Make Califon Great Again…No Need, We’ve Always Been Great

By Councilman Steven Stanaback

Thirty years is a long length of time for just about anything. In 1988, a cell phone was the size of a small brick. The World Wide Web would not exist for another two years. And 30 years ago, we bought our first house on Academy Street. Things generally haven’t changed much since then, with the exception I didn’t have a neighbor like Mrs. Tiger who would share her refrigerator pickles with me. But like many before us, we outgrew our house and moved to another in town. We weren’t interested in moving away as our first child had just started school, we were happy and wanted to stay in town. And now after 30 years, it seems it’s time to move on, although with deep regret.

If you have lived in Califon for any period of time and frequently read the Crier, you’ll see articles every once in a while, describing what makes Califon great. Whether it is our volunteer Fire Department and First Aid squad who answer the call day or night in all kinds of weather, our municipal volunteer town committee members, or maybe it’s the various groups who put together the Memorial Day parade, Fall Harvest Festival and this year, the Califon Centennial. I could not agree more, as this is what makes Califon great.

But there are additional facets that make Califon not just great, but somewhat unique. Califon is fortunate that we share a border with Lebanon Township where their businesses compliment ours. Between both sides of Route 513 and downtown Califon, there are multiple banks, pizzerias, a butcher, grocery store, florist, and jeweler. It’s almost like you don’t have to leave town to get what you need. This list of businesses is endless, but the one common thread is that local people own many of these businesses. They survive because of others and us in the area that shop here. Without them though, Califon as a whole isn’t the same. Shopping local is not just a slogan, everyone benefits.

Yet all this doesn’t mean having everything at your disposal is completely fulfilling. The difference is as many have said, “it’s the people”. My wife Leslie recently remarked that we have made the best friends here that we could ever have and it will be difficult to duplicate it. She’s right. Whether it’s a neighbor or someone you know in town, you could always count on them to help or offer support when you needed it and reciprocate in kind if they needed it.

So after 30 years, the volunteers, the businesses and the residents are really what make Califon great. Each one plays an important part in keeping this town the way it is and was in 1988 when we first moved in. My advice, to quote Ron Burgundy the famous news anchor from San Diego, “You stay classy Califon”.

Last modified: February 23, 2018