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Community Corner

Spaghetti Dinner Will Raise Funds for Resident Battling Lung Cancer

Community members will join together on Saturday afternoon to raise funds at the second of two dinners in honor of borough employee and resident Nick Carone, who is fighting lung cancer.

Those living in New Providence know what it means to be part of a small-town community: when your neighbor is in need, you’re there to help in any way you can.

Last weekend, New Providence residents and businesses joined together in true community spirit to support borough employee Nick Carone and raise funds for his fight against lung cancer. On Saturday, May 7, residents and businesses alike will have an opportunity to do it again at a home-cooked spaghetti dinner event, which will take place at the beginning at 4 p.m.

Dinner prices are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens and $10 for children older than eight. Dinner is free for kids who are younger than eight years old. A take-out option will also be available, but patrons are required to bring their own containers.

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Carone, 51, has been a New Providence resident since he was in the third grade, said longtime family friend and fundraiser organizer Debbie Johnson. He worked locally as an Assistant Foreman with the New Providence Department of Public Works and was highly involved with the design of local landmarks, such as Veteran’s Park and the Borough Hall landscape.

Since Carone’s diagnosis in November of last year, Johnson and her husband, Jimmy, who is the Manager/Director of the New Providence Department of Public Works, have been firsthand observers of the challenges faced by his family, not the least of which have been the financial implications of the illness.

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“When you do have cancer, even (with) medical insurance, there’s a lot of things that aren’t covered,” explained Johnson, who cited expenses such as co-pays at doctor visits, chemotherapy treatments and blood transfusions. “It can get very costly when you’re sick like that."

So the Johnsons decided to do something to help. They began to organize a spaghetti dinner that they hoped would raise funds to alleviate the Carone’s financial burdens. Little did they know that the traditional benefit would soon multiply into two fund-raising dinners and that the undertaking would become a community-wide event.

“What we thought would be just our friends and family—the whole town seemed to come together on it. It was unbelievable,” said Johnson of the effort.

It seemed that as word spread about the idea for last weekend’s fundraiser, so did the local support and eagerness to help.  

The contacted the organizers and offered to donate all the desserts. and M & M Liquors both donated beer and wine at no cost. supplied a whole spiral ham, catered the entrees at cost, making no additional profit, and , the workplace of Carone’s wife, Cathy, supplied the soft drinks.

“We couldn’t believe it!” said Johnson in amazement. “It was amazing… l can’t believe how many people helped with this.”

Even the live music was provided free of charge by local band Jersey Souls, whose lead singer and guitarist, Tony Carnevale, is also a New Providence borough employee.

In addition to the musical entertainment, there were opportunities for bocce ball, cornhole games and a tricky tray style auction.

Johnson explained that Carone himself was not initially informed about the fundraiser that they had planned in his honor.

“He didn’t know that this was a fundraiser for him because if he knew, he would have told us not to do it!” said Johnson, who explained that Carone’s wife had asked him to go with her that day to a cornhole and bocce tournament at the Paca Club in order to conceal the real reason for their visit.  

When Carone finally arrived, Johnson said, “We told him it was a party for him [and] that everyone wanted to see him.”

Approximately 125 members attended last week’s dinner and all of the proceeds directly benefited the Carone family.

A second event will be held this Saturday in order to raise additional funds. It will be coordinated by Johnson’s sister-in-law, Betty Bechberger, who serves on the board for the New Providence Care and Concern Foundation, and President of the Ladies’ Auxiliary at the Paca Club, Renee Pennisi.

While there is no entertainment planned for the evening, guests can look forward to a delicious spaghetti and meatballs dinner cooked by a group of women that includes both Bechberger and Pennisi.

It might seem unusual to find two similar fund-raising events taking place a mere week apart, but Johnson revealed, “The second dinner was actually the first [one] that was planned.”

Johnson said her son had reserved the Paca Club last weekend for a different event that ultimately fell through. When the Johnsons considered the fact that they had the space rented and were unable to cancel their contract with the club, Johnson said they thought, “Why don’t we just throw Nick two fundraisers?”

Again, all are welcome at Saturday’s spaghetti dinner, which begins at 4 p.m. at the Paca Club. Dinner prices are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens and $10 for children older than eight. Dinner is free for kids who are younger than eight years old.

A take-out option will also be available on Saturday, but patrons are required to bring their own containers.

Johnson said of last week’s turnout: “What was only supposed to be friends and family—it turned into something really big!”

Saturday’s dinner will be another opportunity for borough residents to be a part of “something really big” and show their support for a fellow community member in need.

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