North Brunswick honored United States Navy veteran Juan A. Rendon by dedicating Edlys Lane and Miriam Drive as Rendon Way on Monday, June 3.

Juan was born on August 1, 1970 in Medellin, Columbia.

Juan was a graduate of Aviation School in the Queens in 1988 where he went directly into training in Great Lakes Center Chicago. Juan was a Navy ABH3 who was assigned to the USS Tripoli LPH 10 during Desert Storm/ Operation Freedom. Their role for the ship was to clear a lane in the Persian Gulf for the amphibious assault into Kuwait. Juan’s primary role was landing signaling Petty Officer of helicopters landing on the ship. Juan served from 1988 to 1991.

Juan received the National Defense Service Award, Battle E Ribbon, Combat Action Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, South West Asia Service Medal.

Juan was honorably discharged and began his career in telecommunications with Nortel and where he is employed for the last thirty years under the company name now called C1 as a project manager handling local resources for locals 1109 and 1bew 164 in NJ.

Juan is a proud homeowner in North Brunswick for the last twenty years and have made countless friendships and love and work here in town. Juan loves his family and is a proud American and a great friend, husband, son and neighbor.  He is married to his wife, Anabela who also works in North Brunswick at OneMain Financial. Juan is a proud “girl dad”!  Juan has two daughters, the youngest Isabela who is a student at Middlesex County College and his oldest daughter Kelly who is a project manager for Teledoc. Juan recently married off his oldest daughter, Kelly and is now is proud to say he has a son in law Michael.

Juan enjoys all sports, but is especially a huge fan of the NY Yankees. He was involved in our community by coaching his youngest daughter Isabela in North Brunswick Softball for many years. We are parishioners of Our Lady of Peace Church. Juan enjoys golf on almost all of his free time and stays fit by going to the gym almost daily.

We thank and honor Juan A. Rendon for his service to our country and community!

North Brunswick honored United States Air Force veteran Richard Rico Samaroo by dedicating Farrington Boulevard and Kearney Drive as Samaroo Way on Monday, June 3.

Ricowas born in Guyana, South America.In 2009, the Samaroo family moved to North Brunswick where Ricostarted the 2^nd grade.

Ricoin September 2017 went to Lackland Air Force Base to start Basic MilitaryTraining, he graduated with honor, one of the honors included shooting exercises. Upon completing training, he went to Sheppard Air Force Base for technical Training. Rico shared three and a half years in the Air Force. He worked as an electrical power production journeyman in 3 locations, Germany, Poland and Korea. Rico served in 2 squadrons during his time the 786 Civil Engineer Squadrons Ramstein AF BASE Germany and 51^st Civil Engineer Squadron Osan AF Base South Korea. Rico was a mentor to many of his fellow Airman while in Germany and South Korea.

Ricowas the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War onTerror Medal, the M – 16 Expert Qualifying Medal, the Air Force Training Ribbon, Korean Defense Medal and upon his death was awarded the Airforce Achievement Medal.

Rico is remembered as a smart, caring, goofy guy and was good at his job, He was willing to assist whenever anyone needed his help. Rico is remembered for love of life, family, friends and service to his country. His infectious smile will be missed forever by all. 

We thank and honor Richard Rico Samaroo for his service to our country and community!

The Boost is at the 45th Annual Memorial Day 5K Run/Walk at Community Park with special guest Councilman Carlo Socio.

The upcoming Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer. That means heading to the beach and the opening of pools. CarrieAnn Egan-Ragavas and North Brunswick Police Detective Adrian Ailey joins Councilwoman Amanda Guadagnino on The Boost to provide important water safety tips.

At the May 20 Township Council Meeting, two winning banners from the Municipal Alliance Leadership/Mentorship Conference were unveiled, awards were presented for Mayor Womack’s Wellness Challenge and a proclamation was read designating May as ALS Awareness Month.

The banner designs were created at the Annual Women’s and Men’s Mentorship/ Leadership Conference Series, which included 8th grade North Brunswick Township Middle School and 11th grade North Brunswick Township High School students.

Congratulations to students Yaralis Reid, Naomi Dande, Anastasia Kalogridis and Teniolawa Obakeye.

The Mayor’s Wellness Challenge winners are: Steven Bloyed (1st place), Dominic Moccio (2nd place), Ro Tucker (3rd place), Joanne DeLuca (Honorable Mention), Chris Henning (Honorable Mention) and Laura Pelszynski (Honorable Mention).

The challenge was conducted from February 26 – April 15 with participants tracking their steps.

North Brunswick honored United States Army veteran Douglas M. Baileyby dedicating Glenridge Avenue and Edgewood Place as Bailey Way on Monday, May 13.

Douglas was born on July 16, 1950 and graduated from New Brunswick High School in June 1968. He joined the United States Army in November 1968. He trained at Fort Dix, New Jersey and Fort Knox, Kentucky in the armored division.

Douglas served in Vietnam with Troop C, 2nd Squadron, 1st Armored Calvary Division from June 1, 1969 to May 31, 1970. He was an Observer/Gunner on the armored tanks and worked closely with the driver to coordinate and maintain safety. Douglas completed numerous combat operations and earned many citations and commendations for his service. He received the Purple Heart for wounds he received in action on June 17, 1969. He also received the Army Commendation Medal with “V” Device for his heroism of mortar and ground attack at the Battle of Song Mao with the US 2nd Squadron 1st Calvary Regimen Blackhawks for continually exposing himself to fire in an effort to hold off the enemy, moving from bunker to bunker, guaranteeing the safety of others.

Douglas joined the Steamfitters and Pipefitters Local Union #9 upon returning from service to our country. He was a journeyman in the industry for 50 years until his retirement, making life- long friends along the way. Douglas truly enjoyed a life of service. He was a giving man who loved helping others, making life a happier place for everyone. He was a communicant of St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church where he served lunch to residents, he loved to cook, sing and listen to country music and the oldies. His hobbies include camping, fishing and boating in Lake George, New York.

Douglas greatest love was his family. Douglas passed away on May 10, 2022 and is survived by his sister, Susan and her husband, Dr. Thomas Schwartzer, his niece Mary and her husband Donald, their daughter Emma, his nephew Andrew and his wife Stephanie and their son Evan.  

We thank and honor Douglas M. Bailey for his service to our country and community!

North Brunswick honored United States Army veteran Edward J. Gresh, Sr.  by dedicating Tremont Avenue and Prospect Avenue as Gresh Way on Monday, May 13.

Edward was born in Orient, PA Austrian immigrants, father John and mother Anna on March 10, 1921. Edward was the youngest of seven children.

Edward was a member of the National Guard and enlisted in March of 1939, a day before his eighteenth served in the U. S. Army, Sergeant, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 114th Infantry. Edward was an excellent marksman. He entered a Battalion Shooting Contest and was awarded best shooter and won a Winchester 22 bolt action rifle, that was the first firearm his only son learned on that he still owns to this day.

Edward’ s unit was federally activated when Pearl Harbor was bombed in 1941. His infantry was sent to Fort Louis in Seattle, Washington to protect the west coast from invasion. While stationed in Washington, Edward’ s unit occupied a sandy beach in the wooded area. He was awarded a medical discharge. Once discharged he returned home, his unit was sent to Germany in the Battle of the Bulge, and most of the men never came home.

Edward married Ann in June of 1944 and they lived happily married for sixty- three years before Edward passed in March of 2007; his wife died years later in March of 2015. Edward was an active member of his Roman Catholic community; Knights of Columbus, St. Peters in New Brunswick, Parish Council, Trustee and Usher, Our Lady of Lourdes in Milltown, and Past President of the Milltown Lions Club.

Pop and Nan built quite a family legacy; Edward Jr. and daughter- in- law Eva, Joan and Donna, eight grandchildren and currently twenty- three great- grandchildren. Pop truly believes that God stepped in for them that fateful day he was discharged honorably, he very well could have been one of those men that never came home.

We thank and honor Edward J. Gresh, Sr.  for his service to our country and community!

North Brunswick honored United States Army veteran Francisco Cortes by dedicating Old Georges Road and Adams Lane as Cortes Way on Monday, May 6.

Francisco served in the U.S. Army form 1996 -1999. He was the foreman corporal in the second and the eleventh Armored Cavalry Regiments nicknamed Black Horse.

Francisco served at the elite Ft. Irwin. In 1951, the post became the home of the United States Army Armor and Desert Training Center and was designated Fort Irwin in 1961. In 1981, the installation was re- designated as the National Training Center (NTC) and since then, its development as the premier training site of the U.S. Army has been non- stop. From 1999 – 2003 Cortes enlisted in the National Guard.

Mr. Cortes is currently a Disabled Veteran for injuries sustained while on a Tank Mission at Ft. Irwin, California. He continues to give back a great deal to the veterans across the United States, particularly in New Jersey. He began as the Co – Founder of the NJ STATE VETERANS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, which serves the Veterans business community across the state and has grown to one of the largest chambers of commerce in the State. He is now the CEO and President of the Setroc Group.

Francisco has a loving family, married to his wife Claribel, a former North Brunswick Board of Education member and a North Brunswick Township Council member who is now the Middlesex County surrogate and their son and daughter.

We thank and honor Francisco Cortes for his service to our country and community!

At the May 6 Township Council meeting, North Brunswick Township High School junior Samantha Guadagnino, St. Joseph High School freshman Joseph Guadagnino and St. Thomas Aquinas High School freshman Gianna Socio were honored as Scholar/Athlete/Artist award recipients.

Samantha is enrolled in Honors and Advance Placement classes. She has been inducted into the National Honor Society and National Italian Honors. Samantha attended Judd Elementary School, Linwood and the New Middle School where she was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society, as well as being the first Vice President of the first graduating class. She also was a student athlete who played Soccer and Lacrosse.

She has been a participant at the Municipal Alliance Leadership Conference in 2023.  Samantha is on the Student Government Executive Board and is a leader in PUSH (Prevention Using Student Help).

Joseph attended Judd Elementary, Linwood and the North Brunswick Township Middle School. He was inducted into the National Honor Society at the North Brunswick Township Middle School. Joseph is currently part of the Honor’s Program at Saint Joe’s and is enrolled in all honors and Advanced Placement classes. He has earned a GPA of 4.8.

He was the captain of the Saint Joe’s Freshman Soccer Team and earned a varsity letter with the swim team. He was honored to receive the All GMC Division and All GMC County award for his High School Swim Team.

Gianna has attended Judd Elementary, Linwood and North Brunswick Middle School from Kindergarten through eighth grade. In 2022, as a seventh grader, Gianna was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society and held the office of President during her eighth grade year. While at North Brunswick Middle School, Gianna was a member of the Aubrey Pappas Club earning a scholarship during her eighth grade. She also attended the North Brunswick Municipal Alliance Leadership Conference in February of 2022.

Congratulations to Samantha, Joseph and Gianna!