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 Pequannock, 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 Pequannock, 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 Pequannock, 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
Photo Credit: Morris County/Karen MancinelliWorkers last week at the Pequannock Township end of the project.Photo Credit: Morris County/Karen MancinelliWorkers last week at the Pequannock Township end of the project clearing vegetation and removing track bolts.Photo Credit: Morris County/Karen Mancinelli By TAPinto Montville StaffPublishedJune 28, 2022 at 3:22 PMPEQUANNOCK, NJ – Construction has begun on the long-awai...
Photo Credit: Morris County/Karen Mancinelli
Workers last week at the Pequannock Township end of the project.Photo Credit: Morris County/Karen Mancinelli
Workers last week at the Pequannock Township end of the project clearing vegetation and removing track bolts.Photo Credit: Morris County/Karen Mancinelli
By TAPinto Montville Staff
PublishedJune 28, 2022 at 3:22 PM
PEQUANNOCK, NJ – Construction has begun on the long-awaited New York Susquehanna & Western (NYS&W) Railway Bicycle and Pedestrian Shared Use Path, a 4.8 mile-trail project spearheaded by Morris County to repurpose an abandoned stretch of railroad for a non-motorized recreational path from Pequannock Township to Wayne.
Brush clearing and preliminary work on lifting old rails began last week on the $20 million, federally funded project which was initiated by the Morris County Board of County Commissioners to transform an old railroad bed into a recreational trail linking Morris and Passaic counties. The path of the project begins at River Drive in Pequannock near Route 23, connecting with the township’s Aquatic Park, and runs southward to Mountainview Boulevard near NJ Transit’s Mountain View rail station in Wayne.
Work is anticipated to be completed in 2024, and the project will eventually tie into Passaic County’s Morris Canal Greenway. As milestones are reached during the project, periodic updates will be announced.
Sign Up for FREE Montville Newsletter
Get local news you can trust in your inbox.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
“This project has been eagerly anticipated by many people in the region, particularly in both Morris and Passaic counties, and we’re pleased that work is underway,” said Director Tayfun Selen of the Morris County Board of County Commissioners. “This will provide another unique recreational opportunity for our residents, one that connects different greenways while providing bicyclists and hikers easy access to downtown amenities that are a short distance from this path.”
The path has long been envisioned as a walking and biking route that will connect residents, commuters and visitors with parks, schools, libraries, businesses and transit facilities. The Morris County Office of Engineering and Transportation is overseeing the project and the Morris County Park Commission eventually will manage the 10-foot wide trail, which is similar in concept to the popular Traction Line in Morris County. That path runs from Morristown to Madison, and is heavily used by walkers, joggers and bicyclists.
The NYS&W Railway Bicycle and Pedestrian Path will be asphalt covered, and will be the first of its kind near the Route 23 corridor of Morris and Passaic counties.
The idea for the bike path was conceived more than two decades ago by Pete Standish, a Pequannock resident and avid cyclist.
Trains have not run for more than a decade on the tracks being lifted up in the coming days. The stretch had once been a commuter line and was later used as NYS&W’s Pompton Industrial Spur, serving freight customers along the path.
Parts of the southern section of the path, which will stretch south of Ryerson Road to Mountain View in Wayne, will be elevated through wetlands. The path will be separated from automobile traffic, although there will be path crossings on streets along the corridor.
Not long after Karson Culuko was born, he had a stuffed basketball in his crib. He's been attending camps run by his father Kent and uncle Craig Culuko since he was 3, before he could even dribble.Hoops is part of the family history, something discussed at every gathering.Karson Culuko added to the scrapbook on Thursday night, scoring his 1,000th career point in Pequannock's 79-62 NJAC-Liberty loss to visiting Morris Catholic. He sank a 3-pointer from the right side off a pass from senior Gavin Fazekas with 2:33 ...
Not long after Karson Culuko was born, he had a stuffed basketball in his crib. He's been attending camps run by his father Kent and uncle Craig Culuko since he was 3, before he could even dribble.
Hoops is part of the family history, something discussed at every gathering.
Karson Culuko added to the scrapbook on Thursday night, scoring his 1,000th career point in Pequannock's 79-62 NJAC-Liberty loss to visiting Morris Catholic. He sank a 3-pointer from the right side off a pass from senior Gavin Fazekas with 2:33 left in the third quarter.
A 6-foot-1 guard, Karson Culuko is the eighth Golden Panthers boy to reach the milestone. But he's the third in his own family.
Grandfather Cliff Culuko scored 1,032 points at Bergenfield High School, graduating in 1965. After a four-year basketball career at Long Island University in Brooklyn, he became a physical education teacher and boys varsity basketball coach back at Bergenfield. After 18 years, he shifted to a volunteer assistant position at Mahwah so he could coach his own sons: Kent and Craig.
Kent Culuko, Karson's father, scored 2,780 points for Mahwah. He is No. 2 in Bergen County, one point behind Les Cason, who played at East Rutherford (now Becton) until 1971. Kent Culuko was with the then-New Jersey Nets for two preseasons, then played overseas for 10 years and even with the Harlem Globetrotters.
"I didn't have any other option. It was just born in me," said Karson Culuko, who grew up shooting from long range, like his 10-year-old brother Jordan does now.
"Ever since my freshman year, that's all I've been thinking about: having my name on that banner with 1,000 points. It means a lot to me and my family."
'Most pressure I've ever had':Pequannock junior Chloe Vasquez reaches basketball milestone
Kent, Craig and Cliff Culuko were all part of Karson's celebration, just like they have been for every other step in his basketball career. Cliff Culuko, 76, drove up from Brigantine Island to stay at his daughter's house in Franklin Lakes to make sure he'd be there for Pequannock's Thursday night game.
Karson was also planning a party for his teammates, who had an internal competition over who would assist the milestone.
"As soon as I saw him on the court, I knew he was a tremendous player," Pequannock coach Jeff DeBell said. "He knows the game, and has a tremendous basketball IQ."
Culuko scored 132 points in his 14-game COVID freshman season and 380 points last winter, leading balanced Pequannock in scoring en route to the Morris County Tournament final. But Cliff Culuko "put a question mark on (his) chest," because his grandson wasn't consistent.
Culuko is averaging 24.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, stepping up into a leadership role alongside Pequannock senior Finn Powers. He scored 33 points on Thursday night, giving him 1,007 in three years.
He is already aiming at Jordan Tabakman's boys' school-record 1,494 points, something he's "been trying to beat in my head for a while." His father scored No. 1,000 early in his junior season and got to 2,000 at a holiday tournament a year later, so it's certainly possible.
"I can shoot. Craig can shoot. Kent was a great shooter," Cliff Culuko said. "Karson's a complete player. He can play inside and outside, shoot and rebound. He can do it all."
Chloe Vasquez wasn't counting down to her 1,000th point as Pequannock played Hanover Park on Tuesday night. But when she stepped to the free-throw line with a minute and 13 seconds left in the game, Vasquez "knew that was it."The Golden Panthers junior point guard was also convinced she had to take the foul shots just like thousands of others before."That was the most pressure I've ever had in my basketball career," Vasquez said. "I've been on the free-throw line many times in close games...
Chloe Vasquez wasn't counting down to her 1,000th point as Pequannock played Hanover Park on Tuesday night. But when she stepped to the free-throw line with a minute and 13 seconds left in the game, Vasquez "knew that was it."
The Golden Panthers junior point guard was also convinced she had to take the foul shots just like thousands of others before.
"That was the most pressure I've ever had in my basketball career," Vasquez said. "I've been on the free-throw line many times in close games. But it was a different kind of feeling. I was very nervous, shaking, but also happy. It was a bunch of different emotions. I had to check in mentally, because I had to hit this."
She sank both, giving her 23 points in the game and exactly 1,000 for her career.
Vasquez had seen both the milestone and the number of points she needed on Tuesday as challenges she had to meet. And by reaching her goal, she also helped Pequannock beat NJAC-Liberty foe Hanover Park.
Teammates, friends and family members rushed to the corners of Pequannock's gym to get balloons, flowers and posters they'd stashed away, just in case. Vasquez is the eighth Golden Panthers girl to reach the milestone.
"Once I hit it, I think the whole crowd and my whole team (had) a weight lifted off their shoulders – especially my shoulders," said Vasquez, who made all nine free throws on Tuesday.
"I was like, 'I did it. I can breathe. I can relax now.' ... Getting it as a junior was great. I was very determined to get it this year with this team."
Vasquez has been Pequannock's "most impactful player" since she walked into the gym as a 5-foot-9 freshman guard, according to coach Jennifer Baggott. She runs the Golden Panthers' offense, and is able to score both in the paint and beyond the arc.
The only thing that set Vasquez back was COVID, which restricted Pequannock to only 15 games in her first season. She is averaging 20.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.6 steals this winter.
Flashback!Pequannock girls basketball player Chloe Vasquez voted Athlete of the Week
"When she goes, we go," Baggott said. "I don't think (1,000 points) was even a question. It was like, 'Wow, what are we going to accomplish as a team with her leading us. It was never a question of if, it was when."
Vasquez has been playing basketball since second grade, and she fell in love with the game almost immediately. She was part of coed rec teams, and went to camps with boys. Vasquez has since transitioned to girls travel and then AAU teams, but the initial experiences built both her skills and confidence.
"I was and still am a very competitive person, so playing against boys was a big thing for me back then," Vasquez said. "It made me tougher, more competitive, more determined. Like, 'I can do this. You can't stop me.'"
About 40 miles north of Newark’s skyscrapers and busy streets, there’s a 35,000-acre city-owned wilderness of mountains, forests, rivers and lakes spread over parts of Passaic, Morris and Sussex counties.Known as the Pequannock Watershed, the nearly pristine expanse near the state’s northern corner provides drinking water for Newark’s 310,000 residents and countless others in surrounding communities that get their ...
About 40 miles north of Newark’s skyscrapers and busy streets, there’s a 35,000-acre city-owned wilderness of mountains, forests, rivers and lakes spread over parts of Passaic, Morris and Sussex counties.
Known as the Pequannock Watershed, the nearly pristine expanse near the state’s northern corner provides drinking water for Newark’s 310,000 residents and countless others in surrounding communities that get their water from the city’s Pequannock Treatment Plant in West Milford, in the heart of the watershed.
Beyond quenching thirsts and filling cooking pots and bathtubs from 14 billion gallons of water in five reservoirs, the watershed is also a haven for hiking and boating, open year-round to the general public. No swimming and only row boats or electric motors, for obvious reasons.
To expose Newark’s younger residents to the natural wonders of the New Jersey Highlands region and inspire them to pursue careers in water treatment, infrastructure, or conservation, for years, the Newark Department of Water and Sewer Utilities has led students on tours of the watershed and the plant. The program is known as the Newark Watershed Science & Leadership Academy.
School officials didn’t allow the students to be identified or quoted. But Fraser’s Mathematics Solutions CEO Jaliyla Fraser, an education consultant hired to coordinate the tour, said exposing young minds first-hand to science being put into practice was more likely to reverberate with them than classroom learning alone.
“It’s very exciting,” Fraser said. “Videos can’t do but so much. But for them to be here, doing things, it creates a memory in their minds.”
On a recent sunny and brisk weekday, a bus arrived mid-morning carrying about 20 freshmen from Jay Mariano’s biology class at Newark’s School of Data Science & Information Technology, a public specialty high school.
Their first stop was a watershed office and the recreation center a couple of miles from the treatment plant, by the shore of Echo Lake, one of the reservoirs. Stuffed beaver, foxes, waterfowl and a wild turkey perched on wooden rafters, while jump ropes, hula hoops, soccer and kick balls occupied a corner under a window overlooking the lake and its wooded shoreline.
Officials, including Kevin Greer, the watershed superintendent, greeted them. Following a short briefing, students filed back onto the bus for the drive to the Charlotteburg Dam and Reservoir of the same.
On the bus ride there, several students said they had no idea where their drinking water came from before the trip. Some said rainwater. Some said the Passaic River. Most hadn’t given it much thought. Several were visibly impressed by the surroundings, and many were surprised to learn that their hometown owned such a vast expanse so remote from their everyday surroundings.
Surrounded by wooded hills, a clear sky above, and the bright sunshine glinting off the water, the concrete dam was a sight to behold, with the deep blue reservoir behind it and a broad, sloping spillway in front. The students posed for a group photo on the road overlooking the spillway, where a thin curtain of white water cascaded down toward a Pequannock River tributary and the treatment plant a few miles away.
“It’s probably the highlight of what I do every day,” said Greer, who added that showing students where their water comes from can inspire them to make it a career. “I’ve got nothing against amusement parks, but it’s not like I would come away from them feeling like I want to be a Ferris wheel operator.”
From the dam, the students got back on the bus for a short ride over to the treatment plant on Route 23, which is undergoing $23 million in upgrades to enhance the taste of city water, boost capacity in anticipation of growth and increased demand, and keep the cost of water down.
The project, which broke ground last spring, includes replacing valves and filters, creating an automated central control room, and changes to remove organic particles and other impurities.
In a testing lab at the plant, staff engineer Erica Espiritusanto showed the students how to measure chlorine content in water samples taken at various stages of treatment.
One student asked if he could drink the water Espiritusanto held up a clear glass sample bottle.
“This is the water that’s going to your house,” she told the group.
In the control room, Greer told students that no matter how much of it we drink or how much goes down the drain or evaporates, the amount of water on Earth remains constant, if not always in liquid form. He asked the students why, and Andy Barrera had the answer:
“The water cycle,” said Barrera, 14, whose mother later consented to his being quoted.
By the water cycle, Barrera meant that while water may move from the ice caps to the oceans, to the clouds, reservoirs and through our bodies, changing locations and forms, its overall supply stays the same.
In a brief phone interview Barrera spoke for himself and several classmates when he said the tour was fun, interesting and could lead to a career.
“I feel like water treatment might be an interesting job,” he said.
Nobody knows Jersey better than N.J.com. Sign up to get breaking news alerts straight to your inbox.
Steve Strunsky may be reached at
If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
JEFFERSON – Amanda Nwankwo still remembers stepping on the court at Jefferson High School against Newton as a freshman, trying to shoot a layup and getting pushed. She tore her anterior cruciate ligament, and missed her entire sophomore season.With Nwankwo back in the lineup last winter, the Falcons reached the NJSIAA Group 2 final. When the 6-foot-3 center hurt her right knee early in Tuesday's NJSIAA North 1, Group 2 final, Nwankwo was very clear."It cannot happen again," said Nwankwo, who misse...
JEFFERSON – Amanda Nwankwo still remembers stepping on the court at Jefferson High School against Newton as a freshman, trying to shoot a layup and getting pushed. She tore her anterior cruciate ligament, and missed her entire sophomore season.
With Nwankwo back in the lineup last winter, the Falcons reached the NJSIAA Group 2 final. When the 6-foot-3 center hurt her right knee early in Tuesday's NJSIAA North 1, Group 2 final, Nwankwo was very clear.
"It cannot happen again," said Nwankwo, who missed much of the second and third quarters of Jefferson's nail-biter 66-61 victory over Pequannock.
"I could not give up on my team. I pushed my butt off. My team did not give up on me."
With Nwankwo getting treatment on her right knee, Pequannock was able to crank up its inside game. The seventh-seeded Golden Panthers opened the third quarter on a 10-0 run that lasted nearly five minutes.
Pequannock (11-7) was within three points when Jefferson junior Emily Poulas responded. She scored 10 of the top-seeded Falcons' 13 points in the third quarter, stretching the lead back out to eight.
"Amanda went down, and we did what we had to do," said Poulas, who finished with a game-high 23 points.
"I didn't really think about it beforehand. It just sort of happened. ... I don't think any of us are ready for it to end yet."
But the rejuvenated Golden Panthers never backed down again.
They took the lead on senior Nicole Klimek's 3-pointer from the right corner with 50 seconds left. Poulas responded with a three of her own from almost the exact same spot at the other end of the court 16 seconds later.
Jefferson coach James MacDermid called timeout, then Poulas got fouled and made both free throws to build the lead to three points. Pequannock coach Jennifer Baggott called a timeout of her own. But after Klimek missed another 3, the Golden Panthers were forced to foul.
Sophomore Kiley Shatzel sank one, waited out another Pequannock time out, and coolly made the second to start Jefferson's celebration.
Golden Panthers junior Chloe Vasquez scored 22 points. Senior Faith Tucker added half of her 16 points in the fourth quarter. Klimek had 15 for Pequannock.
'Most pressure I've ever had':Pequannock junior reaches basketball milestone
"Our girls felt a little more comfortable in the moment," Baggott said. "We're definitely an outside threat: a driving threat and a 3-point shooting threat. Our weakness is our size, and that's one of their strengths."
The Falcons (22-7) will play Secaucus in a Group 2 semifinal at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Bloomfield High School. Secaucus, the top seed in North 2, Group 2, toppled defending sectional champion Madison.
Jefferson had beaten the Dodgers in last year's Group semi, falling to Manasquan in the final.
Not long after that disappointment, the Falcons started building toward this year's title. They played in a Paterson summer league, then a challenging regular-season schedule including many larger schools like Montville (twice), Morristown and Paterson Eastside.
"We got the competition we needed for games like this," Poulas said, shortly before climbing a ladder to help cut down the net.
"We knew we would need moments like that for moments like this."
