By Amy Batista, Special Writer
EAST WINDSOR — The Township Council challenged Hightstown Borough Tuesday night to raise money for the upcoming Better Beginnings Mayors’ “Shining Star” Gala.
“We on the East Windsor Township Council are going to issue a challenge to our partners and friends in the Borough of Hightstown on the governing body,” said Mayor Janice Mironov.
Each council member came up front and presented their checks to Better Beginnings Executive Director Luz Horta to purchase their $75 tickets and show support for the event.
“Thank you so much,” said Ms. Horta. “This is our annual event. Every year we have this gala, which also gives us the opportunity to recognize individuals within our community who give not just only to Better Beginnings but for the betterment of families and children but throughout our East Windsor, Hightstown, and Mercer County.”
Mayor Mironov said that the governing body will “have a100 percent participation by our members.”
“Tonight we are issuing a challenge to the Hightstown Borough mayor and council to equal our partticipation,” she said. This year’s Lifetime Achiever recipients are Joan A. Gordon and Edward M. Kelley; Organization Award RecipiEnt, Hightstown Elks Lodge 1955; Business Award, The Americana Diner; and Youth Award, Youth Disciples Group of the First Presbyterian Church of Hightstown.
“The event is to honor the Shining Stars and to raise money for Better Beginnings which is a great facility within our community,” Mayor Mironov said. “So as mayors we have the honor to co-chair the event, myself and the mayor of Hightstown.”
This year the organization used the theme “Raise Me Up,” Ms. Horta said.
“The whole idea about raise me up is that children are raised but there is just more to that,” she said. “All of us are responsible for how our children grow up as adults, we all contribute. We all raise them up. We are always raising our children so hopefully they grow up to be the kind of adults that will make this a better world not just for us but for the future.”
She said it’s a non-profit organization that has been around since 1967.
“Our primary service is to provide early learning and affordable childcare to working parents so that they can be self-supporting,” she said.
Better Beginnings’ annual fundraiser will be held on May 2 at the East Windsor Holiday Inn. The reception begins at 5 p.m. followed by dinner at 6 p.m.
The evening’s hosts are East Windsor Mayor Janice Mironov, Hightstown Borough Mayor Lawrence Quattrone.
Entertainment will be provided by Master of Ceremonies Dick Cunningham and DJ Lebron and a special guest appearance by American Mezzo-Soprano Danielle Horta.
Better Beginnings (BBCDC) is also celebrating its 48th year of service, a longevity that can be credited to the support it has received throughout the years from the community and governing bodies.
According to the organization, BBCDC is a State-licensed, early learning community based childcare center accredited by the National Association by the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) since 2006.
BBCDC adheres to the State of New Jersey’s childcare licensing and registration standards as defined in the New Jersey Manual of Requirement for Child Care Centers.
Its licensed capacity is for 99 (children, ages 2 ½ through 13).
Currently the preschool program has a total enrollment of 57 children, divided into three multi-age classrooms ranging in ages from 2 ½ through 5.
The preschool program is a full-time, six to 10 hour program, open all year from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.
BBCDC is located in the educational wing of the First Presbyterian Church of Hightstown at 318 North Main Street, according to a press release.
For more information about Better Beginnings or event, please contact Mercedes Col?n-Vargas at 609-448-6226 or you email better
[email protected] or [email protected]. Visit them at Facebook or online at www.betterbeginnings.net.
