The executive board of the John Adams Elementary School Student Council presented Kathy Aruta, of the North Brunswick Food Bank, with a donation of $70 during a Town Council meeting Nov. 7. JENNIFER AMATO NORTH BRUNSWICK — The idea of volunteerism once again was key during the Township Council meeting Nov. 7.
Katelyn Pietrocola was honored as the Scholar Athlete Artist award recipient for November.
She has volunteered for the American Cancer Society, the Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the Salvation Army, the March of Dimes and New Jersey Blood Services. The current captain of the high school cheerleading squad, she has been a volunteer junior cheer coach for the Pop Warner organization since 2009. She also volunteers at The Chelsea assisted living facility, organizing Grandparents Day, a fashion show and dressing as the Easter Bunny.
The township high school senior is a member of the National Honor Society, DECAand Care to Walk, and is the Student Government Organization’s executive board treasurer.
Katelyn Pietrocola She has received certificates of achievement, a Make a Difference award and honors at the DECA leadership conference.
She has performed with the Alchemist Theatre Company since 2008.
Outside of school, she has worked on Rep. Rush Holt’s election campaign for the 12th Congressional District.
“This is such an honor and I appreciate being recognized,” Pietrocola said.
The executive board of the John Adams Elementary School Student Council presented a donation to Kathy Aruta of the township Food Bank. They sold 432 Hall oween pencils to raise $70 for the 400 people who come in for groceries each week.
“These guys work hard, as does the whole student body,” teacher Linda Sicora said.
George Lisicki, of Carteret, was then presented with a proclamation in honor of Veterans Day.
George Lisicki Lisicki served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1969. In Vietnam he served with the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division in the Central Highlands near Pleiku. He was awarded the Bronze Star, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal, among others.
In 1971 Lisicki joined VFW Post 2314 in Carteret, where he became a life member in 1976. He was the first Vietnam veteran in Post 2314 to be elected post commander, an office he held for four terms. He earned the title of All American state commander in
1988.
Lisicki served as the New Jersey state membership director for nine years and the instructor for the N.J. Officer Training Institute for 24 years. In 1995 he was elected to a two-year term as a national council member. He has served as chairman for the National Security, POW/MIA and Legislative committees. His other committee assignments include National Civil Service & Employment and Resolutions.
He retired after 33 years from Union Carbide Corp. in 2002. He is currently on leave of absence from the state of New Jersey, where he works as an investigator in the Weights & Measures Division .
He served as senior vice commander in-chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars fromAug. 31, 2006. One year later, Lisicki was elected as the national commander-inchief at the VFW’s 108th National Convention in Kansas City, Mo.
He is a member of the Military Order of the Cootie, American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America, Catholic War Veterans, 4th Infantry Association, and 2nd Battalion 35th Infantry Association.
He also serves as the chairman for the Carteret Veterans Alliance.
He was invited to North Brunswick by the town’s Abilities Council, September 11 Committee and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
“We make sure [veterans] are taken care of when they come home and their time is up serving our country,” Lisicki said.