b'Meet TomPost: Jefferson Avenue and Brookside Road, MaplewoodHometown: UnionTom has been crossing students at Jefferson Avenue and Brookside Road since 2013 after retiring from a career in the seafood business. He said he couldnt just stay home and was interested when he heard about the job from a friend who was already a crossing guard in the district. He grew up in NewarksIronboundneigh-borhood and was one of six children. He and his brother are one of two sets of twins in the family! Tomsaidthereareno hard parts to being a cross-ingguard.Hesayshehas receivedthoughtfulcards from students over the years. He added that parents often commentabouthowloud andeffectiveheisatstop- One- on- one, comprehensive care right here inpingtraffic.TomrecentlyMaplewoodcelebrated his 83rd birthday,Specializing in: fortifypt.comenjoys growing vegetables inComplex Orthopedics 646-822-9461hishomegardenandplansPrenatal and Postpartum Care 509 Valley Stto keep crossing kids for thePelvic Floor Healthinfo@fortifypt.comforeseeable future. Meet Edward or ButchPost: South Orange Ave. and Scotland Rd., South OrangeHometown: MaplewoodEdward, affectionately known asButch,saidhehasbeen aSOMAcrossingguardsince 1963. He works the busy inter-sectionofScotlandRoadand South Orange Avenue but previ-ously handled Valley Plaza. He saidhehashadsomebrushes with vehicles over the years but is still going strong at 84 years old. He is famous for his warm demeanor and elegant hand mo-tions that were even featured in a piece by ABC News in 2020.Onweekends,Butchenjoys spending time with his wife and fourgrandchildrenandwatch-ing the Yankees.He is indeed a local institution as he is often recognized around town when off duty, having literally seen generations of children safely to school. Danielle Alfonzo Walsman is a Maplewood resident who lives at a busy intersec-tion and counts her crossing guard as a treasured member of the family who kept her boys safe from stroller days through senior year.feature story /27'