Tradition marching on despite loss of organizer
BY SETH MANDEL
Staff Writer

Jamesburg

JAMESBURG — The borough is trying to make it 124 in a row.

With the passing of its chief organizer, the borough’s Memorial Day parade was briefly in doubt — for the first time since 1883.

But instead of letting go of the event, officials want to hold a parade that will be bigger and better than ever, and they are asking residents for help in making that happen.

For the last 25 years, the parade was always a sure thing, thanks to a man many knew as “Mr. Jamesburg.”

Henry “Spud” Dobenski, a former councilman, American Legion commander and member of the local land-use boards, almost single-handedly put together the parade each year. But the highly esteemed resident passed away Aug. 13 at the age of 65, leaving what many believe area sizable shoes to fill in several respects.

“Spud was really running it on his own,” said Borough Councilman Christopher Maloney. “So, we’re trying to get some of the local businesses involved, we’re trying to get the council involved, the American Legion is obviously continuing to be involved. But we’re trying to make this more of a community thing as opposed to just Spud running it on behalf of the American Legion.”

As a result, officials have assembled the Jamesburg Area Patriotic Committee, for which they are still looking for members.

The committee currently includes Maloney, council President John Longo, Councilwoman Barbara Carpenter, American Legion Commander Alan Brown, Jamesburg Historical Association members Ron Becker and Tom Bodall, Elks Club member Jim Newmyer, and Daria Ludice from the Jamesburg Public Library.

The committee first met on Sept. 29, and has another meeting scheduled for Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Lakeview mansion, Route 522.

“The biggest thing we’re looking for right now is people to participate — people that are interested in trying to make this something that’s of real value to the community,” Maloney said.

Brown said the committee would like the parade to include more musical participation from local marching bands. There will be competitions held and prizes awarded, and the bands selected to play in the parade will be given a monetary stipend.

Also, Brown said, the committee would like to bring back another age-old tradition.

“Back when I was a kid growing up in Jamesburg, we used to have what we call the poppy poster contest, where the kids in the elementary schools would make posters signifying the use of poppies, and have everybody go out and buy poppies,” Brown said. “And we’re going to reinstitute that program.”

Brown said he has been satisfied thus far with the response, and is pleased that the show will go on.

“We were a little in doubt that the parade was even going to happen, because the original response to my letters that I sent out was zero,” Brown said. “But phone calls here and phone calls there got this group of people together.”

Maloney said that the committee is seeking donations to help offset the cost of expanding the parade, as well as volunteers to help with the organization and logistics of the event.

“We’re trying to put the word out that we’re looking for people to participate. They’re trying to expand this and get more marching bands involved, really make it a community day as opposed to the small event that it’s been,” Maloney said.

Brown said that after Spud’s passing, the American Legion post could no longer solely handle the parade, and its members were encouraged by the community’s willingness to help and ensure the tradition will be preserved.

“As commander of the American Legion, I certainly thank the people, and we’re very appreciative that the parade will continue,” Brown said.

Maloney said that anyone interested in joining the committee should attend its next meeting or contact him at (732) 605-0604 or cmaloney@jamesburgborough.org.