By Andrew Martins, Managing Editor
The volunteer efforts of more than 20 Hillsborough residents were recently recognized for their contributions to the community as part of National Volunteer Month., During the April 25 township committee meeting, the governing body took time to commemorate the ways that some spent their time bringing “imaginative ways to engage” in their town., “We thank all of our residents who volunteer their time and talents for the community,” Mayor Carl Suraci said during the meeting., First established by President Richard Nixon in 1974, April was designated as National Volunteer Month in order to entice people into a life of volunteerism, Throughout the month, a number of service projects were conducted throughout Hillsborough by various volunteer groups., Suraci said the effort was a way to show how “an entire community can inspire, equip and mobilize people to take actions that change the world.”, According to the New Jersey Governor’s Office of Volunteerism, the state currently has 1.5 million volunteers working more than 170 million hours of service each year., This year, the township’s honorees worked with a number of local organizations, including Project Graduation, the HHS Home and Student Forum, HHS booster clubs and the Hillsborough Township Junior Raiders., The following individuals received an official commendation and copy of the township’s proclamation on April 25: Amy Brandwein, of the Hillsborough High School Hockey Booster Club; Bob Lawton, of the Hillsborough Junior Raiders; Brenda Barron, of the Hillsborough Inside Track Association; Crissy Cace, of St. Joseph Church; Erica Lenzo, of the Girl Scouts of Hillsborough; Fred Kinzler, of the Home and School Associations; Gary Verhoorn, of Resolution Run; Georgieanna Spiers-Bachman, of the Hillsborough Girls Scouts Service Unit 72; Greg Kane, of the Flagtown Firehouse; Jason Smith, of the Backpacking for Others Program; Marc Shein, of the Hillsborough Inside Track Association; Mary Riccardi, of the Hillsborough Junior Raiders; Maureen Uniszkiewicz, of the Hillsborough Inside Track Association; Nick Patullo, of the Flagtown Firehouse, Susan Lintner, of Duke Farms; and Susan Spagnola, of Duke Farms., Donna Hands, Jay Spagnuolo, Linda Mackie, Robin Kimmelman and Wendy Holt were also recognized during the meeting, but were not in attendance to accept., In related news, Edward “Eddie” Wasser was also recognized by the township committee for his nearly 30 years of service in the building department., According to Suraci, Wasser began his career in Hillsborough back in June 1989 when he signed on as a building inspector. Through his “teamwork, dedication and superior work ethic,” the mayor said Wasser was able to move up to the position of assistant building subcode official., Wasser has recently been battling illness, which his family members said has sidelined him and caused him to spend frequent time in the hospital., Throughout his 28 years of service, Suraci said Wasser became well known for his willingness to work with residents and their applications., “In fact, one resident wrote that Eddie helped them for five hours to understand the process and submit a complete application,” the mayor said., Over the years, Wasser became a member of the Central Jersey Code Officials Association and the New Jersey Building Officials Association, where he served on multiple subcommittees.
