PACKMAN propelled by purpose-driven music
Group to play benefit concert for AHA at Finnegan's Feb. 9
BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer

JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Top to bottom: David Corniola, 13, of Upper Freehold, Johnny Costa, 14, of Upper Freehold, Casey Willms, a Brookdale Community College police officer, Robert Melendez, a Sea Girt patrolman, and Kyle Oberhauser, 15, of Upper Freehold, make up some of the members of Police and Community Kids Music Against Narcotics (PACKMAN).

Robert Melendez has witnessed one too many families ripped apart by drugs and alcohol.

The Sea Girt patrolman, who as recently as Jan. 26 unsuccessfully tried to resuscitate a 16-year-old who overdosed while the boy's family watched, firmly believes in teaching kids about the consequences to actions, telling them how to live good, healthy lives and showing them how to stay out of trouble.

"Kids need to know right off the bat that the possible consequences to their actions could be jail time, addiction and death - like this one child," Melendez said.

A Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) officer for 16 years,Melendez has now taken his beliefs to the next level in organizing Police and Community Kids Music Against Narcotics (PACKMAN), a band that aims to give kids the experience of natural highs through music.

"It's a drug- and alcohol-prevention program for musicians," Melendez said.

The idea for the musical group came to him when he noticed that more and more DARE students were asking him to play guitar with them once they found out he was a musician.

"I said to myself, 'Let me see if there is something here that I can tap into,' " he said.

PACKMAN officially started on Oct. 9, 2004. The group, which has 15 to 18 members, practices in a local church every Friday during the school year and every other Thursday during summer break. The band is open to any teen who wants to become a member.

"If they are willing to drive to Sea Girt from places as far away as Allentown and New Egypt, we'll take them," Melendez said, noting that the band currently has three members from Upper Freehold and one member from New Egypt.

PACKMAN relies on the support of volunteers Ralph Elia, a special officer at the Sea Girt Police Department, Casey Willms, a police officer at Brookdale Community College, Christopher Willms, a firefighter, andMelendez's wife, Kathryn, who help teach the kids music and take them to various shows and festivals.

"They played for thousands of people in the Trump Marina, opening up for the Marshall Tucker Band, and for 70,000 people at the Belmar parade," Melendez said. "They really kicked butt and got the crowds going."

Although the band has lots of fun,Melendez said it does get serious when learning about prevention and community.

"Some of the kids in the group know the child who passed away, so we will have a speaker at the next meeting to help them cope," he said.

PACKMAN invites various speakers to talk to the band. The band also discusses musical artists who have overcome drug addictions and others who have died from them.

The band's members also get involved in charitable endeavors. In December they helped organize a food drive at the Sea Girt Elementary School, and on Feb. 9 they will perform a benefit concert for the American Heart Association (AHA).

PACKMAN member David Corniola, 13, of Upper Freehold, and his family provided the genesis for theAHAbenefit concert, which will start at 5 p.m. at Finnegan's bar and grill, 529 Route 130, East Windsor.

"I had said it would be nice to do something for charity," Betsy Corniola, David's mother, said.

David told Melendez that he thought it would be nice to honor his three grandparents, Dorothy Heller, Louis Heller and Vinvenza Corniola, who all died from heart attacks, with a benefit concert.

"When kids come to me with an idea, I make it happen," Melendez said.

He continued, "The show will support kids and get people involved in a good cause. With two educators there to give out information, it could also change people's habits and could even save a life."

Melendez said his father, GilbertoMelendez, passed away at the age of 48 of a heart attack, and his sister, Audrey Ann Melendez, also died because of a heart defect at the age of 35.

"I always go for regular checkups because I don't want to be a statistic," he said.

The show will feature PACKMAN and Havana Harbor, which is a band David formed with other PACKMAN members Kyle Oberhauser, 15, and Johnny Costa, 14, both of Upper Freehold.

Kyle said, "The show should be enjoyable with four hours of fun music and everyone dressed in red, white and black in honor of the American Heart Association."

Johnny said, "We feel it's a good cause. It should be a fun time," adding that Havana Harbor will play originals and covers including "I Fought the Law" and "Santeria."

Eileen Oberhauser, Kyle's mother, said, "I am very proud, especially because they are doing community service and charitable work. It also keeps them out of trouble, which is a good thing."

Betsy Corniola said, "It's a great thing because they are three young kids acting to make a difference in this world. It's music with a message."

Melendez said that through their participation in PACKMAN, he has seen the Havana Harbor members build self-esteem, mature to serve as role models for younger kids, and start on their way toward mastering their craft of music.

"Though at first we had to work to get a smile from Kyle, he pretty much runs the show now," Melendez said. "We like to see kids come in and get things done, and Kyle brings it." sees a lot of himself in the kids in PACKMAN because he, too, by the age of 13 had picked up a guitar and

by the age of 15 had his own band.

Even though music played a leading role in his teenage years, once he became a police officer, Melendez thought life was playing a cruel trick on him.

"I was watching bands and throwing drunks out of bars," he said. "I was getting thrown up on and I was thinking, boy, does life mock me."

At first he didn't think he could tie music into his career as a police officer, but now, after seeing how drugs and alcohol devastate families, he has found a reason - and through PACKMAN, has a means to accomplish it.

Referring to the child who passed away over the weekend, he said, "It's not the first time I saw it happen. I hope it will be the last."

Melendez said most troubled kids are just unaware of the numerous things going on in their communities that are available for them to participate in. PACKMAN and the upcoming benefit concert are just two of these local events.

Tickets for the concert will be sold at the door and cost $7 each, with all proceeds going toward the AHA.

For more information about the concert or PACKMAN, contact Patrolman Robert Melendez at (732) 449-7300 or email him at packman@seagirtpd.net.