Longtime Realtor Will Ne Honored at Care to Walk Ronald
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Running with pride, 9 | Focus on Seniors, 13 | Circle of Life, 21 THURSDAY, OCT. 15, 2015 Sentinel gm new s.com North Brunswick • South Brunswick Longtime realtor will ne honored at Care to Walk his year’s Care to Walk event will be dedicated in the memory of Gloria TZastko. As a business owner and lifetime local resident of North Brunswick, Zastko had al ways been an active member and generous supporter of the community - and an avid supporter of the annual 5K in honor of can cer survivors and those who have lost their lives - before passing away in April at age 83. This year’s ceremony and 5K will be held on Oct . 25 at North Brunswick Town ship High School. Registration begins at 8 a.m., followed by the event at 9 a.m. Besides most notably establishing Gloria Zastko, Realtors in North Brunswick, she was also a pioneer of women’s leadership roles in business. In the early 1960s. she was instrumental in the formation of the North Brunswick Woman’s Club and served as its"second president. She earned the na tionwide Shell Oil Company Education Award. She also served on the Middlesex chapter of the American Cancer Society. Zastko volunteered for many other or ganizations such as the Catholic Lay Board and the Sacred Heart PTA, which allowed her to orchestrate an after school program for 7th and 8th graders. In the early 1970s, the grandmother of five had embarked on a career in real estate and was honored by the Gallery of Homes for being the top agent in the country. In 1991, she and her son Andrew estab lished Gloria Zastko. Realtors. in 2002, she received the Ann Marie Chandlee Heritage Award, which is be stowed each year to a township resident PHOTO COURTESY OF RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE who has been dedicated to improving the Ronald McDonald shares a smile and some fun with children at a Ronald McDonald House, which provides “home away from home” for quality of life in North Brunswick as a vol families facing a child’s medical challenges. unteer with a non-profit group or civic or ganization for an extended period of time. In October 2004, she served as one of Ronald McDonald House provides the comforts of home the chairpersons of the 225th Gala Celebra tion of North Brunswick. That same year, she was honored by North Brunswick as By CHRISTINE BARCIA must make arrangements for accommoda muscular issues that require ongoing reha Person of the Year. Staff Writer tions near that facility. bilitation,” said Lynne Siedentop, opera In June 2009, Zastko was inducted into he hardships of family life — Such arrangements can be costly, and tions director for the Long Branch and New the New Brunswick High School Hall of whether great or small — are usually that is where Ronald McDonald House Brunswick Ronald McDonald Houses. Distinguished Alumni, and in June of 2011, Tironed out at the end of the day at steps in to help. The Long Branch house, founded in she was honored as the Middlesex County home, a place of support and comfort. Providing a “home away from home” for 1987, features eight themed bedrooms with Citizen of the Year Award in the category of For families with a child going through families with seriously ill children while private baths and phones with voicemail; a Business by the Middlesex County Com a medical challenge, many difficulties can they receive care at a nearby medical facil full kitchen with two of each appliance, a mission on the Status of Women. not readily be resolved. Finding the best ity, Ronald McDonald House has two loca well-stocked pantry and a food storage area Annually, Zastko and her agency do treatment for one’s child, regardless of lo tions in central New Jersey: one in Long for each family; laundry facilities with sup nated holiday gifts to the Women Aware cation, is of utmost importance. Branch and one in New Brunswick. plies; hygiene items, linens and towels; a shelter and Thanksgiving dinners to local If the best medical facility for a specific “Families come with a wide variety of food banks. (Continued on page 6) illness is located far from home, a family problems — preemies, childhood cancers, (C o n tin u e d o n p a g e 12) 2 SENTINEL NS GREATER MEDIA NEWSPAPERS • www.gmnews.com October 15, 2015 ^election oj j < OOer 1 0 , 0 0 0 VOTED BEST GARDEN CENTER IN NEW JERSEY w r The W t* ■eg Hr.iY | rN 95.9WRATji A Jt'- A ** f X rY**[ s flrfj ik Van-Pire Oct. 18th 11am-lpm I (O K IjX y / h H in Freehold InST Stop by for a chance to pick up tickets i- ^ l to the WRAT ^ Halloween Party! A * KIDS - Come in your costume and get a Goody U Bag! x rMW R m m vims BROCK FARMS — HOME & GARDEN WORLD — RT. 34 FREEHOLD ^ CO LTS NECK 732-462-2700 Valid thru 10/20/15 732-462-0900 1 MILE NORTH OF RACEWAY MALL 1/4 MILE NO. OF RT. 537 INTERSECTION HOME 4 GARDEN vtvw* brockfartns.com 1 J < Wt m o w til mtjor credit u nltl S H fW P L A C E at both locations. Not responsible for typographical errors, October 15, 2015 GREATER MEDIA NEWSPAPERS • www.gmnews.com NS SENTINEL 3 PHOTOS BY FRANK WOJCIECHOWSKI Elizabeth Pantoleon (left to right), Diosaira Olivo and Maria Naranjo are about to take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States during a naturalization ceremony held by the U.S. Immigration Service at Middlesex County College Oct. 1. Newest citizens achieve 'very, very great dream' By KAYLA J. MARSH The Oath of Allegiance was administered by Randi Staff Writer C. Borgen, Newark field office director of the U.S. Cit Meng-Fong Lee of Taiwan smiles for the camera after he was sworn in as a U.S. citizen. urrounded by friends and family, 46 Middlesex County izenship and Immigration Services, and was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Dennis Anthony residents took the Oath of Allegiance to become the In the Philippines, Geva said she held a degree in nurs newest citizens of the United States of America. Penny Jr., a Middlesex County College graduate and U.S. S Navy veteran. ing, but did not practice for a number of reasons. “It means a lot, you know, being an American citizen “You have many things in common ... and you have a “There we study hard but the salary is just cheap ... so now,” Amilier A Wildman, originally from Granada, said. lot that is not in common, but today you stand as one to be that is why I feel so very blessed and fortunate to have this “You have the ability to do a lot as an American ... and I am come citizens of the greatest country civilization has ever opportunity to come here and 1 am just very, very happy,” just really happy and have been waiting for this day for a seen,” Thompson said. she said. “There is a lot of joy in my heart and 1 will not long time.” Following the Pledge of Allegiance, a congratulatory forget this entire day or this opportunity and this blessing The Naturalization Ceremony, held by U.S. Citizenship video message from President Barack Obama and a video from God.” and Immigration Services Oct. 2 at the Middlesex County presentation of “America the Beautiful,” participants were During the ceremony, Middlesex County College Pres College Performing Arts Center in Edison, included appli called up one by one, waving American flags to sounds of ident Joann LaPerla-Morales, also told a personal story cants for citizenship representing 16 different countries applause as they received their certificate of citizenship. about her family’s immigration to the states. from around the world, including Columbia, Costa Rica. Wildman said since she came to America, there have “To be an American means many things to many peo Dominican Republic, Egypt, Georgia, Granada, India, Jor been many steps to follow to become a citizen, including ple,” she said. “For my grandparents who came from Italy, dan, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, South Korea, Sri obtaining an employment card, getting a Green Card, offi it meant the opportunity to earn a better life for them and for Lanka, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. cially applying for and taking the official U.S. Citizenship their sons.” Those taking part in the ceremony live in local towns Test. LaPerla-Morales said while her father had to overcome such as Edison, Carteret, Fords, Perth Amboy, Monmouth “It is kind of nerve-wracking just waiting for that offi many difficulties including learning English, he continued Junction, Woodbridge, Bound Brook, South Plainfield, cial letter to come in the mail,” she said. “Everyday I was to believe that his children could have a better life and Iselin, North Brunswick, New Brunswick and East just checking the mail, constantly checking online to see if should value every opportunity that came their way. Brunswick. my letter was sent out and from that moment when 1 got “My father taught me that to be an American I should be John E. Thompson, Newark district director of the U.S. that letter I was really ecstatic about it and I am very happy proud ... and 1 should value the opportunities this country Citizenship and Immigration Services, told participants they to be here.” offers,” she said. “I am here today as president of Middle have come a long way to pledge their allegiance to the Yvonnie Geva, of who came to the states from the sex County College because I had the opportunity to attend United States.