South Plainfield People–Milestones
- Bob Golon Publishes Baseball Book
January 25
Bob Golon, a 22-year resident of South Plainfield, is about to publish his
first book and has been named assistant library director of the Plainfield Public Library.
Golon's first book entitled, "No Minor Accomplishment: The Revival of New Jersey Professional Baseball,"
published by Rutgers University Press will be on the bookshelves in March.
Golon began his new position at Plainfield Library on January 2.
After a 20-year career in the technology industry, this was a culmination of a successful career
change which included obtaining a Masters Degree in Library and Information Science
from Rutgers University at the age of 52, and spending the last three years as Labor
Archivist at Rutgers University Library.
He has been active in the South Plainfield Junior Baseball Club (a Lifetime Member)
and other school and youth activities for many years. He has been a baseball historian
his entire life, has published numerous articles and has appeared on television. He has
also made presentations at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y.
For additional information on the book, log onto http://rutgerspress.rut
gers.edu/acatalog/no_Minor_Accomplishment.html.
- Nicole Barko Volunteers with
Montana Conservation Corps
December 28
Nicole Barko recently worked in Montana as a volunteer for the Montana
Conservation Corps from May until last month. She worked mostly on
trail building in and around Yellowstone National Park.
According to Barko it was the most challenging thing she had ever done in
her life, emotionally, spiritually, and especially, physically.
While working in Yellowstone, her sessions consisted of eight days
working 10 hours in the heat, rain, wind, lightning, and anything else
nature decided to throw at her. It wasn't easy by any means, especially
considering that most of the work involved days of heavy lifting,
swinging heavy trail tools such as the pick, using 100-year-old crosscut
saws, and sometimes hiking five miles in the backcountry with a 50-pound
pack.
The Montana Conservation Corps (MCC) was started as a revival of the
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which began during the Great
Depression. Barko initially heard of the MCC through an environmental agency who
sent her a link to their Web site via E-mail. The conservation
corps application stresses that the work is far from easy. In fact, many
people who join the program actually quit before the end due to many
reasons, including low pay, long hours working outdoors, the physical
labor, etc. But those who stay until the end leave a changed person.
Before she left for Montana in May, Barko commented to one of her
friends, "If I can survive this, I know that I can do anything."
And now she knows for sure that this is true. Of course, there were
days that she wanted to give up, but she knew that this was something that
she had to do, not only for herself, but also for the environment.
"I joined the MCC with every intention of staying until the end."
Barko has lived in South Plainfield her whole life. She graduated from
Sacred Heart School in 1998, Union Catholic High School in 2002 and
Georgian Court University in Lakewood in 2006.
As for what's next, Barko says she would love to continue with
conservation, or find some way to combine it with another love of hers,
wildlife illustration.
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