In addition, the Coalition’s annual TEEN Summit’s high school advisors and the Oxford Central School District’s Above the Influence project will be recognized along with special guest students from Oxford Central School who won a statewide video contest run by the Partnership for Drug Free New Jersey. The Director of that program, Angelo Valente, will honor these students, advisors and school district.   

The event, scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 8, will be held at the Inn at Millrace Pond in Hope. The luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. and will conclude by 1:15 p.m.  

The Coalition for Healthy and Safe Communities, a program of the Family Guidance Center of Warren County, is dedicated to raising awareness about the effects of alcohol and drug abuse, particularly with youth.

The featured Guest Speaker will be Warren County Prosecutor Richard Burke. 

Honorees Rossi Chevrolet Buick GMC, owned by Ed Rossi, and Arctic Foods, owned by Mark Rossi, combined to help raise over $1000 for Isshinryu Karate Academy’s effort at the Blue Mountain Spartan Run fundraiser event in July. The proceeds from the event went to the purchase of NARCAN kits for Law Enforcement in Warren County.  

Mansfield Township Police Department, Detective Joseph Mathews, along with Deputy Tax Clerk, JoAnn Fascenelli, representative of the Mansfield Township Green Team Recycling Program, are being recognized for their implementation of a permanent Medicine Drop Box site in the township.  

Project Teach students have been very active throughout the year in putting together informational packets, handing them out at various businesses, and in general, helping to raise awareness about the use and misuse of alcohol and drugs. The TEEN Summit advisors from North Warren, Hackettstown, Belvidere, Warren Hills, Warren County Tech, Project Teach, and Phillipsburg High Schools are being honored for their continued support and assistance in making this program a success. 

Dan Hirshberg of CHP Communications has been working with the Coalition for several years helping with messaging, media outreach, and providing guidance on events and other related Coalition activities.     

Tickets for the luncheon are $40 each, with proceeds supporting the work of the Coalition.   

Reservations should be made by Feb. 3.  For more information and to register, call 908-223-1985 or email Kim Spangenberg at kspangenberg@fgcwc.org.. You can make online payments via the Family Guidance Center, www.fgcwc.org (via DONATE – Pay Pal).  

Anyone interested in learning more about the coalition’s goals and getting involved, call 908-223-1985 or visiting their website atwww.preventionconnections.org