Politics & Government

Borough Volunteers Recognized at Fishawack

Joseph Marts and Kathy Rex received lifetime achievement awards.

Twelve extradordinary borough volunteers—two of who received lifetime achievement awards—were recognized at a Fishawack Festival ceremony honoring those who have served the borough community.

"We absolutely want to encourage volunteerism," said Mayor Nelson Vaughan, who emceed the ceremony. He noted that each award recipient has gone above and beyond what's typically expected of volunteers.

Joseph Marts and Kathy Rex took home the lifetime achievement awards.

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Marts "has spent his entire adult life as an exceptionally active and enthusiastic volunteer in the Chatham Borough community and surrounding towns," according to a proclimation. He is a volunteer firefighter, has served on numerous committees and boards and was the borough's mayor from 1976 to 1979.

He didn't know he'd win the award. "This was pretty sneaky," he said.

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Rex didn't know either, but she accepted it just the same. She has worked hard for the Chatham Community Band, the Chatham Community Players and the Fishawack Festival, and has volunteered at church and at the schools her children attended.

For Fishawack, "if it needed to be done—Kathy did it," a proclamation read.

The ten others were recognized for going above and beyond with their service. Those award winners were (quotes are from official proclamations):

  • Patricia D'Ambrosio for her work on the Zoning Board of Adjustment. She spent 20 years on the board, and had "thoughtful concern for residents of Chatham in their housing needs and requirements."
  • John Grobert for his work with borough Community Television. Thanks to Grobert, the borough has been able to broadcast on Fios and Cablevision, and "is far ahead of its neighbors in our broadcasting capabilities."
  • Jen Kaplan for her work with the Public Arts Council. She began the outdoor public art program and "has accomplished several projects using no taxpayers dollars by working with the business community."
  • Joe Mikulewicz for his work on Borough Council and with the Farmer's Market Committee. He began the farmer's market program and "continues to ensure the project's success."
  • Bill Nauta for his work on various committees. He operates the camera for Borough Council meetings, has been the borough's Emergency Management coordinator and "has instituted the Citizens Emergency Response Team."
  • Matt Petitjean for his work on the Shade Tree Commission. He has worked to maintain the borough's tree population and "the Department of Public Works has come to rely on Matt's vast forestry knowledge."
  • Janet Siegel for her work on the Historic Preservation Committee. She is its former chair and has worked to ensure "that new developments in the district, including Dunkin' Donuts and Dr. Reid's office, were designed to complement Chatham's historic look and feel, rather than detract from it."
  • Paul Suszczynski for his work on the borough community garden. He is the community garden engineer, and "innovated and began the pilot program for a new land use concept, providing residents a community garden."
  • Marcy Wecker for her work on the borough community garden. She worked to create the garden and had the "tenacity to get the project going."
  • Mark White for his work on the Green Initiative Advisory Committee. He was the committee's chair and "innovated an entirely new approach to the borough's sustainability."


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