Township Council Issues Commendations, Proclamations

Mayor Chris Kelly reads the commendation for the township police officers honored for saving a Spruce Street woman from her burning home.

The Township Council at its April 28 meeting presented a handful of commendations and proclamations, recognizing heroism and anniversaries, among other things.

Township police officers Deyo Swartz, Steven Ellmyer, Brian Quigley, Walter Skrowbowski and Nicholas Gambino were honored by the council for their actions April 15 in saving a Spruce Street woman from her burning home.

Skrobowski and Swartz saved the woman, Maria Santiago, and carried her out of her burning home.

The officers “showed courage in saving that woman,” Chief of Police Lawrence Roberts said. “These officers had no regard for their own safety.”

“I know we have the best police department in New Jersey,” he said. “This is one example of what heroism is about.”

The audience gave the officers a standing ovation after their certificates were presented to them by Mayor Chris Kelly and Deputy Mayor Kimberly Francois.

Mayor Chris Kelly (R) and Township Councilmen James Vassanella (D-Ward 5) and Phil Kramer (D-Ward 3) (left to far right, foreground), hold the Sierra Leone flag after it was presented to them by members of the Shooting Star Soccer Club.

Members of the Shooting Star Soccer Club were presented with a commendation acknowledging the 54th anniversary of Sierra Leone’s independence. The group also presented Township Councilman Phil Kramer with a plaque thanking him for his efforts to educate the public during last year’s ebola crisis, and gave a Sierra Leone flag to Kramer and Township Councilman James Vassanella.

Township Councilman Rajiv Prasad (D-At Large), left talks about the upcoming celebration of Buddha’s birthday at the The New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center on Route 27.

Members of the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center on Route 27 were presented with a commendation recognizing the birthday of Buddha. The center will celebrate Buddha’s birthday from 5 to 9 p.m. on May 2 at the center.

Deputy Mayor Kimberly Francois (D-At Large), Mayor Chris Kelly ( R) and Trashaun Powell (left to right).

Township resident Trashaun Powell was on hand to receive a commendation recognizing May as Preeclampsia Awareness Month. Preeclampsia is a pregnancy condition that can lead to infant death. Powell and her husband JP have been named the 2015 Cranford-area Promise Walk for Preeclampsia Mission Family by The Preeclampsia Foundation.

Bob LaCorte of the Historic Preservation Advisory Commission accepted the council’s proclamation on National Preservation Month.

Bob LaCorte, a member of the township’s Historic Preservation Advisory Commission, accepted the council’s proclamation declaring May to be National Preservation Month. The proclamation stated that historic preservation “is relevant for communities across the nation, both urban and rural, and for Americans of all ages, all walks of life and all ethnic backgrounds.”

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