Five Irvington youngsters are painting fire hydrants throughout the municipality as part of an 8-week summer youth employment program by the Township of Irvington and its water supplier, NJ-American Water Company.

 

The firm is funding the salaries of the employees at a cost of $16,000, which covers the $10 hourly rate and working hours from 7 am until 3 pm Mondays through Fridays. NJ-American also provides paint, paintbrushes, gloves and other needed supplies. The participants are: Nadia McClain, 17, Brittany Bennett, 18 and Amir Sharpton, 17, graduates of Irvington High School; and Clevon Brown, 16, an IHS junior and Bianca Antoine, 17, an IHS senior.

 

Team members began working in mid-July, and to date, have painted about 150 of the 750 of the company-owned fire hydrants in Irvington.

 

“The kids are working at a steady clip and doing a great job,” according to Duwan Johnson, who is supervising the youngsters in his role as specialist coordinator of the Irvington Clean Communities Program.

 

“It takes a lot of hard work and dedication,” Bennett said of the job, “but it’s great preparation for responsibilities later on in life.”

 

 

 

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