsletter:

On the afternoon of July 10th a mystery sailboat was sighted sailing serenely in the center of the lake, heading in a northerly direction under full sail but without a skipper. With a following breeze, the boat picked up speed, changed direction slightly and sailed by dead reckoning directly into Prices‘ Cove. Keen eyes from shore finally picked up a head bobbing in the center of the lake and identified it as belonging to Andy Fono. It seems that he was enjoying his usual swim alongside his boat when the boat took advantage of a gust of wind and went off without him. Andy made it safely to shore and no damage was done either to the boat or Andy.

Obituary

Andrew Fono left us peacefully on January 3rd, 2021 while surrounded by family and friends. He was a kind, generous and gracious man who loved his family dearly and was loved by them even more. Andrew never spoke a critical word about anyone.  He never judged but he was quietly grateful by the kindnesses extended to him over the years. Grateful for the kindness of family and friendship, kindness of courtesy, kindness of honesty, kindness of compassion and the kindness of caring. To Andrew, those people were the heroes of the world…the good souls who gave of themselves to help others. Just as Andrew did.

He is one of the very last of his remarkable generation and representative of that group. Andrew was positive and upright, never one to complain about life’s aches and pains. Whenever asked how he was, he never responded in any negative way; the answer was always, “Good! Good! Good!”  He was also known for his curiosity, determination, brilliance and humor despite going through enormous challenges in his lifetime.

But Andrew genuinely enjoyed and embraced life, most notably his time at Estling Lake since his arrival there in 1962. He loved to sail, swim the beautiful water there, enjoy the annual barbecue chicken dinners, share time and conversation with members of the community and spend quiet time at Camp 7 with family. He loved to hike and bicycle with his wife Inge throughout the area, play chess, cook, listen to music or just read at the camp.

And, no doubt, those are things many of you at Estling Lake already know about Andrew. But before his time with the community, Andrew had already lived a remarkable life. He was born in Budapest, Hungary to Dr. Albert and Dr. Nina Szilaszi Fono on April 24, 1923. He studied chemistry and physics at Tasmany University in Budapest. Andrew received his PhD at the young age of 22.  After graduating, he went to Sweden to do research at the University of Stockholm (under Dr. Euler and Dr. Hevesi – Nobel Peace Prize winners). During that time, he learned English and Swedish.  In 1947, he came to the United States to do research at the University of Chicago. After that, he worked at the Firestone Tire Company and then at Royce and Company in East Rutherford until his retirement in 2014 at the age of 91.

Andrew is survived by his wife of 39 years, Inge Fono, his son Nicholas Fono, stepson Willi Waizenegger, stepdaughter Brigitte Parisen and her husband David Parisen, his grandchildren Ian Parisen, Victoria Parisen and Christopher Waizenegger.   He is preceded in death by his first wife, Edna Snyder Fono, daughter Penelope Fono and his brother Peter Fono.  

In lieu of flowers, please make any memorial contributions to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. They can be reached at 800.608.3023.

May Andrew rest in peace and watch over us all until we join him.

Message from St. Peter’s Orphanage

Thank you to everyone that was able to contribute to St. Peter’s Orphanage this past year.  Below is a letter from St. Peter’s with updates on how your donations are helping children to succeed.

Stay safe and enjoy the holidays!

December 1, 2020

To our Dear Friends,

We hope this letter finds you in the comfort of your family, and your loved ones safe and well. Thankfully, all the children and staff members at St. Peter’s remain in good health and spirits. Recognizing the resiliency of our children (and ourselves) has been a silver lining during this trying time. Out of difficulties grow miracles.

This year has brought our St. Peter’s family closer than ever. We found ourselves spending time together in ways which helped us develop deeper bonds. We were brought back to the basics of childhood – enjoying bike rides, exploring nature, creating art projects, holding dance competitions, playing board games, tossing water balloons, barbecuing, and planting flowers. One hot July afternoon, we were (impatiently) waiting for our Slip-and-Slide to arrive when our staff and kids brainstormed a creative idea: a tarp and Dawn dish soap! The afternoon was filled with giggles and excitement, as the heaviness of the world melted away.

Individually, our children have used this time to accomplish personal goals, which can be challenging for them even during less stressful times.

During his senior year, Paul maintained employment at Target while working hard to graduate high school. He purchased a car and moved into our Independent Living Cottage. This fall, he began his post-secondary education, which makes him the first in his family to attend college!

Javier is currently in his senior year of high school, with hopes of becoming an underwater welder. One of his favorite classes is woodworking where he crafted a stool for his bedroom. While this may appear simple, given his challenges, it was quite an accomplishment. In the future, he is eager to volunteer at an animal shelter.

Chaz celebrated his high school graduation with many cars supporting he and his classmates. Currently, he is enrolled in a career development program designed to better understand his talents and interests. He is gaining confidence in resume writing and improving his ability to interview successfully. Chaz will soon be scheduling appointments with potential employers!

When he graduated high school in June, Joey immediately enrolled in cosmetology school. He is studying hard and earning the hours he needs to take his Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling exam for licensure. Soon, a local barber shop will be lucky to have his positive energy, skills, and enthusiasm. As our home-run champ, you may find some of his baseballs on the Rockaway River Golf Course!

Raul is in his junior year of high school and recently has taken a liking to his (remote) cooking class. We all have enjoyed his homemade Belgian waffles on Saturday mornings, as well as fancy fajitas on taco Tuesdays. He loves the New York Knicks and can usually be found learning new dance moves on YouTube.

Without your continued support, our children’s many successes would not have been possible. We express our sincere gratitude for your part in their achievements. May this unusual holiday season bring peace, love, and new traditions.

With thanks for your kindness and consideration,
The children, staff and Board of Directors of St. Peter’s Orphanage

www.stpetersorphanage.org

James Reed DeLaney

James Reed DeLaney, 80, of Easton, MD, passed away surrounded by loved ones on December 9th, 2020 after a difficult battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

James was born on March 11, 1940 to Sidney and Anna DeLaney in Rutherford, NJ. He attended Rutherford High School where he met, Joyce, his lifelong partner of 58 years. Together they lived a wonderful life and raised a family of four in Hawthorne, NJ before retiring to the Eastern Shore of Maryland in 2005.

After graduating in 1958, James went on to study biology at Bucknell University. In 1962, he started his career in education as a biology teacher at Teaneck High School. His passion for teaching and natural leadership propelled him into the role of principal in 1977. He would spend the rest of his career in education and took incredible pride in his time spent at Teaneck.

James lived a life that truly made a difference. He was a celebrated leader, influencing and educating decades of students. James lived with a desire to create an environment where students and staff could thrive. He developed a culture at Teaneck that celebrated diversity, inclusion, excellence, and enthusiasm for helping others. He led and inspired a team of accomplished educators to create a truly high performing institution. His work and influence on the students and staff he served was a defining aspect to his character and life accomplishments. In addition to his career, James sought to make a difference in his community as well. He was active in his local church and committed to volunteer work. James cherished his time at Estling Lake in Denville, NJ where his family spent their summers, and he happily gave his time to contribute and support the community.

While he demonstrated so much pride in his work and community, nothing mattered more to James than the love, time, and memories shared with family. He was a caring and devoted spouse, father, grandfather, and brother. He is survived by his wife, Joyce. His children, Nancy, Jimmy, Becky, and Todd. James enjoyed the love and affection of 9 grandchildren and one baby girl on the way. He is also survived by his dear brother Dick, his wife Toby, and their wonderful family.

The family will be celebrating the life of James in a small private ceremony. To honor his memory, the family has established a scholarship fund that will provide financial support to a high school senior from Teaneck High School to pursue higher education. Please make donations out to:

Community Scholarship Fund of Teaneck
680 Albin Street
Teaneck, NJ 07666
Re: James R. DeLaney Scholarship Fund

Water Turns Off Sunday Nov 8th 2020

I’ve been monitoring the weather and it looks like we’ve reached the time where the temperatures at night will consistently drop below freezing. As such, the water to the community will be shut off on Sunday, November 8th. Volunteers looking to help with the process should meet at the beach parking area at 2 PM to complete the shutoff work. For those in camp, please be aware that you will start to see a drop or loss of water pressure as early as 1PM on Sunday, so plan your day appropriately. Looking ahead to next year, the water will be turned on Saturday, April 10, 2021 (weather permitting).

Community Update for October 2020

I hope that everyone has adjusted back to their winter routine now that schools have started again.  While the summer season has ended, there are still some important activities happening at the Lake right now.  Please review the announcements below and reach out if you have any questions.

Water Shut Off Extended

Since COVID concerns are still present and the weather is cooperating, the water shutoff has been rescheduled from the original date of Oct 25th to the new date of Sunday, Nov 8th.  I will reassess the weather forecast next week and send out an update on Nov 1st confirming our shutoff date and arranging volunteers.

Off Season Usage

As a reminder to those planning to stay in camp after the water shutoff, the “90 day rule” (Corp Lease – Section C, 5.b) has been suspended for the 2020-2021 off season due to the pandemic.  However, you still must notify the caretaker and the board of your plans (an email to Brian and me will suffice).

Caretaker

Brian and his family have moved into the cottage (Camp 58) after completing several upgrades.  Thank you to the Williams family for all their work to enhance the cottage and transform it into their new home.  Brian sent out a questionnaire a few weeks ago to help with his planned patrols during the off season.  Please send the completed form back to Brian so he can properly care for your camp over the winter.

Dam and Spillway

Please be sure to review the materials posted to the Estling Web Site regarding the evaluation of the Dam and Spillway by NJ DEP, NJ Transit, and Estling Lake Corp.

Committee Sign Ups

Thank you to all the volunteers that have registered for 2021.  There is still time to join a committee, so if you haven’t done so yet, please visit our sign up page and add your name to the list.  The sign up list will be closing October 31st.

Joint Ownership Applications

For those that are considering joint ownership, please submit your applications immediately as the process must be fully executed prior to 1/1/2021.  Any applications that are unable to be completed by 12/31/2020 will be cancelled and joint ownership will not be issued.  Our dedicated volunteers are working hard to complete these applications in a timely manner, but there are many steps involved and each application brings its own unique challenges. Contact Nadine to begin the process.

Recycling

The recycling dumpster will be removed for the winter so please drop off your items prior to Wednesday, 10/28.  After that date the container will be removed and you will need to utilize the Denville Recycling Center at 140 Morris Avenue, Denville. They are open Mon-Fri, 7-2:30, Sat 8-2, Sun 10-2.

Dam Committee – Lowering the Lake

We received our permit to lower the lake 3’, allowing the town to repair a broken water pipe below our spillway. We will open the valve 9/24 and anticipate closing it 10/1. This is HIGHLY dependent on the weather but pencil in dock repairs and shoreline maintenance beginning 10/1.

Advisory: Utility work scheduled for Estling Lake Rd beginning 9/8

https://local.nixle.com/alert/8224772/?sub_id=0

On Tuesday, September 8th, Gray Supply will begin utility work on underground natural gas lines along Estling Lake Road from Route 53 to the railroad crossing. As a result, Estling Lake Road will be shut down to one lane of alternating traffic between approximately 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. daily. Residents and other traffic entering or exiting the area should expect delays. Police Officers will be on site to assist and direct traffic. The work is expected to last for at least a week.

Notice of Lake Lowering

A message from the Dam and Spillway Committee:

As requested by Denville, we have applied for a permit to lower the lake up to 3’ during the last week in September. Indian will be lowering its lake as of October 1. This will allow for the repair of a large broken water line that runs across Indian where our spillway ends. So, if you have been considering dock repairs this would be a good time to do so. It is also a good time to clean up the shoreline.