Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh acknowledged five residents during his State of the Township speech: Marvin Gardner, Patrick Boyle, Andy Lupo, Bob Lowe, and 12-year-old Jake Fine.
Gardner, the chairman of the Planning Board since 2002, has “been involved with many development milestones in West Windsor’s history,” said Hsueh. Under his leadership, the board has adopted planning initiatives, including a Housing Element and Fair Share Plan and revisions to the circulation plan element, focusing on bicycle and pedestrian design. He also “held successful hearings on the redevelopment study and the resulting redevelopment plan.”
Boyle served eight years as the treasurer for Pop Warner Football and several years as the director of facilities for Pop Warner and is currently the treasurer with the Babe Ruth League. “Pat has been involved with several major capital projects at Community Park, including the construction of the football/lacrosse game field in 2003; construction of the football/lacrosse practice fields, including lights in 2008; and improvements to the Babe Ruth field in 2009,” said Hsueh. “Pat is also a volunteer to the West Windsor Parking Authority.”
Lupo, chairman of the West Windsor Parking Authority, was also recognized for being a youth sports leader. A member of the West Windsor Little League for 17 years and its president for 12, he will be stepping down this season. Under his leadership, the Little League improved its facilities, hosted several District tournaments, and in conjunction with the township, built an indoor batting facility in Community Park in 2002. He also spear-headed the “Sports Group Alliance” to help improve playing conditions of the sports fields in the township.
Lowe, a retired banker who became involved with the senior center by starting an Investment Discussion Group, has “worked diligently to reinvigorate the nonprofit Friends of West Windsor Senior Citizens, which raised $70,000 for program enhancements like computers and audio-visual equipment,” Hsueh said. For the past three years, Lowe has chaired the Senior Center Advisory Council.
Fine, a seventh grader at Community Middle, co-founded a youth-run fundraising campaign that has collected more than $60,000 to find a cure for juvenile diabetes, a disease from which he suffers. He also created a buddy program for recently diagnosed diabetes patients. He was named one of the top youth volunteers in New Jersey for 2010 in the 15th annual Prudential Spirit of Community awards.
