KAMELOT Gets Ready For Kinnelon Community Event

Typically, the summer months create some downtime for the organization, but Kinnelon's KAMELOT is hard at work this year planning for the borough's first ever K-Fest, a drug-free community event that will bring borough residents together for free food and interaction with neighbors.

K-Fest, which was originally called Kinnelon Day, will be held at Lake Rickabear on Oct. 2 from noon to 6 p.m. and is "Kinnelon's Day to celebrate family, friends and neighbors," according to KAMELOT Chairwoman Olga Gilhooley.

The event will be just one of many events and programs the group is planning for this year. KAMELOT, which has been in the Kinnelon community for more than 16 years, sponsors presentations and programs that seek to steer the community's youth on the right path in terms of avoiding things like drugs, alcohol and behaviors such as bullying.

"It's more about trying to make the right chioices or trying to create an environment where kids have alternatives, that they're educated and that the parents are educated," said Gilhooley.

"There is bullying, cyber-hazards, all of these things, in my mind, are just negative things that could affect someone's ability to achieve and be the best that they could be."

KAMELOT is a county-funded municipal alliance, which means that the majority of the organization's money comes from seized drug and weapon funds. Additionally, the borough is required to match a certain amount of the funds.

The organization is made up of members who include Kinnelon Police Lt. John Schwartz and Ptl. Sean Patalita, Kinnelon Public Schools Superintendent James Opiekun, Councilman James Freda (who serves as the liaison to the organization), several school principals and counselors and about 10 volunteers.

This year, KAMELOT sponsored a numer of events already, including Rachel's Challenge at a program that inspires compassion and kindness amongst peers, and two bullying programs, including one with nationally-known speaker John Halligan, whose son committed suicide after being bullied.

"The one thing that he hit the nail on the head on is something that I've been trying to articulate," Gilhooley said. "The dynamic of the world that the kids live in today is different."

Gilhooley said that she feels that parents need to prepare for the changing atmosphere for the kids of today and KAMELOT programs can help them.

She also said it is important to note that KAMELOT programs are not solely geared toward high-schoolers, and that oftentimes, trying to reach children at a younger age is more effective.

"In my mind, if we are just focusing on the high school, it's kind of already too late. Prevention could start as early as grammar school," she said.

For the younger kids, KAMELOT focuses on programs about issues like character and self-esteem building and how to handle situations when someone may be making fun of you, for example.

"There are certain characteristics that I think you could develop early on in life, so it's a multi-faceted approach," she said. "You have to create programs that are age-appropriate. At every age there's something that can be done."

In October, KAMELOT will also be sponsoring a Halloween event for the night before and night of Halloween where Kinnelon children will be able to have a safe place in the community to go and have fun. KAMELOT also provides glowsticks to trick-or-treaters during the holiday and provides safety programs. Additionally, KAMELOT participates in Project Graduation, sponsors the that shows high school students the effects of drunk driving and has a presence at the

KAMELOT is currently looking for volunteers to help with social media and website management for K-Fest, in addition to day-of volunteers. Those interested can contact Gilhooley at ogil8985@optonline.net.