By Amy Batista, Special Writer
EAST WINDSOR – The Township Council recognized the East Windsor Regional School District Hightstown High School After Prom Committee in honor of April being proclaimed Alcohol Awareness Month during its meeting on April 19.
“Traditionally we have recognized one of the groups in town that is very important in underscoring the importance of alcohol awareness,” said Mayor Janice Mironov.
A proclamation was presented to the Denise Dicomo and Ulrica Infosino, co-chairs of the HHS After Prom committee, by Mayor Mironov and Deputy Mayor Peter Yeager who is the coordinator of the Municipal Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Abuse, for their “outstanding work.”
“April is Alcohol Awareness Month and I think as everyone knows and much too tragically we read often in the newspapers incidents where young people have abused alcohol and as a result have caused injuries to themselves and others,” said the mayor.
Mayor Mironov said that it’s important as a community and as a local government that the township focus on the issue with partners in the community who are interested in and passionate about preventing and discouraging underage drinking and abuse of alcohol.
“We are fortunate that we have a number of groups and individuals who are particularly interested,” said Mayor Mironov. “But we’ve made it a point because the group in our community that has focused every year on this – particularly on young people – and help them learn appropriate values and habits, is our After Prom Committee.”
The committee has hosted the after-prom event for many years.
“The idea is to provide a safe, alcohol-free environment for our high school students on their important prom night,” said the mayor. “It’s a way to ensure that they have a lot of fun with other students, but do so in a way that really kicks off their future endeavors appropriately.”
Mayor Mironov said that the committee has had a successful track record of hosting the event, helping ensure that there have been no incidents on prom nights.
“We are very grateful to them because it really makes all of us able to sleep more safely and feel better about the health of our community,” she said.
Mayor Mironov, on behalf of the Municipal Municipal Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Abuse, also presented the After Prom Committee with a $1,000 check, which was part of grant money the township has set aside to support different groups and different programs in the community.
Deputy Mayor Yeager also thanked the committee.
“I had the honor of volunteering last year,” he said, adding that he did something that he hasn’t done in a really long time and that was seeing the sunrise.
He said it’s a very long night for the volunteers but it’s a fun night for the volunteers and the students. “It’s great event and I look forward to seeing you again,” he said.
Ms. Dicomo said the committee provides the students with a night of fun and entertainment.
“We have a gym full of jumpies which you know you never out grow,” she said. “We have music. We have tons of food. We have a whole casino area they can play casino games. They win prizes. We end the night with a hypnotist.”
Approximately 300 students generally attend the event. It costs approximately $75 per student to attend, according to the East Windsor Regional School District website.
Ms. Dicomo said this would be the 29th year for the event. It is scheduled for June 10, according to the school website.
Donations are accepted and checks should be made payable to: Hightstown High School Parents’ Association – with ‘After Prom’ in the memo field. Mail contributions to: Hightstown High School Parents’ Association, 25 Leshin Lane, Hightstown, N.J., 08520. For more information on the After Prom, email [email protected].
