ROSELAND, N.J. — A few weeks after unfavorable weather forced a postponement, Roseland’s annual 5K finally got its race day on Saturday, October 17. The temperature hovered around 49 degrees as the 9 a.m. start approached, with clearing skies and a cool breeze from the north providing a classic autumn backdrop for runners and walkers.
The occasion was the borough’s annual 5K run and community walk, an event that carried special significance this year.
Renamed the Lou LaSalle Memorial 5K, the race honored a longtime Roseland resident, U.S. Army veteran, and dedicated community volunteer. LaSalle had supported the annual race for many years, making the event’s new name a fitting tribute to someone who understood the value of giving back.
While participants focused on the course ahead, another group of volunteers had a different assignment: keeping everyone connected.
Members of the Roseland Amateur Radio Club once again supported the event, providing radio communications along the race route from 8:30 to 10 a.m.
The Work Behind the Scenes
For runners, a successful race is measured in minutes and seconds. For those responsible for organizing one, success also depends on coordination, communication, and the ability to respond when something unexpected happens.
That’s where amateur radio comes in.
With operators positioned at strategic points along the route, the club provides a reliable communications link between checkpoints and event organizers. Whether tracking the progress of participants, reporting changing conditions, or relaying information that requires attention, the objective is straightforward: keep everyone informed and the event running smoothly.
Much of that work happens quietly, away from the attention of spectators and participants. But dependable communication is an important part of making community events like this possible.
A Tradition of Community Service
For the Roseland Amateur Radio Club, supporting local events is about more than putting radios to work. It reflects a longstanding commitment to public service and a willingness to contribute the club’s technical skills where they can make a practical difference.
Amateur radio may be best known for connecting people across great distances, but its value is equally evident much closer to home.
Sometimes, the most important communication isn’t across the country or around the world. It’s between two volunteers standing a few blocks apart, helping their community accomplish something worthwhile.
This year’s race, dedicated to a man who gave so much of his own time to Roseland, offered a particularly meaningful reminder of that tradition.
The Roseland Amateur Radio Club thanks its participating members for volunteering their Saturday morning and the Borough of Roseland for the opportunity to support another community event.
For the club, it was another successful morning of public service and an opportunity to demonstrate how amateur radio continues to serve a practical purpose in the community.
Photos from the 2026 Event
