Jefferson Van Drew

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, last week, I had the pleasure of attending Nicholas Luciano's (Lu-see-ah-no) Eagle Scout Court of Honor. Nicholas achieved the Eagle Scout rank as a part of Troop 26. Throughout his scouting career, he earned 21 Merit Badges and served his troop in a variety of leadership roles. For his Eagle Scout project, Nicholas built and rehabilitated planters at the Estell Manor Park in Atlantic County, which is home to a large diversity of plants and animals. This young man should be proud of his accomplishments, and it was my honor to have had the opportunity to recognize him for his service to South Jersey. God Bless Nicholas, and God Bless our United States of America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, last week, I had the pleasure of attending Nathan Mangold's Eagle Scout Court of Honor. Nathan is a recent graduate of Cedar Creek High School Class of 2022 and has plans to continue his education at a University in the fall. During his time as a scout, he earned 21 Merit Badges and held numerous leadership positions. For his Eagle Scout project, Nathan constructed osprey nests at the Atlantic City Yacht Club In Pleasantville, South Jersey. These nests will provide ospreys with a place to nest upon and help to boost the endangered species' population. Nathan should be proud of his efforts to conserve the wildlife of South Jersey. God Bless Nathan, and God Bless our United States of America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, last month, I had the pleasure of attending Jack Notarfrancesco's (No-tar-fran-sis-co) Eagle Scout Court of Honor. Jack is a scout in Troop 55 in Somers Point, South Jersey. For his Eagle Scout project, he built and constructed a chicken coop for the Funny Farm Animal Rescue in Mays Landing, South Jersey. This chicken coop will create a home for unwanted chickens, who may have otherwise been euthanized. Jack should be proud of his project and donation to the Funny Farm Animal Rescue, and it was my pleasure to attend his Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony. God Bless Jack, and God Bless our America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, this month, I had the honor of attending Ryan Mathis' Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony. Ryan graduated from Cape May County Technical High School last year and was a part of their welding program, where he became a certified welder. He achieved his Eagle Scout rank as a part of Cape May Court House Troop 65. For his Eagle Scout project, Ryan built a flag box for retired American flags. He designed the box himself and created it from a sheet of steel, utilizing his welding skills. Ryan placed the retired flag box at the American Legion in Cape May Court House. Ryan should be proud of his project and his service to Cape May Court House and the entire South Jersey community. I wish him the best of luck in all of his future endeavors. God Bless Ryan, and God Bless our United States of America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, this month, I had the honor of attending Matthew Markee's Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony. Matthew graduated from Cape May County Technical High School and obtained his Eagle Scout ranking as a part of Troop 65 in Cape May Court House. For his Eagle Scout project, Matthew restored the Cape May County Park South pavilion in Villas, South Jersey. Before Matthew's project, the pavilion had paint peeling off and a leaking roof. To remedy the issue, Matthew removed the old tar paper and roof shingles from the pavilion and replaced them himself. He also painted and cleaned up the pavilion, restoring it to original condition. Matthew completed the repairs, gained the funding for the project, and recruited volunteers for the project on his own. He should be very proud of his service to South Jersey and Park South, and I wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors. God Bless Matthew, and God Bless our United States of America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, last month, I had the pleasure of attending Irene Jacobson's 105th birthday celebration. Irene was born in April of 1917 in Boston, Massachusetts. After completing secretarial courses at Boston schools, she began her career as a secretary. Then, in 1937, Irene was set up on a blind date where she met her husband, Simon. In June of 1939, Irene and Simon got married and eventually had three children. During her time as a stay-at-home mom, Irene began her first volunteer effort where she worked on John F. Kennedy's first political campaign. In 1961, Irene and Simon moved their family to Vineland, South Jersey, where they made many friends, were actively involved in their synagogue, and generously contributed to the South Jersey community. In 2010, Irene won the Nutrition Award through my Joint Legislative Commendation efforts during my time in the New Jersey State Senate. Additionally, in 2017, she was recognized by the Cumberland County Freeholders for her service. Currently, Irene is a member of The Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Vineland and the Alliance Synagogue in Norma. She also enjoys spending time with family, reading, watching movies, and word puzzles. Irene should be proud of her service to the South Jersey community, and it was my honor to have had the opportunity to attend her birthday celebration. God Bless Irene, and God Bless our United States of America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, last Sunday, I had the honor of attending the Olympiad at Beth Israel congregation in remembrance of the 50-year anniversary of the Munich massacre. Jacob Lewis was nominated to receive the Olympiad Student Athlete Award at the event. Jacob is the Valedictorian of Millville High School's Class of 2022, which has a total of 378 students. As well as excelling in academics, he is also involved in many extra-curricular activities. Jacob is a student-athlete who earned eight varsity letters on both the boys' soccer and tennis teams. In the fall, he will continue his academic and athletic careers at the University of Pennsylvania. Jacob should be very proud of all his accomplishments, and I wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors. God Bless Jacob, and God Bless our United States of America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, this month, I had the honor of attending Dawson Moore's Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony. Dawson graduated from Middle Township High School last year and is a part of Cape May Court House's Troop 65. For his Eagle Scout project, he refurbished the Goshen Therapeutic riding ring at the Cape May County equestrian facility, which allows participants to experience the benefits of horseback riding while working on their own personal challenges. Dawson replaced the fencing around the riding ring, which was in desperate need of repair. He should be proud of his project, and it was my honor to recognize him for his service to the South Jersey community. I wish Dawson the best of luck on his future endeavors. God Bless Dawson, and God Bless our United States of America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, last Sunday, I had the honor of attending the Olympiad at Beth Israel congregation in remembrance of the 50-year anniversary of the Munich massacre. Angel Smith of Bridgeton High School was nominated to receive the Olympiad Student Athlete Award at the event. Angel is a committed student-athlete, who earned varsity letters in basketball, cross country, and football. Additionally, he was named First Team All-Conference in basketball for both his junior and senior year seasons. As well as his athletic achievements, Angel excelled in academics. He will continue both his academic and athletic career in the fall at Rowan College where he will study engineering technology and play basketball. Angel truly led by example at Bridgeton High School, and I wish him the best of luck at Rowan College. God Bless Angel, and God Bless our United States of America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, last Sunday, I had the honor of attending the Olympiad at Beth Israel congregation in remembrance of the 50-year anniversary of the Munich massacre. Gianna Trexler was nominated to receive an Olympiad Award at the event. Gianna is an early college high school student who recently graduated from Rowan College with an associate degree in Liberal Arts. In addition to her liberal arts studies, she is also a biomedical sciences academy student. Gianna is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, and the Science National Honor Society. While at Cumberland Regional High School, she was a member of multiple clubs and also was a ``senior mentor,'' who helped underclassmen with the transition from middle school into high school. Additionally, Gianna was a part of the field hockey and tennis teams and earned varsity letters in softball and swimming. She was awarded with a Presidential Merit Scholarship from Delaware Valley University, where she will continue her studies in Large Animal Science and Pre-Veterinary medicine, as well as play softball. Gianna should be proud of her many accomplishments, and I wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors. God Bless Gianna, and God Bless our America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, last Sunday, l had the honor of attending the Olympiad at Beth Israel congregation in remembrance of the 50-year anniversary of the Munich massacre. Ryan Russo was nominated to receive the Olympiad Student Athlete Award at the event. Ryan is an impressive student-athlete who excelled in the classroom, in the pool, and on the track at Vineland High School. During his senior year season, he suffered an injury that restricted him from playing. However, Ryan remained positive and committed to his teams. He is a true leader and an ambassador for his community, school, and his teams, serving as a role model for many underclassmen. Ryan should be very proud of his contributions to the Vineland High School community, and I am glad that I was able to meet him at the event last weekend. God Bless Ryan, and God Bless our America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, last month, I had the pleasure of attending the 75th birthday celebration of the Salem American Legion Band. The Salem American Legion Band was started in 1947 by World War II veterans. Today, the band is comprised of young musicians, both veterans and non-veterans, from all over Salem County, as well as neighboring South Jersey counties. The Salem American Legion Band performs two major concerts each year. In May, they have their Spring Veterans Concert, where they honor and recognize our nation's veterans for their service. Then, in the winter, the band hosts their Christmas concert. In addition to their semi-annual concerts, the American Legion Band performs at various events around the South Jersey area. Congratulations to the band on their 75th year and thank you to our veterans for their brave service. God Bless the Salem American Legion Band, and God Bless our United States of America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, last month, I attended Nicholas George's Eagle Scout Court of Honor. Nicholas is a junior at Ocean City High School and a member of Boy Scout Troop 79 in Upper Township. For his Eagle Scout project, he created a permanent memorial honoring Marienus J. Segeren (Mar-e-en J. Seg-e-ren), a trooper who died serving the New Jersey community in 1971. He decided to create this memorial because he has a strong interest in pursuing law enforcement as a future career path. Nicholas planned the project, solicited the funding, organized the labor groups, and installed the memorial all on his own. In addition, he presented the excess of funds that he obtained for the memorial to the New Jersey State Police Survivors of the Triangle to assist in the rebuilding of the lives of surviving families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Nicholas is a very special young man with high ideals. He should be proud of his contributions to the law enforcement community in New Jersey, and I wish him the best of luck in pursuing his own career in law enforcement. God Bless Nicholas, and God Bless our America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, last month, I had the pleasure of attending Christopher Lemon's Eagle Scout Court of Honor. Christopher belongs to Troop 1079 of Seaville, South Jersey. For his Eagle Scout project, he created and gifted Shore Medical Center over 200 wooden hearts for their memorial recognizing COVID-19 patients who recovered in their hospital. Christopher painted the hearts with Shore Medical Center's colors, purple and white, and put them on posts. The posts were placed in the front lawn of the center and resided there for several weeks during the summer of 2021. This young man should be proud of his contributions to the memorial and I wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors. God Bless Christopher, and God Bless our America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, last month, I attended the retirement ceremony of Greg Speed, who was the CEO of Cape Counseling in South Jersey. Greg worked in the behavioral health sector for 48 years. He served at Cape Counseling Services for 37 years, where he worked as the Unit Director of Screening and Specialized Services from 1982 to 1995. Then, in 1995, Greg became the Vice President of Mental Health Services until 2000 when he became the CEO. At Cape Counseling, his leadership, direction, and vision were essential in completing a successful and seamless merger between Cape Counseling and Acenda. At Acenda, Greg continued his decade-long career and became the Chief Integration Officer during the merger. In addition, he also served and chaired multiple boards including the Human Services Advisory Committee, the Cape Alliance Steering Committee, the Health Community Coalition, and the Long-term recovery group after Hurricane Sandy. Greg should be proud of his notable career in the behavioral health sector, and I am glad I was able to attend his retirement ceremony. God Bless Greg, and God Bless our United States of America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, last month, I had the honor of attending William ``Liam'' Probasco's Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony. Liam is a senior at Cumberland Christian School and plans on attending Asbury University beginning this fall. He is a member of Daretown Troop 60 and worked very hard to attain his Eagle Scout ranking. For his Eagle Scout project, Liam built a 40-foot walkway bridge at Jersey Oaks Camp in Canton, South Jersey. He decided to build this walkway because access to the large field at the campground was greatly limited by ravine and hedgerow. The walkway opened up this field, which makes up 35 percent of the Jersey Oaks Camp property. Now, because of Liam's walkway bridge, the camp is planning to winterize the facility and add more buildings so that they can better serve their campers. Liam should be proud of his service to South Jersey, and it was my honor to have had the honor to attend his Court of Honor ceremony. God Bless Liam, and God Bless our United States of America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, last month, I had the pleasure of honoring Michelle Purdy with the Republican of the Year award. Michelle is a lifelong Galloway, South Jersey resident who runs several South Jersey businesses with her husband, Don. In her spare time, she served as the President of the Family School Association for 12 years, as well as became a member of the Galloway Township Education Foundation. In 2018, Michelle won both the Outstanding leadership Award and the Citizen Advocate for Education Award. She also serves as an executive board member of the Absegami High School softball program. Then, in 2021, Michelle became the President of the Galloway Township Republican League, where she was able to embrace her passion for Republican values. Michelle is a true conservative, and it was my honor to award her with the Republican of the Year award. God Bless Michelle, and God Bless our America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, last month, I had the honor of presenting Hunter Clark with Congressional record paperwork and a challenge coin at his Eagle Scout Court of Honor. Hunter currently attends St. Augustine's Prep in Richland, South Jersey and plans to attend American University in the fall. He achieved the Eagle Scout ranking as a part of Daretown Troop 60. For his Eagle Scout project, Hunter made some improvements to the beach at Camp Edge in Alloway, New Jersey. Camp Edge is part of Ranch Hope Ministries and provides care and outreach to troubled boys in the South Jersey community, as well as hosts a camp during the summer for kids of all ages. Hunter replaced some of the timber boundaries on the beach at Camp Edge. In addition, he added fishing pole hangers to the beach. Hunter should be proud of his service to South Jersey, and I wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors at American University. God Bless Hunter, and God Bless our United States of America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, last month, I had the honor of attending Matt Wescott's Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony. Matt attained his Eagle Scout ranking as a member of Boy Scout Troop 60 in Daretown, South Jersey. For his Eagle Scout project, Matt led some of his fellow scouts in building a Gaga Ball pit at Alloway School. Gaga Ball is a very popular game with elementary and middle schoolers in the South Jersey community. However, the game needs to be played inside of an octagonal shaped court, which is why Matt decided to build the school a court. This will provide years of entertainment for the Alloway community and students. Matt should be proud of his project, and it was my honor to have had the opportunity to recognize him for his service to the South Jersey community. God Bless Matt, and God Bless our America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, this month, I had the pleasure of attending a ceremony where World War II veteran John Christman was presented a Congressional Gold Medal. John is one of the nine surviving veterans who served as a soldier in the U.S. Army's 23rd Headquarters Special Troops tactical deception unit, more popularly known as the ``Ghost Army.'' This 1,100-man unit has a very unique mission. The Ghost Army's mission is to impersonate other Allied Army units in order to deceive our enemy. The Ghost Army has staged more than 20 battlefield deceptions, often operating very close to the front lines. I would like to thank John for the bravery and selflessness that he displayed while serving our country in the Ghost Army. God Bless John, and I thank him for his exemplary service, and God Bless our America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, last week, I had the pleasure of attending the official storefront opening of Guppi in Wildwood, New Jersey. Driven by a young entrepreneur, Abby, Guppi aspires to reduce the plastics that pollute our oceans by creating eco-friendly apparel, bags, knick-knacks. Since launching her brand in 2018, Abby has created all her products by hand via screen-printing with ecofriendly inks and embroidering with threads made from recycled plastics. I am so impressed by Abby's work ethic, as well as her continued commitment to make our South Jersey community a safer and more eco-friendly environment. Abby truly exemplifies ambition, and I am excited to watch Guppi continue to grow. God bless Abby and all the other hardworking employees at Guppi, and God Bless our America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, this month, I had the pleasure of attending the New Jersey Dogs of Honor graduation in Maurice River Township, South Jersey. New Jersey Dogs of Honor started with a dog named Gunnar, who was the service dog of Diana Pitman, a former army nurse dealing with post-traumatic stress. Through Gunnar, Diana learned first-hand how a service dog can change a veteran's life. Diana then collaborated with Ted's Pet Country Club and Patti and Gordon Gross to establish New Jersey Dogs of Honor. Since then, these service dogs have been changing the lives of veterans in the South Jersey community by performing tasks to help veterans with disabilities. At the graduation this month, Meet, King, and Maggie all graduated and will now accompany three of our nation's veterans. God Bless both these dogs and veterans, and God Bless our United States of America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize the lifelong achievements of Fredrick John Nahas II. Dr. Nahas moved to Margate, South Jersey as a young boy and graduated from Atlantic City High School in 1964. In high school, he was a South Jersey swimming champion and was recruited to swim at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. After graduating from University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Nahas followed in his father's footsteps and pursued his career as an electrical engineer working on the Apollo Moon Project in Florida. He then continued his education and graduated from Temple University School of Medicine in 1974. After years of hard work, Dr. Nahas opened his own practice in 1978 and became a board-certified surgeon in 1980. Since then, he has maintained certifications in both general and vascular surgery. Currently, he works at his solo practice in South Jersey and enjoys spending time with his six grandchildren. Dr. Nahas should be proud of all of his achievements, and it is my pleasure to recognize him. God Bless Fredrick, and God Bless our America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, last week, I had the pleasure of attending the grand opening of the Complete Care Adult and Specialty Medical Professionals health center and corporate office in Bridgeton, South Jersey. The Complete Care Health Network began in 1973 as the Community Health Improvement Plan. Since then, Complete Care has grown to become the leading community health center in the state of New Jersey with a multitude of locations throughout Gloucester, Cumberland, and Cape May counties. The mission of the health center is to improve lives by providing convenient, comprehensive, high-quality healthcare to every community they serve. Complete Care Health Center truly does provide affordable and accessible care to the people of South Jersey. God Bless the employees and leaders of the Complete Care Health Network, and God Bless America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, this month, I had the pleasure of presenting Braeden DiFranceisco with his Eagle Scout Court of Honor. Braeden is originally from Mullica Hill, South Jersey and is currently a senior at St. Augustine Prep School in Richland, New Jersey. He started his journey towards becoming an Eagle Scout in 2012 and has risen through the ranks from being a Bear in the third grade to Eagle his senior year of high school. For his Eagle Scout project, Braeden installed an orienteering course at Grenloch Lake Park in Washington Township. The course can be utilized by all Scout troops in South Jersey by helping them understand navigation and complete rank requirements. The orienteering course can also be used as a tool to help other scouts earn their orienteering merit badge. Braeden should be proud of his accomplishments, and it was my honor to have had the opportunity to recognize him for his service to the South Jersey community. God Bless Braeden, and God Bless America.