By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
TRENTON — The city honored its best and brightest, bravest and finest Saturday, Jan. 21 at the 42nd annual City Awards Banquet, hosted by the Trenton Civic Commission.
The dinner event at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 4574 W. Jefferson Ave., paid tribute to citizens and businesses for leadership and achievements made in the past year. A host of awards are given to Trentonites young and old, police and fire professionals and business neighbors.
Saluting the city’s first responders, Police Chief Jim Nardone presented the Police Officer of the Year award to Stephen Lyons; Fire Chief Bruce Vick honored Jeff Evans as Firefighter of the Year. Tom Brewer was given the Municipal Employee of the Year award.
Individuals given City Awards by the Civic Commission were nominated in a variety of categories honoring city and civic involvement. The Good Neighbor award went to Thelma Fuch and Ted Hageman; Senior of the Year honors recognized Norb Wegienka and John Bostek; The “Charlie Brown” award (for community spirit) went to Tony Ciarlo; Christine Howe was named Outstanding Woman; Andrew Lindsay received the Outstanding Young Man award; and Kathy Kane received the Trentonite of the Year honor.
Civic honors included the Trenton Business Association’s Member of the Year award, given to Rick Williams of in-home care providers Comfort Keepers; the Community Service award went to DTE manager Brian Kincaid; Bill Jasman took home the Rotarian of the Year award; Katrina Scheffer and Nicholas Vasquez were honored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars with the Voice of Democracy award; and the Andy Mason Award went to Drs. Michael Shapiro and Marvin Sonne.
Proceeds from the awards dinner went to the Trenton Food Pantry.
(James Mitchell can be reached at [email protected].)