Verona Council Presents Walk to School Poster Contest Winners

The Verona Township Council formally recognized five students as the winners of the Idle Free Verona campaign poster contest, during its public meeting on Monday, Nov. 19.

The Verona Environmental Commission has been sponsoring Walk to School Day for the past four years to reduce air pollution. This year, to increase participation, they held a poster contest for students in grades one to eight and received more than 150 submissions.

The winners are Emily Wyne from F.N. Brown School, Julianna Spina from H.B. Whitehorne Middle School, Bobby Donohue from Forest Avenue School, Diane Valverde from Brookdale Avenue School and Thomas Radigan from Laning Avenue School.

Each student received a certificate and $50.

The Verona Environmental Commission was recently awarded the Environmental Achievement Award for its successful video "Go Idle Free Verona."

The Verona Township Council was itself recognized by the Verona High School Football team for its efforts in readying the lower football field, after a sinkhole almost put an end to the season before it started.

The Verona Hillbillies presented two autographed footballs to Verona Mayor Frank Sapienza and Township Manager Joe Martin.

“This year was a tough go with the surprise a week before the season,” said Councilman Jay Sniatkowski.

The township and the Board of Education worked quickly to ready the lower field with goal posts, stands and concessions to hold the first game of the football season.

“It was on the fly and what they accomplished in a week was amazing,” said Sniatkowski.