Magda Brown, Mike’s Auto Body, Teresa March and Steve and Andrea Kirchuk will take center stage when the Washington Business Improvement District holds it Annual Recognition Reception on Thursday Feb. 6.

The event, presented by the WBID and sponsored by Michael Yates & Company, LLC, Knoll-DeVoe Funeral Home, Fliegauf Jewelers, First Energy Corp., Swift Print Solutions, Warren County Community College, and Good Impressions Printing & Mailing, takes place at Hawk Pointe Golf Club, on Route 31, from 6-9 p.m.

Tickets for the Recognition event are $45 in advance, $55 at the door. Evening includes buffet dinner and live entertainment with the jazz band, Loose Measures.  Advance tickets may be purchased online at www.washingtonbid.org, or directly at the WBID office, 21 Belvidere Avenue, Washington. For further information, call 908-689-4800.

Here are the WBID’s award-winners! 

Magda Brown, Business Person of the Year

Magda Brown, along with her husband Jerry, opened up Empanada Mamasita with the intent of being not just another restaurant in town, but as being a part of the fabric of the community. 

The restaurant, located Downtown at 65 E. Washington Avenue, has indeed become a fabric of the community and Magda herself is a big reason why. 

She has been a true leader in rallying downtown business owners to work as a team to promote each other and foster “good stuff.”

They work together to initiate, coordinate and promote special events, often cross promoting directly where applicable.

While Magda has certainly found willing partners along the way, it is clearly her leadership that has jump started a comraderie not typically seen between businesses in other communities.

Her and Jerry’s business, meanwhile, has been flourishing and is now “full-serve”. Offering “Latin Comfort Food”, indoor dining and take out, as well as catering, their menu includes an array of empanadas including beef, turkey or cheese, with beans, rice and numerous side dishes. 

Mike’s Auto Body , Business of the Year

Mike Cavitch Sr. was always confident that his shop, Mike’s Auto Body,  would be successful. With a simple philosophy of “be honest with your customers” Mike’s has indeed been successful since opening in 1939. That philosophy has endured for 80 years from “the original” Mike Sr. to Mike Jr., and now, Mike III. 

The original location, on Route 31, is still in use, as well as a second location in Mansfield Township on Route 57 that opened two years ago. A third location opened up in March 2018, across the street from the original building. The original and Mansfield locations focus on collision repair as well as offering 24-hour towing services . The third building, called Mike’s Canal Motors, does everything from tune-ups to mechanical work and tires,. They also sell commercial trucks there. In all, the three locations employ nearly 20 people.  

For these and other reasons, Mike’s Auto Body is the WBID Business of the Year. 

The “current Mike”, a 1988 graduate of Warren Hills Regional High School, was just 12 years old when he started working for his father. After graduating high school, Mike went to East Stroudsburg University and earned two business-related degrees. The Monday after graduation he was back in the shop working full-time.  By 1993 Mike III was the boss although his dad continued to work with him.

Mike’s Auto Body has also been a huge supporter of non-profit organizations in the area. Among those they have supported are Habitat for Humanity, Arc of Warren County, Abilities and various youth and high school sports organizations.  

Teresa March, Special Recognition

To say that Teresa March has been an integral part of the Washington Borough business community is clearly an understatement.

For 26 years Teresa worked for PNC Bank, culminating with a tenure as the Branch Manager. Always friendly, always helpful, Teresa’s reputation as someone who would always be there to help her customers is second to none. 

Her efforts in the community go further, though. She was in the Washington Rotary for eight years, two years as president and one as secretary. She was also on the WBID Board of Directors for several years and has also served on the board of Abilities of Northwest Jersey.

As a WBID board member, and non-member, Teresa frequently was involved in WBID functions, assisting with sponsorship grants, coordinating PNC Bank’s Jersey Cares efforts, or simply participating in activities, directly or indirectly. 

Teresa, who lived in the Borough for 21 years, was active in other ways, too, including 12 years as a Girl Scout leader. She and her husband Ed now live “across the river” nearer to their children. They have two grown daughters and two grandchildren. 

Steve & Andrea Kirchuk, Community Partners

Longtime Washington residents Steve and Andrea Kirchuk have been an integral part of the Borough for many years, getting involved with the WBID and other non-profit organizations.

Steve was part of the founding Festival in the Borough committee. Not only did he help plan the event over the course of some seven years, he performed and most thankfully, designed the Festival in the Borough logo, still in use today. Andrea served on the WBID Board from 2004 to 2011, volunteering her time and efforts with numerous events.

The Kirchuks continue to help out – and participate – with the WBID to this day. at various functions including at BID Good Nite networking meetings. Additionally, throughout the years they have provided web consultation to the BID.

Beyond the WBID and in the Washington area, one or both of them have been involved with Warren County Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Warren County Arc, Abilities of Northwest New Jersey, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Crisis Center, Warren County United Way, and the Warren County Economic Development Committee.  Andrea has been honored as a Chamber Business Person of the Year and the BW NICE Business Woman of the Year. She was also honored by Abilities with a Distinguished Service Award.    

The owners of Computer Images Web, a company that was recognized by the NJ Small Business Development Centers with a Success Award in 2010, the Kirchuks have two adult children.