Berkeley Heights officers beat firefighters for softball
trophy, but Veterans Memorial Park was true winner
Members of the Berkeley Heights Local 144 softball team hold the trophy they won after beating firefighters 18-10.
One year ago, members of the Berkeley
Heights Fire Department and Berkeley
Heights PBA Local 144 volunteered to play a
charity softball game to kick off the
fundraising campaign to restore Veterans
Memorial Park. Since then, the volunteer
Veterans Memorial Park Renewal Commit-
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OCTOBER 2016
tee has raised more than $160,000, and the
park has been completely renovated and
dedicated.
“A year ago we only had a vision,” recalled
Committee Chair and former Union County Prosecutor Ted Romankow. “Now we
have this beautiful park and memorial that
honors our veterans and military personnel
each and every day.”
Calling its efforts “Operation: We
Remember,” the committee has transformed the park into a source of inspiration
and pride for the community. This year, the
committee will add seasonal decorations,
lights and plantings along with its program
of diligent park maintenance.
All the planning, design and renovation
takes money, and once again the police and
fire departments have stepped forward to
lead the fundraising campaign in the name
of sportsmanship. Under the leadership of
Police Chief John DiPasquale and Fire Chief
Anthony Padovano, the two agency softball
teams battled for the Mayor’s Trophy Cup
on Sept. 10 at the Snyder Avenue Park Field
in Berkeley Heights – the PD winning 18-10.
Theirs is a friendly rivalry that brings
together the community for a terrific cause.
“Great things happen when people work
together,” said Mayor Robert Woodruff,
adding, “Volunteers and volunteer organizations form the cornerstone of this town,
and our police and fire departments are
second to none.” d
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