FR&A ‘Man Of The Year,’ Pop Warner Cheerleaders Among Those Honored By Township Council

Mayor Phillip Kramer, left, reads commendation for township Police Lt. Darrin Russo, center, while police Chief Lawrence Roberts looks on.

The Township Council started the new year by awarding commendations to a number of people and groups.

The first to receive a commendation was township Police Lt. Darrin Russo, the Franklin Reporter & Advocate “Man of the Year” for 2015. Russo was commended for being named MOY, which recognized the restraint he showed when a suspected car thief he stopped on DeMott Lane pulled a knife on him.

Russo, said Mayor Phillip Kramer, “is an example of our exemplary police force. There are a lot of uniforms in this room because they are proud of him.”

Russo said he was “lucky to be working with the best police force in the state. It really is an honor to work with such dedicated police officers.”

“There are a lot of officers who could be standing up here, and who deserve this award also,” he said. “I accept this award for all of them.”

Police Chief Lawrence Roberts said Russo “leads by example.”

“Darrin is one of those officers who exemplifies going out there and doing their job,” Roberts said.

The Franklin Township Pop Warner Midget Cheerleaders pose behind the trophies they won.

The Franklin Township Pop Warner Midget Cheerleaders were honored for the national championship they won last month in Florida. Members of the squad and their coaches were on hand to receive the commendation, and the cheerleaders gave a mini cheer at the end of the presentation.

Towanda May-Butts, the cheer director, noted that the squad has won lower-level championships for several years, but this was the first national win.

The council also commended Ayush Mukherjee for helping to raise $1,000 for the Franklin Township Food Bank. According to the commendation, the Mukherjee family needed to avail themselves of the food bank’s services, for which Ayush wanted to “express his gratitude.”

Township Councilman Rajiv Pasad reads the commendation awarded to Ayush Murkherjee, standing in front of the food bank’s Nancy LaCorte and Frank Hasner.

Ayush and his brother raised $300, which was matched by their temple, the Adyapeath USA Temple, bringing the total to $1,000.

“Let this be an example for all of us to be our brother’s keeper and help out the food bank,” said Councilman Rajiv Prasad, who sponsored the commendation.

Mukherjee thanked food bank executive director Frank Hasner and Nancy LaCorte, a food bank employee and Board of Education member, for “inspiring me to do the whole project. I wouldn’t have done anything if it wasn’t for them.”

Deputy Mayor Ted Chase reads the council commendation for former Environmental Commission chairman Arnold Vernick.

Township Councilman James Vassanella reads the commendation for St. Matthias School, withs school representatives looking on.

Also awarded commendations were Arnold Vernick, a 9-year member of the township Environmental Commission who recently retired, and St. Matthias School, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

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