West Milford's Department of Community Services and Recreation is a beehive of activity. The offices, located in the Hillcrest building on Macopin Road, provide oversight for a wide variety of township programs, services and events, all under the direction of Keith Knudsen, a certified parks and recreation professional, and he's up for the job. Knudsen, 31, was raised in Warren County and is currently a resident of Jefferson Township. He and his wife of eight years, Nurcihan, are the proud parents of 18-month-old Zakerye. Knudsen, who describes his son as laid back and happy, is enjoying fatherhood to the limit. "I like toddlers. His personality is so much fun and he melts my heart when he calls 'Daddy, Daddy' and runs for the door when I come in," Knudsen said. Knudsen earned a diploma in information technology from The Chubb Institute in 2001. He went to work making laptops for the pharmaceutical industry but after six months his job folded and he reverted back to the career he had dabbled in before: recreation. Working in recreation in Mount Olive as a program specialist he was soon promoted to assistant director. He came to West Milford as the director of Community Services and Recreation in 2008 and enjoys the diversity of his job. "What I like is that the job is always changing, based on the season and the trends. It's refreshing and you have to think, move and act," he said. Currently Knudsen has 39 employees who report to him, including the parks division, senior and social services, pre-school and transportation. The athletic fields and Bubbling Springs come under his jurisdiction as does water and soil sampling, seasonal events and programs and grant applications. Depending on the day Knudsen may have to deal with issues arising in multiple divisions. "It's pretty much worked out as a science now but that's not to say I don't get surprises," he said. As the seasons change so do his challenges. Winter is quiet, a time to plan. Early spring is busy and mid-summer provides a little breather before the fall events start running. And of course there are always financial concerns to be handled. Knudsen feels a close connection to West Milford and wants to hear from the residents with either suggestions or instructional criticism. "We're always looking for new ideas, feed-back or program suggestions. We need to know what they want or try to find out why something isn't working," he said. The department is currently looking into providing on-line registration, a convenience for residents with the side benefit of freeing up some employees to concentrate on marketing. For now visiting their Web site at www.westmilford.org provides substantial information. Knudsen hopes that residents will become more actively involved in the available programs, taking the opportunity to meet neighbors and enjoy the community spirit of the town he so admires. "I've never been in a township like West Milford. There are such great people here," he said. Between his work hours and the hours spent at special events Knudsen has minimal spare time. When he's off the clock he enjoys spending time with his family. When he gets home from work his wife takes a break and he and Zakerye enjoy special times together. When it comes to meal time favorites, Knudsen and his wife walk different paths. Nurcihan prefers bland foods while Keith likes everything spicy and flavorful. It wasn't always so but a chemical accident when he was working as a pool manager severely burned his nostrils, destroying his sense of smell and depleting his sense of taste. So, for those who enjoy a good kick with their dinner Knudsen sent in his favorite garlic chicken recipe. Just a thought, but considering the amount of garlic in this dish, an after-dinner breath mint may be in order. Keith's Grilled Garlic Chicken Prep time: 15 minutes plus one hour marinating time Cook time: 5-10 minutes 8 boned, skinless chicken breast halves 1/3 cup olive oil 6 cloves of garlic, crushed Garlic powder, to taste Salt and pepper, to taste Pita bread (optional) Lettuce (optional) Tomato (optional) Trim all visible fat from chicken, dry and score the smooth surface In a baking dish combine oil, garlic and seasonings Cut chicken into one-inch cubes Add chicken to garlic oil and mix Cover and refrigerate overnight or marinate at room temperature for one hour Thread the chicken onto skewers Heat barbeque grill rack and cook chicken over a medium heat until firm to the touch Serve over pita bread with lettuce and tomato, if desired