It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic The Royal Palace gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Stockholm, NJ is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“I cannot say enough good things about Always Best Care Services. From the moment I”
“Liz and her team are the consumate professionals when it comes to providing quality care”
“Liz…. Is simply the Best ! Her professionalism is amazing …”
“Liz is beyond TOP NOTCH at what she does, and the services she provides. We”
“When Always Best Care was referred to us by a friend, we didn’t quite know”
“Excellent service, Always Best Care takes care well of your loved one. They are professionals”
“If you are looking for the right team to help you provide in-home care for”
“Liz and her staff are hands down the best!!!”
“Always Best Care Senior Services and CEO Liz Johnson, provide compassionate and qualified care for”
“Always Best Care provides the highest level of in home care for your loved ones.”
“Excellent company! They care deeply for each person they work with and I highly recommend”
“You will always get the best care and service. Liz is so compassionate and”
“When my special needs son broke his femur we called Liz for help. Although”
“Always best care have been a good company,and they always check on the workers,and make”
“I was referred to Always Best Care by a close friend when I was searching”
“Quick and reliable assistance from the skilled team at Always Best Care played a major”
“We found Anna through Always Best Care to take care of my ailing mother-in-law. She”
“After my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, we looked at all of the different companies”
“Nicky provided ten months of excellent care to my 82 years old mother who had”
“I would like to offer my thanks to Always Best Care for providing what I”
“Your approach and calming demeanor are truly a gift and personal calling! You have helped”
“Great Agency! Esoma The Coordinator is the best in the field! So caring”
“I am a current client of this provider My ninety year old grandfather was diagnosed with”
“It has been a delightful experience to work with Always Best Care. Over the last”
“I really liked the caregiver who came to help my mom during her recovery from”
“I would like to offer my thanks to Always Best Care for providing what I”
“I am a current client of this provider I would like to offer my thanks to”
“I cannot say enough good things about Always Best Care Services. From the moment I first reached out to them, it felt like I was working with family. The owner is incredibly kind, compassionate, and genuinely cares about her clients. She goes above and beyond to ensure that everything runs smoothly, and it's clear that her heart is in the work she does. The caregivers are top-notch – professional, caring, and incredibly loving. It's rare to find a team that treats your loved ones with the level of respect and warmth that Always Best Care does. I've used other home health care services in the past, but nothing compares to the peace of mind and quality of care I’ve received from this team. The caregivers don’t just provide services; they build meaningful relationships with the people they care for, making them feel like a part of their extended family. I honestly believe they are better than having family help, because they bring so much professionalism, expertise, and heart into everything they do. I trust them completely and would recommend Always Best Care to anyone in need of high-quality home health care. They are simply the best in the business. Dennis Bonagura”
“Liz and her team are the consumate professionals when it comes to providing quality care for our seniors. They provide compassionate and competent care without forgetting about empathy and dignity for those entrusted in their care. Providing exceptional care...and then some...isn't what they do, it's simply who they are. Thank you, Liz, for providing such exceptional leadership to your team!”
“Liz…. Is simply the Best ! Her professionalism is amazing …”
“Liz is beyond TOP NOTCH at what she does, and the services she provides. We had a difficult family situation, and she handled it with grace, and provided my family with service, and advice above and beyond what I expected to receive!!! Thank you!!!”
“When Always Best Care was referred to us by a friend, we didn’t quite know what to expect. Meeting the charming and charismatic Liz the owner and her smiling staff at the agency however put our hearts and minds at ease although we were in the middle of the pandemic. They are down-to-earth caring, compassionate and professional and our aunt could not ask for anything more. I truly recommend Always Best Care.”
“Excellent service, Always Best Care takes care well of your loved one. They are professionals and certified which makes them on top of everything. Just call Liz Johnson and she will help and goes above and beyond. I would highly recommend them.”
“If you are looking for the right team to help you provide in-home care for your loved one, Always Best Care should be your first call. Liz and her team are trustworthy, caring, and compassionate. They go above and beyond for their clients and their families! They are truly exceptional!”
“Liz and her staff are hands down the best!!!”
“Always Best Care Senior Services and CEO Liz Johnson, provide compassionate and qualified care for seniors and patients recovering from surgery. Liz has a heart for families who need to make those tough choices and is a knowledgeable resource for those in need. She addresses questions and concerns with advice and solutions based on her professional acumen and life experience. I would recommend Liz wholeheartedly. Make her your first call when you need support for a loved one!”
“Always Best Care provides the highest level of in home care for your loved ones. I have used this agency to provide in home care for several family members and loved ones. Their aides provide compassionate care and have allowed my family members to age in their home with dignity and grace. Highly recommend !!!”
“Excellent company! They care deeply for each person they work with and I highly recommend them. Very reliable and quick to respond. The owner is just amazing!”
“You will always get the best care and service. Liz is so compassionate and attentive and treats everyone as if they were family. I highly recommend!”
“When my special needs son broke his femur we called Liz for help. Although she specializes in Senior Care, we knew her company would take great care of our pre-teen. We can never thank Liz and her company enough for the kindness and great care they provided not just for our son, but for our entire family! What a relief it was to know he was being well cared for with such kindness and compassion. I would highly recommend Always Best Care Senior Services.”
“Always best care have been a good company,and they always check on the workers,and make everything so easy for me,I never have bad experience wit them,I like my supervisor Mrs Leslie and the Coordinator Esoma bcos they always check on us wit my client and confirm if everything is working so good wit us,please all I want to say to them,is to keep the good work contine,may the company continues to be bless wit good people and so caring about the Aides....thank you so very much”
“I was referred to Always Best Care by a close friend when I was searching for an assisted living community for my parents. I found the staff extremely professional and helpful right from our first meeting. What I appreciate the most is their prompt service and flexibility. Since I have my job in another city, I wasn’t able to take care of my parents and eventually had to make the difficult decision to move them to assisted living. Thanks to Always Best Care for speeding up the whole process according to my schedule. Highly Recommended!”
“Quick and reliable assistance from the skilled team at Always Best Care played a major in my father’s recovery from osteoporosis. The assigned caregiver was extremely patient and supportive. He helped my father with all sorts of exercises. I strongly recommend Always Best Care for the well being of your beloved elders.”
“We found Anna through Always Best Care to take care of my ailing mother-in-law. She is honest, reliable, and goes out of her way to help my mother-in-law with her daily chores. I never have to worry that she wouldn’t show up on time or would find excuses for not doing some tasks. She is also very funny and keeps us laughing all day long. We are really happy with the services offered by Always Best Care. The attentiveness and quick response of their staff has made things quite easy for us. We know that they are there to address our needs no matter what time of the day we call them. They genuinely care about the health and well-being of their clients. And that’s what makes them so much better than other agencies.”
“After my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, we looked at all of the different companies in the marketplace. We received great care from our caregiver and really appreciated the patient approach they took with my dad. With much gratitude to the team at Always Best Care!”
“Nicky provided ten months of excellent care to my 82 years old mother who had dementia. She was caring in every possible way which was exactly what the family wanted for her. She passed away last month, but peacefully and with dignity. Thank you so much Always Best Care for the amazing service.”
“I would like to offer my thanks to Always Best Care for providing what I believe is a top-class service. They have amazing caregivers who took care of my mother-in-law post her heart surgery. She was back to her normal routine faster than we thought. It wouldn’t have been possible without the care and support of their caregivers.”
“Your approach and calming demeanor are truly a gift and personal calling! You have helped more than you will ever realize”
“Great Agency! Esoma The Coordinator is the best in the field! So caring about the Aides! Thanks again!”
“I am a current client of this provider My ninety year old grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s a few months ago. Without the in home care provided by Always Best Care, I do not know how we would have managed everything. I am grateful for the dedicated service they have provided to us.”
“It has been a delightful experience to work with Always Best Care. Over the last three years, I have had a few caregivers come in to care for my mother who has Alzheimer’s. When she was diagnosed with the condition, I had little hope of her getting back to her normal self again. She had almost stopped smiling. But after I had the wonderful caregivers to care for her, I saw a great improvement in her health. She seems not only healthier, but happier too. Thank you Always Best Care.”
“I really liked the caregiver who came to help my mom during her recovery from a major surgery. She took great care of her and ensured a quick recovery. A hearty thanks to Always Best Care.”
“I would like to offer my thanks to Always Best Care for providing what I believe is a top-class service. They have amazing caregivers who took care of my mother-in-law post her heart surgery. She was back to her normal routine faster than we thought. It wouldn’t have been possible without the care and support of their caregivers.”
“I am a current client of this provider I would like to offer my thanks to Always Best Care for providing what I believe is a top-class service. They have amazing caregivers who took care of my mother-in-law post her heart surgery. She was back to her normal routine faster than we thought. It wouldn’t have been possible without the care and support of their caregivers.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Kungstrdgrden with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Restaurant Ekstedt or visit Vasa Museum, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Stockholm, NJ, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Stockholm, NJ understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Stockholm, NJ 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Staff WriterNew Jersey HeraldStockholm and Snufftown were industrial hamlets from early on. Tanneries, forges and hotels straddled the eastern border of Sussex County along the Pequannock River, which supplied water power. Hamburg Turnpike was formed as a toll road right around the beginning of the 1800s and allowed travelers to enter and settle in the area between lower Canistear Road and Snufftown Road.Years ago, I had seen a photo of Windham Forge in local author and historian Bill Truran's book about Hardyston, which...
Staff Writer
New Jersey Herald
Stockholm and Snufftown were industrial hamlets from early on. Tanneries, forges and hotels straddled the eastern border of Sussex County along the Pequannock River, which supplied water power. Hamburg Turnpike was formed as a toll road right around the beginning of the 1800s and allowed travelers to enter and settle in the area between lower Canistear Road and Snufftown Road.
Years ago, I had seen a photo of Windham Forge in local author and historian Bill Truran's book about Hardyston, which mentioned that the forge was a huge industrial operation of the area.
Two years ago, while biking a Passaic/Sussex loop, I took a side trip along old Route 23 and caught a glimpse of many stone foundations, a dam and a stone-lined channel with water in it. Wondering if it could be the old remains of the forge, I decided to return one winter day when I could really view the details of these remains. After exploring the old Windham Forge area early last winter, I contacted Truran about a stone I had found on a dam that resembled a webbed footprint. I wondered if it was a fossil, or perhaps the “webbed” imprint was that of a W for Windham Forge. He asked if it could be an M as part of what he referred to as the tri-county marker that's marked with S P M.
The webbed imprint I found was not the marker, which Truran said is a flat stone on the edge of the river with S P M chiseled into it, marking the meeting of the borders of Sussex, Passaic and Morris counties. He sent me a photo from 1897, when Hiram Strait stood on it after he had the created those markings, and also sent many helpful clues.
Putting our information together and meeting up on Friday, Dan Tassey and I set out to find this marker. Reading emails from Bill and Dan's GPS units and my snapshots of an atlas brought us to the general area, but looking for a particular rock among many others was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
The only photo we had was the 1897 black-and-white picture that had one usable clue — a rather large rock, shoulder-height, behind Hiram Strait. That meant that he was in front of a hillside. We soon came to a hillside and we saw a rock in the river, but it had no markings on it.
Dan waded through the river as I scoured its bank. Bella (Dan's dog) kept walking out to that flat rock. At times I'd walk to the shore and ask her if she thought that was it.
The night before, I had emailed Bill Truran a map of the spot and asked him if he could describe where the marker would be using that map. Just as Dan was in the middle of the river, I checked my phone and saw an email come in from Bill. What are the odds of that timing?
His reply was a bit of a riddle that included some more information. Bill had circled the vicinity and also marked his best guess, and he also included a couple of photos from the last two groups to visit the marker. The last photo included Bill and a friend at the marker, and while examining the photo and the rocky hillside in the background we realized that we were standing in just about the same spot where the photo had been taken. Dan moved the picture from right to left as we lined up similar trees and shapes of the rocks until we looked down.
The very same rock that I had stood on five times to look at Bella was the actual rock that we were looking for. (She was probably standing there looking at me and wondering why I was asking her where the rock was when I was standing on it.)
Dan caught a glimpse of a white line on the rock and began to clear the dirt and leaves away. There it was, a chiseled line with white paint inside and a large chiseled S (for Sussex County) and a large chiseled M (for Morris County), all with bright white paint inside. We couldn't see the P (for Passaic County), but it may have been on the other end of the marker. Dan also found a hole bored into the line, maybe the exact point of the meeting of the borders, or perhaps it had once held a piece of metal. We cleared away leaves and brush and also washed the stone with some water from the river. We also left a couple of our own hints in case someone else heads out there to locate it.
Dan placed a baseball-size hunk of coal on top of it, and we also left the remains of a railroad tie standing upright in the ground that we had used as a tripod for our camera. If anyone else is interested in locating this little piece of history, message me through Sussex County Excursions on Facebook and I will send you all the clues that I have.
Jeff Stoveken has been researching Sussex County history for 12 years and started photodocumenting the county's historic sites and buildings as a way to preserve them. Sussex County Excursions began as a Facebook page in 2013 to inform/remind residents of the area's historic attractions and outdoor recreation.
Staff WriterNew Jersey [email protected] -- Lake Gerard home owners have been told to pay up or face eviction.Summer residents at Lake Gerard were recently given notice that property owner Harriet Gerard intends to increase rents at the lake community, and those who don't pay will face eviction."This is getting to be old hat for us; Harriet has decided to try to evict us again," said William Barrett, president of the Lake Gerard Fish and Game Club. There are 78 homes on the lake...
Staff Writer
New Jersey Herald
HARDYSTON -- Lake Gerard home owners have been told to pay up or face eviction.
Summer residents at Lake Gerard were recently given notice that property owner Harriet Gerard intends to increase rents at the lake community, and those who don't pay will face eviction.
"This is getting to be old hat for us; Harriet has decided to try to evict us again," said William Barrett, president of the Lake Gerard Fish and Game Club. There are 78 homes on the lake, eight of which house full-time residents.
Barrett said Gerard mailed new leases two months ago and told residents that the old leases were no longer in effect. The residents were offered new leases that propose to increase their rents between 350 to 400 percent over the next three years.
Barrett said these leases also contained many new conditions and tenants were informed to either sign the leases or they would be evicted. The rent increases would mean residents would pay between $20,000 to $25,000 per year in rent. Gerard has offered to sell lots to the summer residents for prices ranging from $170,000 to more than $200,000, Barrett said.
Gerard wants to turn the summer homes into full-time year-round condominiums, Barrett said. Association members own their homes but pay rent for the land and lake rights.
Barrett and his wife have had a cabin on Lake Gerard for decades. He said the dispute began in 1991 when Gerard attempted to evict the people who bought modest summer cottages on the lake.
According to Barrett, Gerard has let the lake area fall into disrepair, refusing to provide maintenance of the wells, dams, meeting hall and roads at the site.
In 2006, the Lake Gerard Company filed a public offering statement with the state Department of Consumer Affairs for the purpose of converting approximately 605 acres of land surrounding the 95-acre Lake Gerard into a condominium development.
Leslie Hamilton, Hardyston township councilwoman and member of the Planning Board, said there are currently no plans to build on the Lake Gerard property before the board.
"They are very limited to what they can do because of the Highlands," Hamilton said.
The homeowners offered to buy the lake and 600 acres for $6 million. The family sold 1,200 acres for about $4 million to the state about four years ago, which the state is preserving as open space.
Lake Gerard is an 1,800-acre property in the Stockholm section of Hardyston that was a popular vacation area in the 1920s. In the 1950s, about 156 acres of the property were settled and vacation homes were built, with the homeowners paying rent to Gen. James Gerard for the land on which the homes stood.
The property owners and Lake Gerard have been involved in litigation for years. The Lake Gerard Company sued the renters in 1991, noting that if they didn't sign a rental agreement they would be evicted.
"Ms. Gerard is playing with people's lives. This isn't just a vacation spot. This is the place where we raised our children and grandchildren," said Ed Mueller, a long-time, year-round resident of Lake Gerard."
Community members challenged their leases in 1991, saying the rents were unreasonably increased and the short-term manner of the leases was unfair. An agreement was eventually reached in 2000 when residents settled rights to homes they owned on rented lakefront property.
Under the terms of the agreement, the homeowners received a three-year lease on the properties, with one-year rental agreements after that.
Carol Noonan of Clifton said she has memories of Lake Gerard from the 1960s when her parents took her there to visit friends and she caught fish from the deck and swam in the lake. Five years ago she purchased her own cabin on the lake.
"In 2003 we thought we were preparing a new generation to experience the happiness we had at the lake. My cousin would teach his kids to swim and fish there and it would be just like it was before. I can't afford to stay at the lake, not now. Not with these lease figures," she said.
Barrett said the next step for the home owners will be for them to present their case in court.
Gerard's attorney did not return phone calls.
NEWSHARDYSTON -- For Kelly Stoll Balagtas and her husband, Juan Paolo, a horrible situation could have been a lot worse.The young couple and their 1-year-old son, Peyton, were out of the house on Sunday when a fire broke out in their home in Lake Stockholm. The house on Lakeside Avenue was badly damaged by the blaze. Tragically, the family's beloved dog, Mollie, died in the fire.Friends of the family have started a ...
NEWS
HARDYSTON -- For Kelly Stoll Balagtas and her husband, Juan Paolo, a horrible situation could have been a lot worse.
The young couple and their 1-year-old son, Peyton, were out of the house on Sunday when a fire broke out in their home in Lake Stockholm. The house on Lakeside Avenue was badly damaged by the blaze. Tragically, the family's beloved dog, Mollie, died in the fire.
Friends of the family have started a Go Fund Me page in support of the Balagtas family. The page, entitled "Help Kelly and Paulo rebuild" had raised $23,398 of its $30,000 goal as of Thursday evening. According to statistics on the page, 313 people have reached out to help.
Supportive messages, including "I'm so sorry for your loss, but I'm glad you and your family are safe," and "If you need anything, please feel free to reach out," are posted for the family as the community rallies around them.
Family friend Natasha Wright Cunniffe, of Hardyston, said that the amount of support that the family has received has been touching and beyond generous.
"Kelly and Paulo and I all grew up here and went to Wallkill Valley High School," said Cunniffe. "This community is incredible. That's why we all ended up wanting to start our families here, it's an amazing place to live full of really great people."
Cunniffe said that for now, the Balagtas family is staying with Kelly's mother, who also lives in Lake Stockholm.
"They lost everything," said Cunniffe. "They're heartbroken about losing their dog, and it's a lot to have to process, but they're just so grateful that everyone is OK, and for this huge outpouring of support."
In addition to the Go Fund Me page, friends and neighbors have started collecting gift cards and donations for the family. Gift cards are going to be helpful as they try to rebuild their lives, said Cunniffe.
"Target, Walmart, Marshall's, Kohls, and Babies R' Us are probably the best," she said. "They have to start from scratch with everything from socks and clothes to baby food and toys. It's a lot to deal with."
The Hardyston Middle School has set up a drop-off point for anyone who would like to donate gift cards to the family. Envelopes marked "c/o community outreach" can be taken to the main office at the school, 183 Wheatsworth Road.
For now, Cunniffe says that the Balagtas family are "hanging in there, but still trying to piece everything together."
To learn more about how to help the Balagtas family, visit www.gofundme.com/help-kelly-and-paolo-rebuild.
877-318-0529
