People of the Year

1. Councilman J. Brooke Hern made waves around the borough this year, defeating former Mayor Al Morgan in the June Republican primary by less than 50 votes and , a lifelong Republican who ran as an Independent, by a nearly 2-to-1 margin. This was almost the same losing margin to the  In his campaign, Hern pledged to honor the wishes of borough citizens with regards to the park, but would take steps to improve the park if the referendum was voted down. Mayor-elect Hern will take office on Monday, Jan. 3 at the borough's reorganization meeting.

2. Frank Bottone shocked borough residents in early fall when he announced his plans  as Head Football Coach of the New Providence Pioneers after 48 years. As the only coach New Providence has ever known, Bottone is highly respected and admired by fans and players, and has inspired many throughout his nearly five decade run as coach. Bottone has a final record of more than 330 wins, 15 conference championships and now eight state titles after leading his Pioneers to game at the New Meadowlands Stadium. Players dating back to Bottone's first season in the early 1960s  began and the following night at a . Bottone plans on staying around the borough and coming out to see his Pioneers perform at Lieder Field next fall.

3. Robert L. Munoz made his first run for borough councilman this November, incumbent Councilman Michael M. Gennaro, with 2,552 votes — the most votes earned by anyone in the election. Munoz will be sworn into office on Monday, Jan. 3 at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers before the borough council's reorganization meeting.

4. was a key player on the New Providence Football Team this season, especially with the ability to play running back, wide receiver or quarterback. The team depended on Fuschetto to bring them to victory in each playoff game and performed well in the , where the Pioneers defeated the Lincoln Lions, 21-8. 

5. Ann Lowe, a New Providence resident, On Thursday each month, a group of women from the community meet at Ann's house to make quilts for cancer patients. She founded her charity, Jinny's Rainbow Comfort Quilts, in memory of her mother who died of cancer. Her group delivered 108 quilts in November to Overlook Hospital Carol G. Simon Cancer Center as a way to comfort patients during the long hours of treatment. As the President of the New Providence Education Foundation, Ann helped the Foundation raise nearly $55,000 to fund grants within the school district.