Aging is inevitable, and for many, it signals the beginning of a new chapter - one where you cross off bucket list items and live life to the fullest, on your own terms. However, for some men, aging is a horrible prospect, filled with chronic fatigue, irritability, and inability to perform in the bedroom. If you're concerned about life in middle age and beyond, we've got great news: there are easy, proven steps that you can take to help stop the negative effect of aging.
Global Life Rejuvenation was founded to give men a new lease on life - one that includes less body fat, fewer mood swings, and more energy as you age. If you're ready to look and feel younger, it's time to consider TRT (testosterone replacement therapy), and growth hormone peptides. These therapies for men are effective, safe, and customized to fit your goals, so you can keep loving life as you get older.
TRT, and growth hormone peptide therapies bridge the gap between your old life and the more vibrant, happier version of you. With a simple click or call, you can be well on your way to a brighter future. After all, you deserve to be the one in charge of your wellness and health. Now, you have the tools to do so - backed by science and applied by our team of TRT and HRT experts with more than 13 years of experience.
For men, getting older comes with its perks, like living life on their own terms and not having to "sweat the small stuff" day in and day out. At the same time, there are aspects of aging that men dread, like hormonal changes. Yes, you read that right – men, not just women, go through hormonal changes as they age. For men, the biggest change involves a drop in testosterone.
Lower levels of testosterone can wreak havoc on a male's mind and body and when left untreated, can result in symptoms like:
Those symptoms are concerning, but with testosterone replacement therapy and anti-aging medicine, many males improve their quality of life with age. The good news is that TRT and anti-aging meds aren't only reserved for "old guys." In fact, there's no magic age at which men should start thinking about hormone replacement therapy. Everyone's body is different, so if you're experiencing the above conditions in your mid-30s, TRT could be a viable solution when you consult with a doctor.
Testosterone is a crucial hormone for men and plays an important role throughout the male lifespan. Most of a male's testosterone is produced through the testicles. Also called the male sex hormone, testosterone starts playing its part during puberty.
When a male goes through puberty, testosterone helps males develop:
As boys turn to men and men grow older, testosterone levels deplete naturally. Sometimes, events like injuries and chronic health conditions like diabetes can lower testosterone levels. Unfortunately, when a man loses too much T, it results in hypogonadism. When this happens, the testosterone must be replaced, or the male will suffer from symptoms like muscle loss, low libido, and even depression.
TRT is exactly what it sounds like: a treatment option for men that replaces testosterone so that your body regulates hormones properly and restores balance to your life. Also called androgen replacement therapy, TRT alleviates the symptoms that men experience with low T.
Originally lab-synthesized in 1935, testosterone has grown in popularity since it was produced. Today, TRT and other testosterone treatments are among the most popular prescriptions in the U.S.
Without getting too deep into the science, TRT works by giving your body the essential testosterone it needs to function correctly. As the primary androgen for both males and females, testosterone impacts many of the body's natural processes – especially those needed for overall health. For example, men with low T are more prone to serious problems like cardiovascular disease and even type-2 diabetes.
When your body quits making enough testosterone, it causes your health to suffer until a solution is presented. That's where TRT and anti-aging medicine for men can help. TRT helps balance your hormones and replenish your depleted testosterone. With time, your body will begin to heal, and many symptoms like low libido and irritability begin to diminish.
For men, aging is the biggest contributor to lower testosterone levels, though there are other causes like obesity, drug abuse, testicular injuries, and certain prescribed medications. Sometimes, long-term health conditions like AIDS, cirrhosis of the liver, and kidney disease can lower testosterone levels.
When a man's testosterone levels drop significantly, it alters his body's ratio of estrogen and testosterone. Lower testosterone levels cause more abdominal fat, which in turn results in increased aromatase, which converts even more testosterone into estrogen.
If you're concerned that you might have low T, you're not alone. Millions of men in the U.S. feel the same way. The best way to find out if your testosterone is low is to get your levels tested.
For sustainable testosterone replacement therapy benefits, you must consult with hormone doctors and experts like those you can find at Global Life Rejuvenation. That way, you can find the root cause of your hormone problems, and our team can craft a personalized HRT plan tailored to your needs.
Are you used to blasting through a productive day and accomplishing all your daily goals? Do you find yourself losing muscle mass and the craving to be intimate with your partner? Does your partner complain about how irritable you have become? If you're not usually a curmudgeon, your body could be giving you a sign. It could be time to speak with a doctor about TRT and anti-aging medicine for men in Mount Olive, NJ.
If you're experiencing any of the following symptoms, you might be battling against low testosterone:
One of the most common reasons that men choose TRT is because they have lost that "spark" with their partner. It's not easy for a man to hear that they're not performing like they used to. Intimacy is a powerful part of any relationship. When a once-healthy sex life dwindles, it can cause serious relationship issues.
The good news is that low libido doesn't have to be a permanent problem. TRT and anti-aging medicines help revert hormone levels back into their normal range. When this happens, many men have a more enjoyable life full of intimacy and sex drive.
Weak erections – it's an uncomfortable subject for many men in the U.S. to talk about. It's even worse to experience first-hand. You're in the midst of an intimate moment, and you can't do your part. Despite being perfectly normal, many men put blame and shame upon themselves when they can't achieve an erection. And while the inability to perform sexually can be caused by poor diet, obesity, and chronic health conditions, low testosterone is often a contributing factor.
Fortunately, weak erections are a treatable condition. The best way to regain your confidence and ability in bed is to speak with your doctor. Once any underlying conditions are discovered, options like TRT may be the best course of treatment.
Hair Loss
Do you find it harder and harder to work out and lift weights in the gym? Are you having problems lifting heavy items that you once had no problem lifting?
Recent studies show that when men are inactive, they lose .5% of muscle strength every year, from ages 25 to 60. After 60, muscle loss doubles every decade. While some muscle loss is common as men age, a significant portion can be tied to low testosterone levels. When a man's T levels drop, so does his muscle mass.
Testosterone is a much-needed component used in gaining and retaining muscle mass. That's why many doctors prescribe TRT Mount Olive, NJ, for men having problems with strength. One recent study found that men who increased their testosterone levels using TRT gained as much as 2.5 pounds of muscle mass.
Whether your gym performance is lacking, or you can't lift heavy items like you used to, don't blame it all on age. You could be suffering from hypogonadism.
If you're like millions of other men in their late 20s and 30s, dealing with hair loss is a reality you don't want to face. Closely related to testosterone decline and hormone imbalances, hair loss is distressing for many men. This common symptom is often related to a derivative of testosterone called DHT. Excess amounts of DHT cause hair follicles to halt their production, causing follicles to die.
Because hair located at the front and crown is more sensitive to DHT, it grows slower than other follicles and eventually stops growing permanently. Thankfully, TRT and anti-aging treatments for men in Mount Olive, NJ, is now available to address hair loss for good.
While it's true that you can't change your genes, you can change the effects of low testosterone on your body. Whether you're suffering from thinning hair or hair loss across your entire head, TRT and other hormone therapies can stop hair loss and even reverse the process.
Also called "man boobs," gynecomastia is essentially the enlargement of male breast tissue. This increase in fatty tissue is often caused by hormonal imbalances and an increase in estrogen. For men, estrogen levels are elevated during andropause. Also called male menopause, andropause usually happens because of a lack of testosterone.
If you're a man between the ages of 40 and 55, and you're embarrassed by having large breasts, don't lose hope. TRT is a safe, effective way to eliminate the underlying cause of gynecomastia without invasive surgery. With a custom HRT and fitness program, you can bring your testosterone and estrogen levels back to normal before you know it.
Decreased energy was once considered a normal part of aging. Today, many doctors know better. Advances in technology and our understanding of testosterone show that low T and lack of energy often go hand-in-hand.
If you're struggling to enjoy activities like playing with your kids or hiking in a park due to lack of energy, it could be a sign of low T. Of course, getting tired is perfectly normal for any man. But if you're suffering from continual fatigue, a lack of enjoyment, or a decrease in energy, it might be time to speak with a doctor.
Whether you're having a tough time getting through your day or can't finish activities you used to love, TRT could help.
A study from 2011 showed that men who lose a week's worth of sleep can experience lowered testosterone levels – as much as 15%, according to experts. Additional research into the topic found almost 15% of workers only get five hours of sleep (or less) per night. These findings suggest that sleep loss negatively impacts T levels and wellbeing.
The bottom line is that men who have trouble sleeping often suffer from lower testosterone levels as a result. If you find yourself exhausted at the end of the day but toss and turn all night long, you might have low T.
TRT and anti-aging medicines can restore your T levels back to normal, which can help you sleep better with proper diet and exercise.
You're feeling down about everything, and there's no solid explanation for why you're in such a crummy mood. Your daily life is great and full of success, but you can't help but feel unexcited and unmotivated. If you're experiencing symptoms like these, you may be depressed – and it may stem from low testosterone.
A research study from Munich found that men with depression also commonly had low testosterone levels. This same study also found that depressed men had cortisol levels that were 67% higher than other men. Because higher cortisol levels lead to lower levels of testosterone, the chances of severe depression increase.
Depression is a very real disorder and should always be diagnosed and treated by your doctor. One treatment option gaining in popularity is TRT for depression. Studies show that when TRT is used to restore hormone levels, men enjoy a lighter, more improved mood. That's great news for men who are depressed and have not had success with other treatments like anti-depression medicines, which alter the brain's chemistry.
Ask anyone over the age of 50 how their memory is, and they'll tell you it wasn't what it used to be. Memory loss and lack of concentration occur naturally as we age – these aren't always signs of dementia or Alzheimer's.
However, what many men consider a symptom of age may be caused by low testosterone. A 2006 study found that males with low T levels performed poorly on cognitive skill tests. These results suggest that low testosterone may play a part in reducing cognitive ability. If you're having trouble staying on task or remembering what your schedule is for the day, it might not be due to your age. It might be because your testosterone levels are too low. If you're having trouble concentrating or remembering daily tasks, it could be time to talk to your doctor.
Why? The aforementioned study found that participating men experienced improved cognitive skills when using TRT.
Even though today's society is more inclusive of large people, few adults enjoy gaining weight as they age. Despite their best efforts, many men just can't shed the extra pounds around their midsections, increasing their risk of heart disease and cancer.
Often, male weight gain is caused by hormone imbalances that slow the metabolism and cause weight to pile on. This phase of life is called andropause and happens when there is a lack of testosterone in the body. Couple that with high cortisol levels, and you've got a recipe for flabby guts and double chins.
Fortunately, TRT treatments and physician-led weight loss programs can correct hormone imbalances and lead to healthy weight loss for men.
The benefits of hormone replacement therapy for men are numerous. TRT not only grants relief from low-T symptoms but can help give protection against age-related diseases. Additionally, doctors now recognize male testosterone as an important role in alleviating depression.
Some of the most exciting benefits of TRT can include:
Because men do not go through a specific period of hormonal changes like women do (called menopause), many doctors refer to "male menopause" as androgen decline. This is just another term for low testosterone, but like female menopause, the symptoms can be serious and affect your quality of life.
The best way to fight back against male menopause is with male HRT treatment from Global Life Rejuvenation. We provide the following HRT treatments for men:
Our treatment options are personalized for your body and are available as creams, gels, injectables, and implantable pellets. To find out if testosterone replacement therapy is safe for you, contact Global Life Rejuvenation today to schedule your comprehensive testing and anti-aging treatment consultation.
Growth hormone peptides are an innovative therapy that boosts the natural human growth hormone production in a person's body. These exciting treatment options help slow down the aging process and give you a chance at restoring your youth.
Sermorelin is a synthetic hormone peptide, like GHRH, which triggers the release of growth hormones. When used under the care of a qualified physician, Sermorelin can help you lose weight, increase your energy levels, and help you feel much younger.
Human growth hormone (HGH) therapy has been used for years to treat hormone deficiencies. Unlike HGH, which directly replaces declining human growth hormone levels, Sermorelin addresses the underlying cause of decreased HGH, stimulating the pituitary gland naturally. This approach keeps the mechanisms of growth hormone production active.
Benefits of Sermorelin include:
Ipamorelin helps to release growth hormones in a person's body by mimicking a peptide called ghrelin. Ghrelin is one of three hormones which work together to regulate the growth hormone levels released by the pituitary gland. Because Ipamorelin stimulates the body to produce growth hormone, your body won't stop its natural growth hormone production, which occurs with synthetic HGH.
Ipamorelin causes growth hormone secretion that resembles natural release patterns rather than being constantly elevated from HGH. Because ipamorelin stimulates the natural production of growth hormone, our patients can use this treatment long-term with fewer health risks.
One of the biggest benefits of Ipamorelin is that it is suitable for both men and women. It provides significant short and long-term benefits in age management therapies, boosting patients' overall health, wellbeing, and outlook on life. When growth hormone is produced by the pituitary gland using Ipamorelin, clients report amazing benefits.
Some of those benefits include:
Whether you are considering our TRT services, HRT for women, or our growth hormone peptide services, we are here to help. The first step to turning back the hand of time starts by contacting Global Life Rejuvenation.
Our friendly, knowledgeable TRT and HRT experts can help answer your questions and walk you through our procedures. From there, we'll figure out which treatments are right for you. Before you know it, you'll be well on your way to looking and feeling better than you have in years!
866-793-9933
The superintendent of a Morris County district — who was placed on paid administrative leave last fall and filed a lawsuit against school board members — has resigned.Mount Olive Superintendent ...
The superintendent of a Morris County district — who was placed on paid administrative leave last fall and filed a lawsuit against school board members — has resigned.
Mount Olive Superintendent Robert Zywicki submitted his resignation, effective immediately, to the district’s board of education last week. He had led the district since 2018 and was earning $238,000 a year when the school board placed him on paid leave in October for unspecified reasons.
In his April 27 resignation letter, Zywicki said some board members have “personal grudges” against him and “constructively discharged” him from his position.
Acting Superintendent Sumit Bangia accepted the resignation and the board will ratify it at the May 8 meeting, said board attorney Marc Zitomer.
“I will no longer fight for a job that has been spoiled for me. I will no longer watch this Board waste of hundreds of thousands of dollars of the taxpayers’ hard earned dollars paying legal fees to Mr. Zitomer,” Zywicki said in the resignation letter.
“I will simply move on, because my physical health and my mental well being can no longer tolerate the toxic and hostile environment perpetuated by the majority of this Board,” he said.
Antoine Gayles, the school board president, denied Zywicki’s allegations.
“As our counsel has stated in a separate letter to Dr. Zywicki and his counsel, now that the employment relationship has ended, we would expect that any disputes that the parties continue to have get resolved in the appropriate forums, not in the public domain,” Gayles said.
In March, the board certified tenure charges against Zywicki and sent them to the state, said Vittorio LaPira, an attorney hired by the board in January to handle employment matters related to Zywicki.
Because of the tenure charges, Zywicki’s suspension shifted to unpaid leave and he lost his health benefits, LaPira said.
Zywicki, who was placed on paid administrative leave in October, also cited the loss of health benefits as part of his decision to resign in an interview with NJ Advance Media.
A month after he was suspended, Zywicki filed a lawsuit against the board alleging members violated state laws when they put him on paid administrative leave. In December, a Superior Court judge denied his motion to be reinstated to his position. The lawsuit was dismissed and he dropped his appeal, Zitomer said.
Neither Zywicki nor the board has publicly said what led to his suspension.
In February, one board member filed tenure charges with the board secretary against Zywicki, seeking to have him fired. The tenure charges made several allegations, including that Zywicki pressured a school board architect to donate $100,000 to help fund a new football field scoreboard and pay for the gift by secretly inflating his regular fees paid by the district.
Zywicki denied any wrongdoing, saying the charges were in retaliation for his own whistleblowing last July exposing other problems in the district.
The tenure charges also alleged Zywicki was “double-dipping” by getting paid by the district as superintendent while also doing work for Rutgers University, an allegation he denied.
Another school board member asked the state Department of Education to intervene and appoint an independent monitor to oversee the 4,600-student district earlier this year amid the ongoing turmoil.
Separately, Zywicki’s lawsuit against multiple board members remains pending.
The lawsuit was updated in late April to name several current board members and one former board member as defendants. Zywicki alleged in the suit that the board retaliated against him for whistleblowing and exposing improper behavior by the board members.
The lawsuit also alleges board members orchestrated a scheme to destroy the superintendent’s reputation. Ethics charges Zywicki filed against several board members also remain pending.
Members of the board previously declined to comment or did not respond to requests to comment on Zywicki’s allegations.
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Mount Olive School District Superintendent Rob Zywicki announced his resignation Thursday, but the conflict resulting in his October suspension by the Board of Education will continue.In a letter sent to the district on Thursday, Zywicki made his announcement "with great sadness" and asked that the board accept his immediate resignation."For six months, the majority of the board and its legal representatives have rejected one opportunity after another to engage in meaningful settlement dialogue,&qu...
Mount Olive School District Superintendent Rob Zywicki announced his resignation Thursday, but the conflict resulting in his October suspension by the Board of Education will continue.
In a letter sent to the district on Thursday, Zywicki made his announcement "with great sadness" and asked that the board accept his immediate resignation.
"For six months, the majority of the board and its legal representatives have rejected one opportunity after another to engage in meaningful settlement dialogue," Zywicki's resignation letter reads. "They prefer, instead, through malicious actions, anonymous letters, rumors and innuendo to make it impossible for me to return to Mount Olive and, as a practical and legal matter, they have constructively discharged me from my position."
Zywicki has been on paid suspension since Oct. 11, when the board took action without publicly stating a reason. Zywicki responded in November with a lawsuit alleging the board violated the state's Open Public Meetings Act while voting to suspend him in a closed session. Zywicki also filed tort claims stating his intention to sue school board members Antoine Gayles and William Robinson for $5.13 million each.
He later updated the suit, claiming "whistleblower" status, and added two more board members, Anthony Strillacci and Anthony Giordano, as defendants in a suit seeking "compensation for multi-million dollar damages" incurred by Zywicki as a result of an "orchestrated scheme" by the defendants "to punish him and destroy his reputation" after he reported "ongoing violations of policy, code and good practices" by some board members to the entire board.
While the board never publicly stated the grounds for Zywicki's suspension, a letter from Zywicki's attorney, Stephen Edelstein, outlines some of the conflicts.
Charges leveled against Zywicki include him having "double-dipped" on several occasions, including "numerous out-of-district, in-services days" working with the Rutgers Center For Effective School Practices without taking vacation or personal days. The Edelstein letter also identifies timelines and other evidence to refute each alleged incident.
Zywicki's resignation comes a few days after the Supreme Court of New Jersey's district committee for Morris and Sussex counties agreed in writing to launch an investigation into subsequent allegations against Mount Olive Board of Education attorney Marc Zitomer. That decision follows Zywicki's complaint filed to the board that Zitomer has committed violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
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Zitomer served as counsel for the Sparta Board of Education during a period when Zywicki served on that board. Zywicki said he was initially friendly with Zitomer, who represented him in board matters and in incidents of bullying involving his disabled son, a student in the Sparta district.
During that time, Zitomer was able to obtain private information about Zywicki and his children, who were later moved to a private school, the complaint letter states. Zywicki claims Zitomer later shared his confidential information with Giordano, a behavior that is "part and parcel to a toxic pattern of gaslighting, manipulation and intimidation via a weaponization of his multiple conflicted attorney-client relationships."
Zitomer referred questions about the conflict to Jeffrey LaRosa, a partner at the law firm of Schenck, Price, Smith & King, where he chairs the firm's school law practice group.
"All that has happened at this point is that a grievance has been filed," LaRosa said of the ethics investigation. "That investigation is in the early stages. The investigator has not completed his investigation and the committee has not decided whether to file a formal complaint."
Mount Olive District Acting Superintendent Sumit Bangia said the district does not comment on personnel-related or pending legal matters.
In addition to Mount Olive, Zitomer serves as board attorney in several other New Jersey school districts, including Randolph, Sparta, Mine Hill, Mansfield, Mahwah, Nutley, Marlboro, South Plainfield, Jackson, Frelinghuysen, Green Township, Lafayette, Warren Hills and Ewing.
Zywicki was hired in 2018 and his contract was renewed in 2018 and 2019. Public records list his annual salary at $237,350.
"I only wish the best for the fine students, teachers, staff and families at Mount Olive, with whom I was proud to serve," Zywicki concluded his resignation letter.
His legal battle with the district will continue, however.
"Please rest assured that this does not mean that I will surrender to those who have wronged me and my family and even taken away health benefits from my disabled child," he wrote. "I have filed ethics charges against several board members. I filed a complaint with the United States Department of Education Office of Civil Rights against the board, I filed a grievance with the New Jersey Supreme Court Office of Attorney Ethics and I have filed a Superior Court civil lawsuit. My attorneys will now expand that lawsuit and see it through to a fair conclusion."
"We're confident that once the investigation is complete, the matter will be dismissed," Larosa said.
Player Stats Mount Olive Scoring G A P GB FOS-Taken FOS-Won FOS-Win% Adam DeCristofaro 4 5 9 2 0 0 0 ...
Mount Olive Scoring
| G | A | P | GB | FOS-Taken | FOS-Won | FOS-Win% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam DeCristofaro | 4 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Mullery | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kyle Schiller | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Braden Ensinger | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Noah Russ | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 0.56 |
| Joseph Drew | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Timmermans | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tobey Clark | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ryland McCumber | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kyle YIn | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cameron Ray | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tanner Perez | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 4 | 0.36 |
| Nicola D'Amico | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ryan Schaefer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Ferrara | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Turner | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals: | 13 | 11 | 24 | 36 | 20 | 9 | 0.45 |
West Milford Scoring
| G | A | P | GB | FOS-Taken | FOS-Won | FOS-Win% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jake Kelshaw | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 0.56 |
| Vincent D'Andrea | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Theo Bolger | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nash Appell | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 0.44 |
| Matthew Watt | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Biegel | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jason Donohue | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Featherstone | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Spencer Ribitzki | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nick Lombardo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brett Provenzano | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jose Veliz | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Novak | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals: | 3 | 2 | 5 | 32 | 18 | 9 | 0.5 |
Mount Olive Goalie
| Saves | GA | |
|---|---|---|
| Joseph Drew (W) | 7 | 2 |
| Ahmed Islam | 1 | 1 |
| Totals: | 8 | 3 |
West Milford Goalie
| Saves | GA | |
|---|---|---|
| Tyler Acanfrio (L) | 17 | 12 |
| Andrew Crouthamel | 0 | 1 |
| Totals: | 17 | 13 |
MORRISTOWN — A judge is expected to make a decision next week in the case of Mount Olive school Superintendent Robert Zywicki, who said the district board of education violated the state's Open Public Meetings Act when it suspended him in October.Zywicki's attorney, Stephen Edelstein of the Weiner Law Group, and Marc Zitome...
MORRISTOWN — A judge is expected to make a decision next week in the case of Mount Olive school Superintendent Robert Zywicki, who said the district board of education violated the state's Open Public Meetings Act when it suspended him in October.
Zywicki's attorney, Stephen Edelstein of the Weiner Law Group, and Marc Zitomer, representing the board, presented their arguments in a virtual hearing to state Superior Court judge Louis Sceusi Friday morning. Sceusi said he plans to announce early next week whether Zywicki should be reinstated based on the board's actions during and prior to two October meetings.
The hearing didn't shed any light on why Zywicki was placed on paid leave after four years leading the district of almost 5,000 students. Neither the superintendent nor the board have explained the rift publicly, leaving families in the dark.
Instead, Zywicki's court case centers on a so-called Rice Notice, a notification legally required when a board plans to discuss an individual's employment at a meeting. The procedure allows the employee to request the discussion be held in public.
The Mount Olive board served Zywicki with a Rice Notice prior to its Oct. 10 meeting, which the superintendent attended. It did not send a notice for Oct. 17 but apparently intended to, as court documents show Zitomer later sent an email to Edelstein acknowledging that it was not sent.
Board members did not take any action after its closed session Oct. 10 but sent Zywicki a letter that night informing him of his suspension, Edelstein said. A week later, the board announced it had placed the superintendent on paid administrative leave.
The lack of a second notice, Edelstein argued Friday, is evidence that the board acted improperly by suspending Zywicki in private and without adequately informing him.
"The board knew that he was entitled to a Rice Notice. The board thought they had sent him a Rice Notice," Edelstein said. "So everything that you're hearing from that point forward is an explanation to deal with the fact that a mistake was made."
Zitomer said the board provided a notice Oct. 10 when Zywicki's employment was discussed and was not required to send another one the following week. The matters discussed in the Oct. 17 closed session involved attorney-client privilege and potential litigation issues, which Zywicki would not have been privy to.
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"Yes, it is true. I acknowledge that I had thought that Dr. Zywicki had received a Rice Notice," Zitomer said. "But quite frankly, it was of no consequence because we didn't need to discuss him at the Oct. 17 meeting."
Zywicki has also filed four tort claim notices, each for $5.13 million, notifying the district that he plans to sue board members Antoine Gayles, William Robinson and Elizabeth Ouimet, and board President Anthony Strillaci. The superintendent allegeds Gayles and Robinson defamed him by publicly discussing his suspension. He also says Ouimet discussed his employment with Gayles via email, and Strillaci should not have been involved in personnel discussions because he has relatives who work for the district.
Zitomer countered Friday that Zywicki's claims are a way to prevent board members from being able to vote on his potential reinstatement due to a conflict of interest, should Sceusi require the board to take a new vote.
"I can only surmise he believes that, by getting the people that he doesn't think are favorable to him conflicted out, that if a revote is taken, the outcome might turn out differently," Zitomer said.
Edelstein pushed back, saying there were "completely separate and different reasons" for filing the claims. He said there should be no "wiggle room" in the Open Public Meetings Act's requirements for board transparency, and that the law would be undermined if the board's argument is accepted.
Zywicki filed a lawsuit against Mount Olive Oct. 28, less than two weeks after his suspension was announced. He was named superintendent of the district in 2018.
This article has been updated to accurately reflect Robert Zywicki's attendance at the Oct. 10 Mount Olive Board of Education meeting.
Kyle Morel is a local reporter covering Morris and Sussex counties.
Email: [email protected]; Twitter: @KMorelNJH
MOUNT OLIVE – Doug Withstandley went with his gut.The Jackson Memorial coach had a hunch moments before his Jaguars took the mat in the NJSIAA Group 4 semifinal on Friday night.Withstandley initially questioned sending out Nikko Rucci in place of Lucas Lipari at 132 pounds, but the coach quickly realized his intuition paid off.Rucci’s fall in just the third bout of the match gave the Jaguars a fast 15-0 lead en route to a 42-22 victory over defending Group champions Mount Olive at Mount Olive H...
MOUNT OLIVE – Doug Withstandley went with his gut.
The Jackson Memorial coach had a hunch moments before his Jaguars took the mat in the NJSIAA Group 4 semifinal on Friday night.
Withstandley initially questioned sending out Nikko Rucci in place of Lucas Lipari at 132 pounds, but the coach quickly realized his intuition paid off.
Rucci’s fall in just the third bout of the match gave the Jaguars a fast 15-0 lead en route to a 42-22 victory over defending Group champions Mount Olive at Mount Olive High School.
The win moves Jackson Memorial into Sunday’s Group 4 title match against North Hunterdon at Jersey Mike’s Arena at Rutgers University at 11 a.m. The Lions defeated Shawnee, 36-31 in the other semifinal on Friday.
“I got really risky at 132 pounds sending Rucci out there. I could have kept (Lucas) Lipari down and go for that win there, but I was trying to save bonus with Lipari and it paid off," Withstandley said. "I wasn’t sure what their move was there with Jack (Bastarrika) weighing up. I think he’s a very good wrestler. Sometimes you get a hunch and sometimes you make mistakes. But that turned out to be a good move.”
Though Bastarrika scored a 15-6 major decision against Lipari in the next match at 138 pounds, the Jaguars went on to win the next four bouts to build an insurmountable 33-4 lead through eight.
Jackson Memorial (16-6) outmatched the Marauders, 9-5, and scored bonus points in seven bouts. The Jaguars had pins in three matches and recorded two technical falls.
Luis Espinoza (120) opened the match with an 8-6 win in sudden victory to give the Jaguars a 3-0 lead and Jonathan Espinoza (126) and Rucci had back to back falls.
“I really didn’t have any strategy going in. I just knew I had to wrestle hard and give it my all,” Espinoza said. “The season started off rough for me and sloppy. I kept putting in the work and it’s turned out well. We still have another one to go.”
Jackson Memorial advances to its first Group championship since falling to Phillipsburg in the 2015 final.
The Jaguars take aim at their first Group title since going back to back in 2010-11.
Jackson Memorial has won six straight matches and has outscored its opponents, 154-47 in three postseason matches.
Mount Olive’s win streak was snapped at four matches.
Jackson Memorial won three straight to open the match and tacked on another 18 points by winning from 144 to 165 pounds.
Mount Olive (11-5) mounted a mini comeback late in the match when Tyler Bienus pinned at 175 pounds. Nicolas Gonzalez (190) followed with a 4-1 decision and Anthony Moscatello kept the Marauders’ hopes alive with a 50-second fall at 215 pounds to pull the home team within 33-19 with three matches to go.
“I’ve wrestled with all these guys since I was in grade school. It’s tough to end this way, but we’ve all built a lot of memories over the years and won it all last year,” Moscatello said. “I couldn’t imagine spending it with anyone else.
“We had a good run and now we shift to the individual portion of the season.”
Senior Ryan Fischer sealed the deal for the Jaguars when he scored a 13-4 major decision at 285 pounds to put the match out of reach.
“We had a rough start to the season and we’re now peaking at all the right time,” Fischer said. “I haven’t seen this team wrestle this good in a long time. It’s an incredible feeling. Hopefully we can go on and win a state title.”
