Meet Fair Lawn's 'Hometown Hero'

HACKENSACK, NJ — U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer has been honoring those who provided aid to their neighbors during the pandemic through social media for much of the last year. Recently, he was able to meet some of them in person.

Gottheimer hosted the 5th District Hometown heroes Ceremony at the Hackensack Performing Arts Center on Friday, where he presented over 60 residents of the district with the award for "their dedication to helping improve the lives of their neighbors, families, and communities."

"We are lucky to have so many unsung heroes in our communities, whose quiet power of service goes on every day without the recognition they truly deserve. They just do it because they care. Today is their day," said Gottheimer.

"It goes without saying that the past nearly year and a half has been an incredibly challenging time for our country — with a pandemic looming over us, sick loved ones and neighbors, and a drumbeat of economic uncertainty. If you pick up the paper, turn on cable news or flip through social media, there is far more attention being placed on what's going wrong with America, and far too little attention on what’s going right. We should focus more on what unites us, as opposed to what divides us — and spend more time focusing on those who give back to our country and communities."

Watch the ceremony below:

Among those receiving recognition was Lisa MacClements, of Fair Lawn.

According to Gottheimer's Office, MacClements is "the facilitator of Fair Lawn for All Ages, an organization that supports programs and resources that help make the community more age-friendly by supporting seniors and instilling the values of service onto the younger generation."

She was nominated by Mayor Kurt Peluso and the Borough Council, according to local officials.

"Lisa is the Borough’s Age Friendly Coordinator and has implemented numerous programs to aid and assist our senior populous within the Borough," officials said.

Keep up to date with what's happening in your community by subscribing to your local Patch newsletter here.