DOTRA'S ... DotLine ...

ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY AT GIOVI'S

Check off and return the attached flyer for DOTRA's Annual Holiday Party which is to be held on Wednesday, December 6th at Giovi's Restaurant in Yardville. A great party has been planned for you. Cost this year remains very reasonable at $20.00. So, save the date and bring along a guest and start off the holiday season with "old" friends and co-workers from DOTRA. Reservations must be received by Monday, November 27th.

DOTRA BOARD MEETINGS

DOTRA BOARD MEETINGS ARE HELD MONTHLY ON THE FIRST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH.

DOTRA will hold its regular Monthly schedule on Tuesday, November 7th.

DOTRA's DUES - WE NOW HAVE A LIFE MEMBERSHIP AVAILABLE !!!
by Chet Andres

In response to several recommendations from DOTRA members who find it too cumbersome to write a check for dues each year, or to remember when they last paid their dues, DOTRA is offering a Life Membership option. For a single time cost of $75.00, become a Life Member and don't worry about those Annual Dues. The Annual Dues option of $10.00 per year will remain as our main renewal procedure and you can still find your Annual Renewal Date on the DOTRA Mailing Label.

To accomplish renewal as a Life Member, click on Application Form or complete the form at the end of this (not online issue) issue, check off the appropriate Renewal Box and forward to the DOTRA Mail Box.

DOTRA MAILING ADDRESS

DOTRA
PO Box 77160
West Trenton, NJ 08628-6160

Please send your dues and notes of interest here!

NEW MEMBERS JOIN DOTRA

We welcome the following retirees who have recently joined our organization:

These are familiar names to some of our members. We hope to see you at our social functions and monthly meetings.

WELCOME!

CHAPLAIN'S REPORT
by Guy LoBue

We would like to be informed of any retiree who is ill, those who are in the hospital, anyone confined to their home, or any retiree who needs help in one form or another. Please call or send a note to Guy at 609-585-4979 or write to 19 Mount Avenue, Hamilton, NJ 08620.

Recent Obituaries:

Hilda Markay Namish (87) DMV
Frances S. Henry (79) DMV
Israel Cantor (83) DOT - 1989
Helen Kovacs Brovak (83) DMV - 1982
Joan DiLeonardo (68) DMV - 1990
Herman Schwartz (82) DOT - 1985
Phoebe Gaff (82) DMV
Edward M. Rafasky (76) DOT - 1985
Mary Tuliszewski (74) DMV
John M. Conway (79) DOT - 1985
Daniel Hess (81) DOT - 1988

Recuperating at home:

We often hear of someone having been ill and hopefully are well on the way to better health by the time we publish our quarterly issue of DOTLine. During the last few months we've heard about the following of our friends:

Al Compton - Sign Shop
Mary Gordon - Materials

I'm sure they would appreciate a call or a card.

DOTRA EXECUTIVE BOARD

OFFICERS
PRES.-Dick Hobson
1st VP -Guy LoBue
2nd VP- Walter Gable
TREAS -Frank Herrera
REC.SEC-Hazel Rockhill
CORRES.SEC-Dee Wisneski

DIRECTORS
Joseph Bodnar   Dolores Murphy
Mary Stafford   Don Hutchinson
Wilma Gruzlovic   Peg Wieger
Chet Andres   Bob Wokoun
Adrian Lincoln

COMMITTEES
CHAPLAIN - Guy LoBue
MEMBERSHIP - Guy LoBue
BY-LAWS - Chet Andres
HISTORIAN - Wilma Gruzlovic
ACTIVITIES - Dolores Murphy
DOTLINE - Dot Andres & Dee Wisneski
WEBSITE- Kristina Erin Kaye

DOTRA TRIES ITS LUCK IN ATLANTIC CITY

All those DOTRA members and friends who joined the bus trip to AC on October 11th turned out to be winners. Not only was it a perfect warm Indian summer day on the Boardwalk, but we rode in luxury on a luxury bus, seating only 32 people at tables for 4, with hostess service providing refreshments in both directions. What a great way to travel- playing cards and socializing as we drove along. The group started out at Resorts Casino with $22.50 in coins and many worked their way along the boardwalk. Some came home with even more money than they went with!! Hats off and thanks to Fran Geurds, Materials who arranged the trip. It is anticipated that this event will be repeated early in 2001 because of the positive comments from DOTRA members who were there.

TRENTON TITANS HOCKEY - TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE

Frank Herrera has arranged for two DOTRA nights at the Trenton Titans Hockey games at the new Sovereign Arena in Trenton. This is a great new facility with plenty of safe parking! There are tickets available at a cost of $8.00 each for the following events:
Saturday - December 9th at 7 PM   Titans vs. Greensboro Generals
Friday - February 23rd at 7:30 PM   Titans vs. Dayton Bombers

NJDOT LIBRARY NEEDS HELP !!!

NJDOT Librarian Carol Paszamant has contacted DOTRA requesting old issues of "The TRANSPORTER. They are seeking issues of The Highwayman or The Transporter from 1921 to 1990 to re-assemble the Historic Reference Section. It seems that in all the re-organizing that has taken place over the recent years, treasures like these have been "lost." So, they are now asking some of us other "old treasures" out there for assistance.

We're sure that some of us have been hanging on to these invaluable documents which are in storage somewhere in our cellars and attics, waiting for just such a request. Contact Carol directly at the NJDOT at 609-530-5289 or via E-mail at cpaszamant@cpm.dot.state.nj.us

HISTORIANS CORNER
Submitted by Wilma Gruzlovic

"History of the State Highway System:
15 Routes in Original State Highway System

Taken from "Development of the State Highway System," a booklet written in the !960's by John F. Summers of the N.J. State Highway Department's Bureau of Public Information.

Tenth in a Continuing Series.

In the early 1900', the legislature spelled out the nucleus of the state highway system of today by designating 15 routes as comprising the system. It provided that existing highways could be used wherever convenient to do so, but allowed the Commission to lay out, open and improve new roads over acquired rights of way and to lay out routes in continuation of, connecting with, or in addition to the routes legislated.

The original 15 routes were described as follows:

Route No.1. From Elizabeth to Trenton by way of Rahway, Metuchen, New Brunswick and Hightstown.

Route No.2. From Trenton to Camden, by way of Bordentown, Fieldsboro, Roebling and Burlington.

Route No.3. From Camden to Absecon, by way of Berlin and Hammonton.

Route No.4. From a point on Route No. 1 in or near Rahway to Absecon, by way of Perth Amboy, Keyport, Middletown, Red Bank, Long Branch, Asbury Park, Point Pleasant, Lakewood, Toms River, Tuckerton and New Gretna.

Route No.5. From Newark to the bridge crossing the Delaware River about two miles above Delaware, by way of Morristown, Dover, Netcong, Budd's Lake, Hackettstown, Buttsville and Delaware.

Route No.6. From Camden to Bridgeton and Salem, by way of Woodbury, Mullica Hill, Woodstown and Pole Tavern.

Route No.7. From Hightstown to Asbury Park, by way of Freehold, Jerseyville and Hamilton.

Route No.8 From Montclair to State line at Unionville, by way of Singac, Wayne, Pompton Plains, Butler, New Foundland, Stockholm, Franklin Furnace and Sussex.

Route No.9 From Elizabeth to Phillipsburg, by way of Westfield, Plainfield, Bound Brook, Somerville, White House , Clinton, West Portal and Bloomsbury.

Route No.10. From Paterson to Fort Lee Ferry, by way of Dundee Lake and Hackensack.

Route No.11. From Newark to Paterson, by way of Belleville, Bloomfield, Nutley and Passaic.

Route No.12. Paterson to Phillipsburg, by way of Little Falls, Pine Brook, Parsippany, Denville thence over Route No. 5 to Budd's Lake, thence to Washington and Broadway.

Route No.13. New Brunswick to Trenton, by way of Kingston, Princeton and Lawrenceville.

Route No.14 From Egg Harbor City to Cape May City, by way of Mays Landing, Tuckahoe and Cape May Court House.

Route No.15. From Bridgeton to Cape May Court House, or such other point on Route No. 14 as may be determined by the State Highway Commission.

To Be Continued!

CALLING ALL DOTRA MEMBERS
HOW'S YOUR MEMORY?

What a great way to lay out the state highway system !!! Too bad it got so complicated in over 100 years!!

Want to have a little fun - how many of you out there can identify each of the above Routes laid out in early 1900's by their current Route designation today. This is a good memory test for you planners, designers and construction/ maintenance people out there. Try it without a State map first.

Send your answers to our DOTRA PO Box as soon as you complete this memory test!

THE NJDOT MEMORIAL HONORS 32 KILLED IN LINE OF NJDOT DUTY
by Wilma Gruzlovic

Elene Meury Van Noy was only 3 years old in 1946 when her father, Herman J. Meury, was killed while working for what was then known as the State Highway Department.

In September, she joined a gathering of more than 200 that included other family members oF NJDOT workers killed on duty, as well as current and retired employees, at the unveiling of an employee memorial at NJDOT headquarters in Ewing Township. The memorial features plaques that provide a permanent reminder of the sacrifice's of Ellen's father and the 31 others who died on the job.

It has been a source of great pride to watch our employees and retirees wholeheartedly embrace first the concept and then the construction of this memorial to our colleagues who lost their lives while improving, maintaining and operating New Jersey's transportation system," said Commissioner James Weinstein.

The entire project is a wonderful testimony to the dedication, professionalism and spirit of the employees of the Department, past and present. The NJDOT Employee Memorial will stand as an inspiration to those who follow us in the service of citizens of New Jersey," he said.

The memorial was designed by John Spedding, while Frank Bocchini oversaw construction. Both were present at the memorial dedication, as were Guy LoBue of the Finance Committee (who reports DOTRA members are responding enthusiastically to the request for donations), Don Hutchinson of the Construction committee, Wilma Gruzlovic of the Names Committee and Kristina Erin Kaye who handled photographic duties. Other DOTRA members attending were Helen Giba, Ted Kiselwicz, Andy Cella and Jack Freidenrich.

George Kook was there with his two sons, Stephen and David. Stephen was the former chairperson of the Memorial Committee and the catalyst for bringing committee members together and stoking their enthusiasm for meeting the tasks set for this committee. When he left, Nancy Webber stepped in as chairperson to help see the project to completion. Stephen recently left the NJDOT, but came back to say a few words at the ceremony. He welcomed families and thanked and congratulated the Commissioner and committee members for completing this wonderful memorial.

One member of each honored employee's family present was given a souvenir tile taken from the same material used to construct the memorial. Family members clearly were moved by the ceremony. Many of them said this provided a sense of closure for them.

Special thanks go to DOTRA member Bob Wokoun who worked tirelessly at his computer to find leads to track down family members for the Names Committee. Many more family members were found because of his efforts.

Surviving family members, current NJDOT employees and retirees are encouraged to visit the memorial, which is a testament to the fact that NJDOT and DOTRA members do not forget their own or the sacrifices they have made.

DOTRA's ON THE INTERNET!!

DOTRA now has its own Website on the Internet.

The Website can be accessed at: http://www.dotra.org

Dial in and let us know how you like it. We are in the formative stages and would like your input. Also, members have indicated a desire to contact DOTRA members via e-mail messages. Record your e-mail address with DOTRA via the Web Site.

7th FLORIDA REUNION SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 13th, 2001

Time is flying by and we are nearing the end of the year 2000. Does that mean we are starting the new millennium this coming year in 2001 or celebrating the end of the first year of the new millennium? Such deep philosophical questions will not be discussed at the 7th Florida Reunion in Rockledge, says Chairman Frank Wegel (Materials). He hopes you have included a trip to the DOTRA Reunion in your winter plans and hopes you have saved Tuesday, February 13th 2001 for a day trip to Rockledge Florida. For those persons who will be traveling a distance to get there, Frank is investigating hotel accommodations and rates in the area which would be attractive to DOTRA members. If you think you would like to stay in the Cocoa Beach/ Rockledge area, contact Frank for information or write to our DOTRA mailbox.

We look forward to seeing you there as we continue a DOTRA Tradition into the new Millennium!

WHERE IN THE WORLD HAVE YOU BEEN ???

It seems that our DOTRA members continue to surprise us with their activities. Travel seems to be a large past time for some of our adventurous members, so we are hoping you will let us know what great (or not so great) places you have been to.

Mary Stafford (Suburban Mobility) loves to take bus tours. She recently took a great tour to Lake George and Rhinebeck NY area with friend Jean Casole (Admin) and a senior's group from Trenton, run by DOTRA's Fran Geurds (Materials). Beautiful scenery and lakes but cold weather in September says Mary.

Joe and Marian Bodnar took a cruise to Nova Scotia from New York City on the "Big Red Boat Line." Great food and entertainment from NYC to Newport to Boston to Halifax. Unfortunately, the air conditioner broke down for one night out of Nova Scotia and they were unable to continue north as planned. However, for their inconvenience, they were given vouchers for a free future 7 day cruise trip . As Joe said "You did note the name of the cruise line, didn't you?." The Big Red Boat went bankrupt in mid September and stranded its passengers all over the hemisphere. But, Joe is not easily discouraged from traveling - he and brother-in -law Carl Breccia ( Construction) are going Elk hunting in Colorado with other family members in October. They are flying out to Denver and traveling to a location 200 miles west of Denver, up into a camp at 11,000 feet elevation for this great experience. We await the game report upon their return!

Hazel Rockhill (C&M) hasn't spent too much time home this summer. She started the season with a trip to Virginia Beach and then on to Colorado to see her son and granddaughter. Highlight of her trip was catching a large trout while fishing near Pike's Peak!

Dot and Frank Herrera (Traffic Safety) drove to Florida in early summer - visiting friends in West Palm Beach, the Orlando area and to Lady Lakes.

Dot and Chet Andres just got back from a whirlwind tour of the northern capitals of Europe. It was a 14 day bus and boat trip which started in Copenhagen Denmark, and then onto Oslo Norway, Stockholm Sweden , St. Petersburg Russia and ending in Helsinki Finland. It was a tremendous learning trip of culture and history and the highlight was St. Petersburg Russia. The architecture, cathedrals and palaces built in the 16th and 17th centuries, still furnished with original art treasures from the time of the czars, was mind-boggling.

HERE AND THERE
By Dot Andres

Nice to hear that Charlie Edson (C&M) is still active out there. He and wife, Char are living in Vermont. In fact, Charlie is DOTRA's first Life Member. George Karaffa (Electrical) sent a note with his renewal expounding on his love for DOTRA's Recipe for Holiday Fruit Cake. Sounds like he has been really enjoying it. Thanks for the support George. New member Dave Walls (Electrical) has re-located to Claremont Florida. That's not too far away from Rockledge so we hope to see him at the Florida Reunion. We also note that Dave Benoist (Const) has relocated down the road from Cocoa Beach to Vero Beach FL. Nice to hear from John and Lois Summers (Central Services and Research) in our DOTRA mailbox. Jane Anderson (Central Services) has also bought a new home in Lawrenceville and is very busy doing all kinds of yard work. Andy Zalescik (C&M) wants to be remembered to former supervisor Al Alaimo and John Nolan, both in Florida. John Obermeir (Planning) is still keeping active. Ran into he and his wife at the Bethlehem Musikfest in August. He loves that Polka music!

Gambling and the prospect of winning brings lots of people out. Bea Freedman (Purchase &Stores) and Callie Olexy (Materials) were lucky in Atlantic City as well as Mary Stafford (Sub. Mobility) who loves those nickel slots! Dick Hobson (Const) abandoned the casino and found the Hard Rock Café more to his liking. The Joe Bodnars (Tr. Engrg) and Carl Breccias (Const) didn't get enough cards in the casino- so played on the bus all the way home. Joan Heller Combs (Local Aid) and spouse were there with the AC crowd. Since retiring, Joan has taken up golf very seriously and is burning up the Princeton Country Club with her drives. And Ted Kiselewicz (Bridge Design) is still going strong, saw him talking to 2 pretty ladies waiting for bus ride home!

It's nice to see all these folks at our bus trips and luncheons. However, we are missing a lot of members who we know would have a great time - all you have to do is GET INVOLVED! Let's see you at the Holiday Party!! Send us an update on travels, activities and "YOUR LIFE AFTER THE NJDOT!!"

We always strive to protect our membership from "junk mail" or unsolicited mail and therefore never have distributed our Membership List. However, we know that you may want to re-connect with former coworkers and do not know how to contact them. Just send us your written request, along with person's name and last work location. We will do our best to locate them and we'll send your note to them to contact you directly.