South Orange’s Carole Anzalone-Newman Honored

On Thursday night, in front of friends and colleagues, Carole Anzalone-Newman, executive director of (MSSO), received the Rick Mariani Achievement Award from Downtown New Jersey (DNJ) at a ceremony in New Brunswick.  The award is named after the deceased Rick Mariani who was a board member for DNJ and senior official for NJ Transit.  It is given to individuals who have excelled in promoting downtown development.

Anzalone-Newman has been the executive director of MSSO since October 2005.  Before her appointment to the position, she was a volunteer with the organization and eventually ran their annual Farmer’s Market.  Before the ceremony, Anzalone-Newman told Patch that this award had a special meaning for her.

Years ago, there was a threat that the South Orange train station would be closing except during peak hours, something which many residents, Anzalone-Newman included, were opposed to.  She recalled sending a letter to NJ Transit in which she quoted Rick Mariani and his ideals for downtowns like South Orange and how he would’ve never advocated for the closing of the station.

“I thought that would kind of hit home for them since one of their own had advocated for places like our train station to stay open and be part of our community, which it is,” said Anzalone-Newman.

The award was given by Downtown New Jersey which is an organization of individuals, businesses, government agencies, and local and regional organizations that are advocates for flourishing downtowns. 

“I think for anybody, it’s really nice to be recognized by your peers for the work you’re doing,” Anzalone-Newman said.  “Most times, most main street communities don’t have huge budgets, so it’s a little isolating sometimes to work alone.  But this reinforces that you’re doing a good job.  It’s really nice.”

In August, when the organization began soliciting nominations for their awards, Anzalone-Newman was nominated by South Orange resident Sheena Collum.  Anzalone-Newman was selected by the DNJ Awards Jury to receive the award.

"Carole has been a champion of building commerce and community in our downtown for seven years and it feels great to see her get the state-wide recognition she deserves,” said Collum.

Main Street South Orange concentrates on assisting the businesses in downtown South Orange.  Some of their responsibilities include recruiting and assisting with the transformation of new businesses, helping with permits, putting on events to invigorate the downtown and multiple other services for new and existing businesses.  The organization also has four committees that work with businesses.  The committees include an Economic Development Committee, a Design Committee, an Organization Committee and a Promotions Committee.  The committees are filled with professionals who volunteer their time for the town.

“It’s not just me, I’m one person in this organization that gets paid to do what I do, but there are so many dedicated volunteers, whether its resident volunteers, businesses owners, property owners, Seton Hall students, who work toward the same goals,” said Anzalone-Newman.  “It’s very important to acknowledge that they are a huge part of this organization and without them, I could not do all the things that Main Street takes credit for.”

Residents and business owners take notice of the hard work that Main Street South Orange does for the community.

"Carole does a little bit of everything,” said Collum.  “She helps connect prospective tenants to property owners, helps new businesses navigate through the Village permit process, administers the matching grant program for facade improvements and most recently, she helped our community get a significant branding grant for our downtown.  We are a stronger community because of her, Main Street and all the volunteers that give so freely of themselves to make our community the best that it can be."

The award ceremony was attended by Village President Alex Torpey and the Board of Trustees, as well as residents and members of MSSO.  In addition, Anzalone-Newman’s family was in attendance, including her husband, former Village President Doug Newman. 

“Carole has done a lot of great work over the years with Main Street,” said Torpey.  “I think the organization itself is amazing and I think we need organizations like that to support and try to grow our downtown more than we already have.”

During her speech, Anzalone-Newman did what she does best and promoted South Orange, ending with Main Street’s token slogans.

“We’re all passionate about the town, we’re beautiful, convenient transportation, historic, we have a great commitment to the arts, Seton Hall University, SOPAC, great demographics, great businesses, so come on down,” Anzalone-Newman exclaimed in her speech.  “We have two great sayings that we like to say in Main Street; Take this town and love it and we believe in downtown!”