editor ’ sletter
Maybe there ’ s something in the water in Wayne , but our area has ahabit of producing individuals with alot of heart . In this issue , we highlight a few who , through years of community involvement , have enriched our collective experiences .
As of last season , Ernest “ Ernie ” Mezey wrapped up his 23rd year as Wayne Hills High School ’ s football play-by-play announcer ( before the pandemic shut down high school sports in 2020 , he was also the announcer for the school ’ s basketball games ). Not only that , but Mezey played this supportive role consistently through good times and some very bad ones , always returning to the announcer ’ s booth he loves .
Jeffrey Fischer , whose father and uncles served on local school boards , has carried the family tradition on while distinguishing
CINDY SCHWEICH HANDLER
himself with 50 years of service , almost all of them as amember of the Manchester Regional board serving students from North Haledon and Prospect Park .
We also salute retired officer and school security guard Brian Boyce and Brian Schwartz , founder of the nonprofit IWant to Mow Your Lawn . Both men were nominated by their peers and honored for their community service as NJ-11 Heroes by the office of U . S . Rep . Mikie Sherrill .
And while we ’ re atit , we ’ d like to thank all the businesses that serve the greater Wayne area , many of them thanked by readers aswell in our 2023 Readers ’ Choice Poll .
Thanksgiving is along way away , but it ’ s never a bad time to express gratitude . Weappreciate you for spending time with us , Wayne . ■
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SPRING 2023
PUBLISHED BY North Jersey Media Group
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NEW JERSEY STATE EDITOR / USA TODAY NETWORK Hollis R . Towns
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circulation Wayne Magazine is published five times ayear with a100 % mailed circulation to more than 25,000 homes , businesses and physicians ’ offices . To purchase reprints of photos for personal use , visit northjerseyimages . com . To purchase PDF files ($ 99 each ) of individual pages for personal use only or to license content for editorial or commercial use , email your request to reprintsandpermissions @ northjersey . com .
BACK ISSUES Back issues of Wayne Magazine can be purchased online by visiting www . shoptherecord . com / waynemag . All contents © 2023 North Jersey Media Group . All rights reserved . No portion of Wayne Magazine may be reproduced without permission .
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Please recycle this magazine .
ON THE COVER GABRIELLE MARIELLA PERFORMS BROADWAY SHOW TUNES , AND BROADWAY LEGENDS PERFORMING BROADWAY SHOW TUNES . PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAELAH REYNOLDS .
2 SPRING 2023 WAYNE MAGAZINE