Jackson officials honor town’s young residents

Ava Tortorici JACKSON — Several young people were honored during the Feb. 9 meeting of the Jackson Township Council.

Sara Hudak, a sophomore at Jackson Memorial High School, was commended by municipal officials for the quick action she took upon coming home from school on Dec. 14 and finding a fire in the kitchen of her Walter Drive home.

After realizing what was happening, Sara, who is the daughter of Kathleen and Paul Hudak, rescued Mocha, the family’s female chocolate Labrador retriever who was inside the home, and then called 911 to ask for help from the fire department.

Mayor Mike Reina said, “[Tonight, the council and I] wish to recognize Sara Hudak for her act of courage and quick response. Her ability to stay calm and think clearly contributed to the minimal damage her home sustained and the safe rescue of the Hudak family pet.”

The fire did not spread past the kitchen, but there was smoke damage throughout the upper floor of the home. There was water damage on the lower level, according to fire officials who responded to the scene.

In another presentation, certificates were presented to students from Jackson Memorial High School and from Jackson Liberty High School who donated their time and participated in the Thanksgiving celebration at the Melvin Cottrell Center for Senior Citizens and the Disabled.

The students were Stephanie Boyuka, Elise Alchevsky, Kaitlyn Leonard, Rich McIntosh, Gina Tripp, Jenna Alchevsky, Ian Maher, John Gardener, Jaci Maher, Eugene Garner, John Lanni, Matt Lanni, Michael Andreula, Michael Keegan, Brian McLane, David Montgomery, Marissa Parinello, Erin Sharp, Sean Dickenson, Amy Wilson, Ryan Laws, Benjamin Learish, Michelle Warshany and Christina Mulvihill.

R eina also recognized

Ava Tortorici, 9, as the winner of the Miss New Jersey 2009 Sweetheart Division. Ava is in the fourth grade at the Elms Elementary School.

The mayor said that over the past year, Ava has earned a number of awards ranging from International Junior Miss Princess Queen 2009-2010, Red Carpet Award NationalWinner 2009 to American Co-ed National Speech Winner 2010.

She was also New England’s Little Miss Citrus 2009 and she was named Most Beautiful in the December 2009 issue of the Super Models Unlimited magazine.

“When Miss Tortorici is not performing or making public appearances, she actively volunteers her time with Cancer Care, Special Olympics, Clean Ocean Action and Jenkinson’s Aquarium as an ambassador for kids on World Ocean Day,” Reina said. “I express my sincere congratulations to Miss Ava Tortorici on her outstanding accomplishments and wish her the best of luck in the future.”