In order for a community to thrive and succeed, they must rely on the service and support of its residents. In this spirit of celebration and recognition, Mayor Mikolajczyk and the Borough Council would like to honor and recognize individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the Borough of Middlesex as "Pillars of our Community."

At this week's Mayor and Council Meeting, we honored residents Sheila Fuhrmann and John Fuhrmann.

Sheila Fuhrmann

Sheila has exemplified her passion and devotion to the Borough by serving in numerous capacities over the years, such as nine years on the Zoning Board of Adjustment, seven years on the Planning Board and six years on the Board of Health.

Sheila Fuhrmann began volunteering for the Senior Department in 1992 and eventually became a borough employee and helped to establish the current Office of Aging and

Senior Services. Not only does Sheila support municipal entities, but local associations such as Feeding Hands Food Pantry, the Blue Jay Booster Club, in which she was a founding member in the year 1976, Board of Education member including six years as Vice President, she served terms as Voter Service Chair, President and Vice President to the League of Woman Voters and edited "This is Middlesex, A Know Your Town Book."

John Fuhrmann.

John Fuhrmann has been a resident of Middlesex Borough for over 60 years and has dedicated his life to the betterment of Middlesex Borough by serving in numerous capacities, including serving on the Borough Council for nine years, serving as Council President twice, and was appointed Mayor in 2009, for which he rose to the occasion by providing the stability to the Municipality needed after the unforeseen resignation of his predecessor.

John has also been an active member and chair to various committees throughout his longstanding residency within the Borough, which included chairing the committee that secured a $7,000,000 grant for the Borough's 86 unit Senior Housing Complex, Watchung Terrace, in addition to helping the Borough receive $300,000 annually to subsidize rents for extremely low income residents. John has aided many local organizations including the American Legion John W. Lupo Memorial Post #306.