Good deeds proclaimed in North Brunswick
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer

NORTH BRUNSWICK - To cap off a year in which volunteers and community residents were honored, several awards were presented during the year-end Township Council meetings.

On Dec. 3, John and Nelsa Carroll received the Grandparents of theYear award. They have been married for 61 years and have three children, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.Alastingmemory is driving a station wagon out to California for a large family reunion. John has worked at the Van Liew Cemetery formore than 60 years while Nelsa chose to be a stay-athome mother. They were described as "silent pillars of the community" and "the thread that holds the family together."

Richard Fabian and Debbie Druker were presentedwith awards for beingYouth Advocates. Fabian is amember of the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee, the Youth Sports Festival and the Adams Athletic Club. The lifelong resident taught Sunday school and revitalized the girls softball programin town.He is the vice president of special events for the North Brunswick Baseball & Softball Association and is responsible for fundraising. The proclamation also said he is well known for the sausage and pepper sandwiches he sells at the Snack Shack on the weekends. Also a former volunteer football coach at Linwood Middle School and a softball umpire for 10 years, Fabian said, "I really didn't get into volunteering for any rewards or recognition. I did it to give back what was given tome in PopWarner and Little League."

Druker, who has lived in town for 15 years, is the director of the Girl Scouts. She worked with the Parks Department to create and construct the town's first butterfly garden at the Community Park on Route 130, and she initiated the construction of the township's menorah. She has been a kindergarten teacher at Parsons Elementary School for nine years and volunteers her time tutoring underprivileged children. She is a member of the Municipal Alliance Committee and the Lawrence Brook Watershed Partnership.

"It is an absolute honor to teach your children in our district," she said, "to give them extra help to succeed in life."

Meghan Olmstead and Bryan Gaeta were recognized as YoungAdult PeerAdvocates. Olmstead is a senior at the high school with a 4.2 grade-point average. She is taking a Senior Leadership class and is part of theNationalHonor Society as a high honor roll student. She was named the history departments'Student of theMonth and received a physical education award as a sophomore. She participates in the Sisters on the Right Path club, the Key Club and the Student Government Organization. Overcoming life-threatening health issues, she proceeded to play soccer, basketball and lacrosse and was recruited by the University of California at Davis on a lacrosse scholarship, having being named All-Area for two seasons andAll-County last season. She volunteers with the Buddy Ball basketball program and at the high school nurses' office and is a CCD aide and altar server at Our Lady of Peace Church. She is lifeguard-certified and will volunteer at Saint Peter's University Hospital in New Brunswick this summer.

She thanked her middle school soccer coach, who said, "Can't was not in my vocabulary."

Gaeta, a sophomore at the high school, is a high honor roll student, CCD aide at Our Lady of Peace Church, and amember of the township 2030 Committee, the Health Careers Club at the high school and the Youth Council. He also plays baseball at the high school and was the captain his freshman year.

TheGoodNeighborAwardwas then presented to Marilyn O'Laughlin. The reading of her award said she is patient and kind, and greets her neighbors with a positive smile and disposition. She hosts informal gatherings and exhibits sincerity, strength of character, unconditional concern and dignity. With seven children and 11 grandchildren, she has a knack for helping others with daily challenges. She has a "love thy neighbor" approach to life and with her big heart, constantly does good deeds for others.

"I have fabulous neighbors, I love them all," she said.

In addition, Robert Bongiovi was recognized for his donation to the township. The 26-year employee won a raffle in April at the dedication of the Community Park from Zangara Wealth Management of Wachovia Securities, but decided to give the money back instead of keeping it for himself. The $200went toward switching eight exit signs at themunicipal building to LEDsigns, saving 300 watts per unit per day of electricity.

In November, the Celebrate North Brunswick Committee recognized the Environmental Commission and the Juvenile Conference Committee for their volunteer work in town.

The Environmental Commission began in the early 1970s as a committee and gained commission status five years ago. The seven members act as an advisory group to the Planning Board, and review building applications for their impact to the surrounding land. They work closely with the Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Services on environmental issues, and provide information to the community during block parties and the annual Heritage Day celebration. They also completed an environmental resource inventory that was included as part of the township master plan.

The Juvenile Conference Committee is the community-based armof the Family Division of the Superior Court. The panel receives specific training and recommends how to rehabilitate juvenile offenders who committed first- or second-degree minor offenses such as shoplifting, theft, simple assault, criminal mischief or receiving stolen property.

To nominate a volunteer organization for the CelebrateNorth Brunswick award, contact Lou Ann Benson at LBenson@northbrunswickonline. com or at (732) 247-0922, ext. 475.