Paramus "Family" Recognized During Evening of Celebration

It was a joyous occasion at the Paramus Mayor and Council meeting Tuesday night as the governing body and audience members welcomed home a returning veteran, the new borough clerk and a local artist.

"Today it is with great pride that we give to our first returning veteran his blue star banner," Mayor Richard LaBarbiera said. "Yury Rodriguez served in the Army infantry as a corporal in the striker unit, serving tours in Iraq and Afganistan. Yury is now interning here in borough hall, so he has truly returned home."

The Blue Star Banner program was created by former Councilman Alan Brundage in May 2011 to honor those Paramus men and women who are enlisted in the variance military branches.

The banner, the traditional way of honoring active members of the armed forces, is made of satin with gold fringe, a crossbar with gilt spears and gold hanging cords. Each banner is embroidered with the name of the resident and the branch they are serving in a combat zone overseas.

"The support of citizens, the letters and packages mean a lot and really matter over there," Rodriguez asid. "It pushes us when times are hard."

It's been several weeks since Annemarie Krusznis began working as the new Paramus Borough Clerk and the Belleville native was joined by her family for her official swearing in ceremony.

"This is a position that has been held by so few and I hope that Annemarie remains a part of the Paramus family for many years," LaBarbiera said. "Toni set the bar high and Annemarie has several plans for this position."

Krusznis, a 1984 Belleville High School alumn, followed in her families tradition of working in Belleville in the municipal court prior to making her way to Paramus. Her mother, Mary Lou Hood, was the longest serving borough clerk in Belleville up until her death.  Her brother Charles, is a recently retired deputy police chief who now works in the township’s IT department while another brother, Jack is a police captain.

After having his winning t-shirt design featured on the runway in Korto Momolu’s fashion show during New York Fashion Week and winning $2,500 as part of the Shop Rite Partners in Caring T-Shirt Design contest, artist Ognen Trpeski was the final resident to be honored that night.

Trpeski's design, which includes the words “Fight Hunger” at the top and simply features a fork, knife and spoon with the words “choose your weapon” was previously featured on a special edition box of Cheerios. 

"Everyone deserves a full meal out there and we can work together to limit the percentage of hungry people," Trpeski said.

He also presented LaBarbiera with the winning design t-shirt following the ceremony.

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