Mayor Honors Achievement and Awareness

The Township Council meeting Tuesday night started with a presentation by Mayor James Barberio that shone a spotlight on efforts and achievements by area residents.

The first order of business was recognizing the cheerleaders for the local youth sports group . On March 25, the cheer squad participated in the 2012 Maoi Madness Cheer Competition at Temple University's Liacouras Center in Philadelphia. The girls ended up winning first place in the age 14 and under division. The mayor presented the young women with certificates to recognize their success and to thank them for their spirit.

"You young ladies really bring the pride to Parsippany," he said.

Next, Barberio presented a proclamation to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer's Race for the Cure to raise awareness for its Northern Jersey event on Sunday, May 6. The event takes place at the Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex. 

Councilman Vincent Ferrara gave Komen representatives Mary Ann Mobley and Cheri Ambrose a commendation from the Town Council to thank the organization for its lifesaving work. Ferrara said that as a cancer survivor, he is particularly grateful for organizations that work to find a cure for the deadly disease.

The final presentation was given to mark that April is National Organ Donor Month. Mayor Barberio read a proclamation giving the month a similar designation in Parsippany. He showed off the life-giving results of organ donation by introducing residents Robert Keller and Lou Vermont, who are going strong years after having kidney transplants, and octogenarian Nick Cerbo, who is more than a decade past heart transplant surgery and still active and involved.

Also acknowledged was former mayor Frank B. Priore, who had a heart transplant five years ago, but did not attend the council meeting.