Fanwood is such a great place to live and raise children. It has been home to me and my husband and our 3 children for the last 17 years. Our oldest son is a graduate of SFPHS and graduated college with a degree in Mathematics. Our two younger children are currently in the SPF school system.

As a longtime resident I have seen the progress our town has made and the great work done by the Mayor and Borough Council that makes Fanwood one of the best places to live in New Jersey. I am honored to be on the ballot for Council Member, to serve Fanwood and give back to the community I love.

I have a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology and a Master’s in Business Administration. My over 20 years of professional experience in the public sector, consists of  managing full life cycle projects and multiple departments and budgets. 

I've been a consistently active participant in our schools. I've served on PTA Boards as Treasurer at School One Elementary School and Nettingham Middle School. I am currently the VP of Fundraising at the Nettingham Middle School in addition to supporting various community committees and events (such as being part of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board of Education Racial Equity Task Force, the 2022-2025 Strategic Plan process, a volunteer parent for Girl Scout Troop 40982, supporting the book drive for all of the elementary schools in the district through my role as a Co-Leader of Lessons for the Representation, Equity, Anti Racism, Literary Diversity Parents of Scotch Plains-Fanwood group). I am also a Co-Leader on the Fanwood-Scotch Plains Committee for Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Policing Subcommittee which seeks to strengthen community engagement and enhance relationships with residents.  My work on the Subcommittee has allowed me to collaborate with town Leaders to organize community events such as National Night Out and Police & Pumpkins to engage citizens and our law enforcement and Council. 

I’ve always been passionate about giving back and supporting my community. I am actively involved in the community and have been for many years which gives me a better understanding of how to help address the changes occurring in our area. I believe that community engagement and inclusiveness are integral to continued progress. Public service is a responsibility that is important to me, and I am willing to contribute my time and best effort toward the well-being of our great town of Fanwood.

I like to operate in a common-sense approach, keeping an open mind and listening to multiple viewpoints. I am running for Council to support our community, promote positive ideas and build relationships that will ensure that Fanwood continues to be a place where families want to live, where businesses want to invest and where people can shop, dine, and play and where all our neighbors feel welcome and safe. 

I love and care about Fanwood. I have been and am committed to a better quality of life for all our residents. I am proud to be part of our Democratic team and the many committed volunteers who have helped realize this goal. I strongly believe in giving back, and this is what I have tried to do.

This year, we continue to strive to keep the lid on taxes without compromising any of our municipal services. It’s getting harder to do this every year as costs rise. But we have been successful at securing grants, which have helped us pay for road repairs and upgrade our nature center, parks and historic areas. At the same time, I feel it is important that we make sure our police, fire, and rescue squad all have the necessary tools, education and equipment to keep us all safe.

I am a retired Registered Nurse. My last jobs were as a Visiting Nurse and an MDS coordinator at Runnells Specialized Hospital. As an MDS coordinator, I was responsible for all the assessments for Medicare reimbursement. This required much organization, medical knowledge and patient/family interaction. If I had to do it all over again, I would still be a nurse in some capacity.

I am pleased to see how Fanwoodians stepped up and followed the science in getting vaccinated and boosted against the deadly COVID-19 infection. The fight isn't over yet, but the disease is on the decline.

I have been active at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church for the past 30-plus years. The ongoing need right now is food. It is sad that in the year 2022, food insecurity plagues so many people around us. I volunteer at the church every week to collect, pack and distribute food to those who need it.

I’m looking forward to this year’s campaign and hope the voters of Fanwood return me to my 8th term on the Council.

I am deeply grateful to the people of the 7th District for the honor of representing you, and I congratulate Congressman-Elect Kean.

We did as well or better than in 2020 in the communities I've represented these last four years, but the new district proved too much of a hurdle.

This was a campaign of people and principles. It was, as in my other races, built from the grass roots up and spoke directly to the concerns and hopes of the thousands of people I've met at town halls and campaigning across our district. Win or lose, we did this the right way.

I’m gratified that across the country, Americans chose moderation over MAGA, while passing referenda protecting a woman’s right to choose. Our democracy and our freedoms are in strong shape. Our recent achievements are secure.

I look forward to staying in the fight with you!

--Cong. Tom Malinowski

Mayor Colleen Mahr and the Fanwood Borough Council express their condolences on the passing of Joseph Higgins, a former member of the Fanwood Council who coached baseball alongside his son at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. Mr. Higgins died on July 1st at age 75 at his home in Woodbridge, NJ. 

Joe was a military veteran, minor league baseball player and a 25-year employee of New Jersey Transit. 

While on the Council from 2005-2007, Joe served as Chair of the Recreation and Community Services Committee; as Council Liaison to the Land Use and Historic Preservation and Shade Tree Commissions; as Council Liaison to the Planning Board; and as Fire Commissioner. In addition to serving on the Fanwood Council, he was a volunteer assistant baseball coach at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School from 2010-2019 alongside his son Joseph, Jr. who is still the baseball coach there. In the early 90s he was inducted into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame.

Funeral services will begin at 10am on Thursday, July 7, 2022 from GERITY & CHUBENKO FUNERAL HOME, 411 Amboy Avenue, Woodbridge with a 10:30am Mass of Resurrection following at St. James R.C. Church, Woodbridge.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 6, 2022 from 4pm to 8pm at the funeral home.

Congratulations to Fanwood's Paul Marder for being selected as the Vice Chair for the New Jersey Democratic State Committee's Veterans Caucus. The caucus advocates for and supports members of the military, veterans, and their families. Paul moved to Fanwood after serving 10 years on Active Duty as a U.S. Navy helicopter pilot. He deployed to the South China Sea, served on the federal COVID-19 vaccine task force, and is proud to continue his serving his community and New Jersey's veterans. For more information on the caucus, click here.

Paul is also a member of the Fanwood Planning Board and the Memorial Day Committee.

Our good friend Sherman Feller died on Jan. 6th at age 91. Sherm was active in Democratic politics in our town for decades. He was a talented photographer who contributed for many years to the Fanwoodian along with his wife Joan who was on the Fanwoodian Committee. He had many photo exhibitions through the years including this one in Elizabeth a few years ago. Pictured is Sherm in 2015 with great-nephew Finnegan. We will miss his smile and easy-going nature. Our condolences to Joan and the family. His full obituary is here: https://www.therossifuneralhome.com/obituary/sherman-feller