DOTRA'S ... DotLine ...

At time of our DOTLINE preparation, DOTRA President Guy Lo Bue is hospitalized at the St. Francis Cardiac Care Unit after recent open heart surgery. For those interested, we will keep the Web site updated with information.

ACTING PRESIDENT'S REPORT
By Chet Andres

As we pass from Summer to Fall and into Winter, it is time to remember the good times we have had at DOTRA luncheons, picnics and excursions to interesting and beautiful places. We are not done yet ! Still to come is a great Holiday trip to The Three Little Bakers on December 16th and ouor traditional Holiday Luncheon on December 3rd.

DOTRA continues to grow as new retirees, having heard good things about our activities join us. We now have over 460 members from all corners of the United States. Although most of our members still reside in the New jersey- Pennsylvania area, the second largest number now reside in Florida. We recognize the, as well as the "snow birds" at our annual Florida reunion held every February. See the reminder of that get together in this issue and look for arrangements in the next issue of DOTLINE.

Due to the continued illness of our President Guy LoBue, the DOTRA Board of Directors has designated the following changes to the DOTRA Officers. Acting President Chet Andres, Acting 1st VP- Adrian Lincoln, and Acting 2nd VP- Jay Johnston. This arrangement will continue until the Annual meeting in June 2004 when official nominations for election will be held.

BECAUSE OF THE VERY WELCOME INCREASE IN ATTENDEES AT OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS, WE ARE MAKING CHANGES FOR DOTRA MONTHLY MEETING LOCATIONS, STARTING IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER. PLEASE CAREFULLY NOTE THE CHANGES LISTED FOR LOCATIONS. ALL MEETINGS WILL CONTINUE TO BE HELD ON THE FIRST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH !!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Save Wednesday December 3rd for the Annual Holiday Party at Diamond's Riverside ... also Winter Holiday Bus Trip to "The 3 Little Bakers Dinner Theater - Home for the Holidays " on Tuesday, December 16th in Wilmington, Delaware.

See the attached flyers with all necessary details! (Webmaster Note: Not included in this Online Issue!)

DOTRA BOARD MEETINGS AND MONTHLY BRUNCH ... CHANGE IN LOCATIONS AND TIME!!

DOTRA will hold its next regular Monthly meeting on Tuesday, November 4th, 2003.

Wildflowers II in Yardville
255 Route 156- off S. Broad and Rte 130 SB
609-585-5483
Dutch treat lunch starts at 11:30-12:30 ... Meeting starts promptly at 12:30 PM. All members of DOTRA are welcome !!!

December Meeting - Tuesday, December 2, 2003
NJDOT Cafeteria in Ewing at 12 Noon
Business Meeting in All Purpose Room
First Floor at 1:00 PM

Special Parking for DOTRA meeting attendees has been arranged in the vicinity of the Main entrance to the E & O Building.

Tuesday, January 6,2004
NJDOT Cafeteria in Ewing at 12 Noon
Business Meeting in All Purpose Room
First Floor at 1:00 PM

Tuesday, February 3, 2004
NJDOT Cafeteria in Ewing at 12 Noon
Business Meeting in All Purpose Room
First Floor at 1:00 PM

CHECK DOTLINE OR WEBSITE FOR ANY CHANGES IN LOCATION !!!!

NEW MEMBERS' CORNER

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

William Amerine of Yardley PA - NJDOT Support Services
Thomas Davis of Rockingham, North Carolina - NJDOT Design
Michael Immordino of Silver Thorne, Colorado - NJDOT GeoTechDesign (Retired in 1989)

LIFE MEMBERS REPORT

Since May 2003, the following DOTRA members have renewed or joined as Life Members:

Alan T. Ari Hamilton, NJ C&M
Guy Lo Bue Yardville, NJ ROW/Design
MaryLa Rossa Ewing, NJ Administration
William Amerine Yardley, PA Support Srv

We thank all of you - old and new- for your support!

CHAPLAIN'S REPORT
BY Jay Johnston

We would like to keep informed of any retiree who is ill, anyone confined to their home, or any retiree who needs help in one form or another. Please call or send a note to Jay Johnston at 609-588-0930, e-mail - JayRJohnston@aol.com - or write to him at 3 Golden Crest Court, Hamilton SquareNJ 08691.

Recent Obituaries:
Beebe Wesley Roberts (88) DOT
Catherine Frascella (88) MVS
Barbara Severino Smith (42) DOT
Minnie McManus Hullfish (95) MVS
James Alfred Reed Sr. (88) DOT
Carol Sue Agabiti (68) MVS
Orest John Senyk (66) DOT
Myrtle Fink (93) MVS
Carol M. Procaccino (57) DOT
Ann Marie Conroy ((70) MVS
Charles Rupprecht (83) DOT
Bill Van Hise (78) DOT

DOTRA EXECUTIVE BOARD - OFFICERS

PRESIDENT - Guy LoBue 609-585-4979
ACTING PRESIDENT- Chet Andres 609-896-1470
1st VICE PRESIDENT - Adrian Lincoln 609-921-3036
2nd VICE PRESIDENT - Jay Johnston 609-588-0930
TREASURER - Frank Herrera 609-392-0633
ASSISTANT Treasurer - Dick Hobson 609-737-3227
RECOEDING SECRETARY - Hazel Rockhill 609-581-3560
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY - Dee Wisneski 609-771-1489

DIRECTORS/ TERM OF OFFICE

Chet Andres (05)
Kristina Erin Kaye (05)
Dot Andres (05)
Adrian Lincoln (04)
Joe Bodnar (05)
Guy LoBue (05)
Walt Gable (04)
Dolores Murphy (05)
Frank Herrera (05)
Hazel Rockhill (05)
Richard Hobson (04)
Jim Sprindstead (05)
Don Hutchinson (04)
Margaret Wieger (05)
Dolores Wisneski (05)

ACTING DIRECTORS

Paul Bertucinni
Lou Papp
Jay Johnston
Phil Vecere
Mike Lemmo

COMMITTEES CHAPLAIN - Jay Johnston 609-588-0930
MEMBERSHIP - Dot Andres 609-896-1470
BY-LAWS - Chet Andres 609-896-1470
HISTORIAN - Wilma Gruzlovic 609-259-2349
ACTIVITIES - Jim Springstead 609-392-0848
DOTLINE - Dot Andres & Dee Wisneski 609-771-1489
WEBSITE - Kristina Erin Kaye (Home) 609-918-0603 (Cell) 609-865-6701 or email KEK@kristinakaye.us

HISTORIAN'S CORNER
By Wilma Gruzlovic

Aviation Takes Flight in New Jersey

(Excerpted from "The Development of Transportation in New Jersey," published in 1975 by NJDOT- Office of Information Services)

(Last issue we reviewed the early development of aviation in New Jersey, primarily balloons and lighter than air ships. Now continued …

In 1907 , the first-heavier- than- air ship made its debut in Iselin, and by 1909 the first airplane company, the Wright Company, began manufacturing in Paterson. One year later at the Atlantic City Air Carnival, Richard Brookins in a Wright bi-plane became the first pilot to reach an altitude of more than one mile ( 6,176 feet ). The Leguslature passed the first law to regulate such flying exhibitions in 1913.

Although temporary air mail service was offered from Bayonne to Perth Amboy, Ocean City and Stone Harbor in 1912, it was not until 1918 that the first full time air-mail service in the country began. This mail route, which extended from Curtis Field in Long Island to East Potomac Park in Washington D.C., included Hadley Field in South Plainfield as an alternate landing site.

In 1927, Air Express Service, a freight operation, began at Hadley Airport and by 1928, Hadley had two international air services. One route transported passengers and mail to Montreal, Canada, and the other carried mail to Mexico City, Mexico.

Amelia Earhart flew non-stop from Los Angeles to Newark Airport and so grew air travel in New Jersey . Today there are 52 general aviation airports in New Jersy. Newark and Atlantic City serve as national and international airports today, carrying more than 33 million passengers annually.

….AND AN ANECDOTE IN RECENT HISTORY

Phil Vecere (Support Services) came up with some old photos in his personal archives. One of them was an old photo taken in 1941 in the open Fernwood yard, looking out at Parkway Avenue with the newly built Highway Department Testing Laboratory standing in the background. Few will probably remember the participants pictured , - Frank Young, Chief of the Equipment Bureau, Frank Devrow, Assistant Chief of Equipment Bureau and Willard Emmons -Master Mechanic of Fernwood Garage. They are standing in front of a Chevrolet coupe that had traveled over 140,000 miles on the job as part of the car fleet for the NJ Highway Department and had been without any major repairs. When General Motors found out the vehicle and extended miles, they agreed to take this vehicle in trade for a new one at no cost to the Highway department. General Motors wanted to use this car for experimental purposes.

ANNUAL PICNIC REPORT
By Dick Hobson

The Annual DOTRA picnic was held up at Belle Mountain County Park and was attended by 57 retirees. It was a beautiful late summer September day and all talked with their friends and co-workers of the past. They filled their stomachs with lots of good food- catered by Risoldi's. The weather was great for a change. Maybe next years' picnic charge could go back to a lower fee so attract more attendees.

HUGE SUCCESS !!!!
BUS TRIP TO CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA AND F.D. ROOSEVELT'S HYDE PARK

The trip to the renowned Culinary Institute of America in Poughkeepsie was a wonderful treat. The CIA is located on the grounds and campus of a former Seminary and the gardens in September were beautiful. The rain held off for almost the whole. After a tour of the world-renowned Culinary Institute of America, the group lunched on a gourmet nutritional-theme dinner prepared by C.I.A. students and elegantly served in the St Andrews Dining Room. Tour guides were actual students in training at the C.I.A. from all over of the country, preparing to be master chefs - graduates are demanded all over the world. Although there was lots of walking the DOTRA group then enjoyed a wonderfully guided tour of Franklin D. Roosevelt's home and estate along the banks of the Hudson River in nearby Hyde Park. Anyone who missed this trip missed a wonderful opportunity to visit some different places.

Dolores Murphy arranged and lead the DOTRA group on this very successful bus trip. Thanks for the excellent arrangements and hard work Dee !

LIFE AFTER THE NJDOT - WHAT HAVE WE BEEN DOING ??

We are constantly hearing about how busy recent retirees are and how they cannot understand how they ever had time to go to work!! Maybe that's because we are out there working very hard to have fun - or to do good for others. We'd like to meet and hear about some of those good things so we'll be telling you about some of our members and their companions. Participate in the fun and share your lives with the rest of us !!!

Mary and Carl Breccia(Construction) and Marion and Joe Bodnar (Traffic Engineering)

Probably not many members know that Joe Bodnar and Carl Breccia are brothers-in-law - not unless they are DOTRA members who frequently go to DOTRA luncheons and participate in our bus excursions. Mary Breccia and Joe Bodnar are sister and brother.

The freedom of retired life and spare time has allowed this very active foursome, and their families, to travel together all over the world. With trips to Czech Republic and Slovakia during 9-11 in the past, these folks have searched for and met relatives in Europe, and continue to make plans and travel more!!

In June they all took a family trip, with eleven of them along, to celebrate the Bodnar's 44th Wedding Anniversary on a Disney cruise to the western Carribean. Starting with a few days in Orlando, they left Port Canaveral and on to islands and ports like Key West, Grand Cayman and Cozumel along the way. Marian Bodnar was not held back from the Disney cruise in spite of her arm being in a sling after a serious fall in Orlando.

The Breccia's are next off for a 3 week trip to Arizona before winter comes. The Bodnar's are staying home for a while while Marion's arm heals.

Where to next ? Plans are already made for the Breccia's and Bodnar's to take a Holland American cruise of the Inner Alaskan Passage and a 7 day land trip through Alaska in June of INTERESTING THINGS TO DO2004. Keep moving folks. It is a wonderful life ! George and Peg Wieger (Maintenance)

Peg Wieger retired from NJDOT- Maintenance in 1991 and has yet to slow down. Very active in the Ewing Seniors' Club and in DOTRA during the regular "work week", she and husband George have been traveling around the Western hemisphere ever since. Not only has Peg been responsible for planning and sponsoring bus excursions for these organizations, working on political campaigns, she has been filling her spare time with travel elsewhere. With numerous trips to places like the Panama Canal, Canada, Alaska, western USA and various Carribean cruises, they have an unusual family commitment which has kept them busy almost every weekend for the past ten years. Peg's grandson David Van Horn Jr. is a stock car driver, now driving Sportsman Class modified cars in competition up and down the east coast from Daytona Beach to west to Michigan.. David has been racing before he was 10 years old- starting with go-karts and even participating in two national championships. Now dreaming of bigger races to come, David has the family support of the whole Wieger family as he builds and races these cars.

The Wieger's are proud and involved grandparents and Peg and George have been spending recent autumn weekends at car race tracks in either Syracuse or Middletown, New York. A typical weekend activity starts early on Friday morning, as they head for the track dressed in their "cuddle-duds" and insulated boots, set up the trailer and then watch the races from up on top of the trailer- staying out of the way during race time. Then, Grandmom's job is to scrape and get the mud off the car before the next race - mud slows down the car, says Peg.George is the go-fer- doing whatever is needed. Along with the moral support they give to Dave to win these races, the financial payout for winning is not as big as at Daytona or Delaware Downs. The financial support that grandparents can give their kids and grandkids is important and typical in every family. What an exciting way to spend the weekends! Sure beats watching bowling or a football game on television!

IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD ... INTERESTING THINGS TO DO NEARBY

How about a battleship sleepover? Ever sleep on a Battleship? . Chow in the mess deck and sleep in the original crew bunks? Well, you missed your chance for this year. The Battleship New Jersey, a decommissioned vessel that served in every major conflict of the 20th century offered family encampments this summer. However, it is still open for daily visits to everyone. The ship is docked on the Delaware River along the southern end of the Camden waterfront. This area is now a beautiful park and marina, easily accessible by car and soon by light rail from Trenton to Camden. Parking in this area is safe and good. A tour of the ship takes approximately 2 to 3 hours, then you can follow it up with a visit to the NJ Aquarium or a quick ferry trip over to Philadelphia to Penn's Landing for lunch or more sightseeing on the waterfront. A lovely place to spend a day.

Or how about seeing how your taxes are being spent ! Ever been to Drumthwacket- the official residence of New Jersey's governor ? Well, this building is open to the public for individuals and groups every Wednesday at Noon in the Fall. Drumthwacket is located in Princeton, south on Route 206. All you need to do is make an appointment by a telephone call in advance to say how many are in your group and sign up. There is no charge. You already paid with your tax dollar! Call 609-683-0057 or on line www.drumthwacket.org.

It is a very popular place to visit before the holidays when New Jersey's Women's and Garden Clubs decorate the interior. It's your buiding- go see it!

HERE AND THERE
By Dot Andres

Art Blanquera , one of our LIFE members who worked for many years in Materials, is getting ready to move to The Villages in Florida in October. He and his wife would like to get in touch with some of our Florida members who live in that area. You can email Art at sanfabian@aol.com or write to his prior address at 5 Nettletree Drive Ewing NJ 08638.

Ted Fischer (Design) and wife Florence have recently moved back to the Trenton area from Cape May Court House. The Fischers are now living at Wellington Manor in Pennington.

Got a call from Ron Kosky Sr. wanting to catch up on his DOTRA membership- formerly with Maintenance in Region 2. Ron's doing well and still living in the Secaucus area.

Mary La Rossa ( Administration) sent a short note with her LIFE Membership renewal and wishes to be remembered to her former co-workers.

Mike Immordino retired in 1989 from GeoTechnical Engineering and has just gotten around to joining DOTRA. He's been out of New Jersey since then and is now living in Silverthorne, Colorado. He spends his winters skiing and hunting, and is a ski guide for the "International Over-the-Hill Gang at the Breckenridge, Colorado Ski area. Summers are spent riding his motorcycle or bicycle, fishing for salmon in the Colorado River, and spending 5 to 6 weeks each year at Lake Powell in Utah on his boat fishing for striped bass. Sounds like "Captain Tuna" has hit the good life. Nice hearing from you Mike.

Hear that some of our members spent the summer "mending. "DOTRA member Nellie Hoffman ( MVS) has been recuperating from knee surgery and missed the trip to New York State. Also, Mary D'Arcy wife of Ed ( C&M) had recent eye surgery and and hopefully is back to her busy daily activities. Joe Bodnar's wife Marion, suffered a shoulder injury and messed up her summer fun schedule just a little.

It's not too early to put February 10th 2004 on your calendar for the Annual Florida Reunion in Rockledge,FL

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
( ) NEW APPLICATION FOR DOTRA MEMBERSHIP - $10.00/ YEAR (FILL IN FORM COMPLETELY)
( ) RENEWAL OF DOTRA MEMBERSHIP FOR YEAR _______ (FILL IN NAME AND YEAR)
( ) CHECK FOR $10 ENCLOSED
( ) REQUEST FOR LIFE MEMBERSHIPIN DOTRA . ____ MY CHECK FOR $75.00 IS ENCLOSED
( ) CHANGE OF ADDRESS (FILL IN NAME ADDRESS, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER)
( ) PLEASE ADD YOUR COMMENTS FOR DOTLINE.

NAME: __________________________________________________ TELEPHONE: _______________________

STREET/ PO BOX:___________________________________________________APT. NO. __________________

TOWN/ CITY: ________________________________COUNTY__________ _____STATE_________ZIP________

FORMER UNIT WITHIN NJDOT:_____________________ YEARS WORKED________YEAR RETIRED________

COMMENTS:___________________________________________________________________________________

Send to
DOTRA
PO BOX 77160
WEST TRENTON, NJ 08628-6160