Grady, Focacci Named Citizens of the Year

Eileen Grady and John Focacci were named the township’s citizens of the year during Saturday’s Jefferson Day festivities.

Felter traditionally makes it a point to keep both the award winners’ names under wraps until the ceremony. It appeared to work well in the case of Focacci’s status.

“Twice this person asked me who I was picking, and twice I told him I hadn’t made up my mind yet,” Felter said of Focacci.

Felter commended Focacci for his work on Jefferson Day, which Focacci has chaired for the past several years.

“He’s a big part of this day,” Felter said. “Before he chaired the committee, he worked in several capacities on Jefferson Day events.”

Focacci is also on the township’s recreation advisory board.

Felter also praised Grady for her work in the township.

“If there is a charity in need of help, you can count on this person to be there,” Felter said of Grady. “She’s always there for those in need.”

Grady, a first-grade teacher at Ellen T. Briggs School in Lake Hopatcong, also helped her class in 2001 design the township pin, which is given out at all township ceremonies.

“She is known as the ‘butterfly teacher’,” Felter said of Grady. “Her classes always raise monarch butterflies.”