Community magazine connecting our residents with the best businesses in the area. Features a Washington Twp family each month & includes local content
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John's Roast Pork is renowned for its roast pork sandwiches and cheesesteaks, a legacy started in 1930 and now continued by John Bucci Jr., and his mother, Vonda Bucci, of Washington Township. The family-owned business has earned significant accolades, including the James Beard Foundation America’s Classics Award, and remains a beloved South Philly staple. Learn about the Buccis' culinary legacy by checking out our July cover story!
Nick and Kim Corso opened Dolce Vita Gelato in Washington Township to share authentic Italian gelato and culture with their community, inspired by their travels and love for Italy. Meet the Corsos by checking out our June cover story!
May is , so there's no better time to recognize and write about Washington Township Police Department (Gloucester County) New Jersey Chief Pat Gurcsik. Deeply rooted in the community, Chief Gurcsik leads with care, fostering safety, pride, and positive engagement through transformative initiatives and compassionate policing. He's supported by his family's unwavering dedication. Thanks, Chief Gurcsik, for all you do! Washington Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey
Andre'A and O'Mar McDonald, a devoted couple with a passion for event hosting, have opened a new event space, Embellish Events, in Washington Township, reflecting their dedication to family, entrepreneurship, and community engagement. With their vision and commitment, they aim to provide a versatile and luxurious venue for various celebrations, embodying the motto, "If you can dream it, we can embellish it."
📷: Custom Designs by K. / Kimberly Pekula Photography
Meet the Carlozos, our family feature story for March! Catherine and Anthony enjoy local businesses and town events while pursuing their passions — like Zumba, cooking, and music — alongside their commitment to charitable endeavors and continuous personal growth.
Meet the Van Laeys Family! Led by Ryan, a tech entrepreneur, and Kelly, they embody the values of hard work, love, and community involvement in Washington Township, showcasing the importance of family bonds, fostering a supportive work environment, and engaging in neighborhood events.
📷: Chris Lemmer/Amazing Images Photography
If you drove in Washington Township or watched TV this past holiday season, you likely saw a Uszaki family light display. After their "Deptford Dazzling Lights" won ABC's The Great Christmas Light Fight, the Uszakis used the competition's $50,000 prize to help create GLOW at Washington Township.
Thousands attended the popular experience — a ¾-mile synchronized drive-thru display with 2 million lights and custom props, along with a "Dazzling District" with a Santa meet-and-greet, LED snowman, charity toy collection, rides, music, shopping, food trucks, and more.
"Years from now, I want adults to tell me they came to Glow growing up, loved it then, and still love it now," says Dan Uszaki. "I have always loved Christmas and the idea of community. Knowing my passions create traditions that span generations would mean everything."
Meet the Uszakis in our latest feature story!
A 2023 Year in Review — Washington Township Neighbors wishes everyone happy holidays and New Year! 🎄💥
Rowan University is a vital part of the South Jersey community, and this year is especially significant as it celebrates its centennial anniversary. From its humble beginnings in 1923 as the Glassboro Normal School, established to educate local teachers, Rowan has evolved into a comprehensive public research university with an excellent reputation. Learn more by reading our December feature story! 📷: Michelle Pardo Productions
We wish a happy Thanksgiving to our Washington Township Neighbors! Thanksgiving is a time to come together to reflect on blessings, express gratitude, and spend time with those who matter most to us. Our November feature story is about Katerina Karakavidis, who is all about family. From her early days working at her family's beloved Black Horse Pike establishment, the Whitman Diner, to venturing into dentistry and hospitality with P&G Party Helpers, her story is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance.
📸: Michelle Pardo Productions
Lyndesha is a driven single mom of four daughters — Kennedy, 21; Madison, 18; and 14-year-old twins Isabella and Olivia — who is making her dreams come true. With a master's degree in molecular biology, Lyn is a forensic scientist by day and cheer mom by night. Despite her busy schedule, Lyn is also a successful entrepreneur, as her true passion lies in baking as the owner of Fetch Bakery Mullica Hill. Get to know more about Lyn's inspiring story of being a "multitasking mompreneur" by reading our recent feature story!
📸: Michelle Pardo Productions
This month, we proudly featured the Meloni family, who has served high-quality food to area neighborhoods for more than eight decades — including since 1994 in Washington Township. The tradition all began in the heart of South Philadelphia. Next to their popular Melonis Butcher Block, the family is offering a new take on healthy eating through Taste: Plant Based .
📷: Michelle Pardo Productions
An NJ-licensed esthetician and owner of Skin City Studio in Washington Township, Tina DiPietro has been active in the aesthetics industry since 2012. When she is not spending time with her husband, Eric; sons DJ and Tommy; and beloved golden retriever, Harley, Tina is dedicated to providing her Skin City clients with exceptional skin health services, tailoring to their needs using innovative technology, non-invasive treatments, and highest-grade products. Meet the DiPietros by checking out our latest family feature story!
📸: Michelle Pardo Productions
Our resident feature this month was the Shecks, who strive to help others. Washington Township residents Casey and Tia Sheck have always loved helping people. Casey says one of his most impactful volunteering experiences growing up was helping families staying at a Ronald McDonald House while their seriously ill child was hospitalized. Today, he continues to put people first as a board-certified general surgeon and board-eligible plastic surgeon at American Surgical Arts. Meanwhile, Tia also positively impacts healthcare in South Jersey as the Director of Nursing Excellence at Inspira Health. “It feels good working with people and helping them reach their goals,” say the Shecks.
📸: Michelle Pardo Productions
Our resident feature this month was Cecilia Linda. Having worked as an assisted living executive chef and server for Washington Township senior citizens for the past several years, Cecilia consistently goes the extra mile, and her peers consider her a “shining star."
“Life is short, so we must enjoy it while we can,” Cecilia says. “That's why I try to make each meal special for my residents. I consider every one of them as family.”
📸: Michelle Pardo Productions
As we wrap up May, we would like to feature our cover story family from this month — the Kells. Through South Jersey Auto Tags, they appreciate the opportunity to support Washington Township residents with their DMV needs and thank them for accepting and allowing their business to grow.
“We look forward to networking and creating great relationships,” says Carrieann.
📸: Michelle Pardo Productions
This month, we featured Axel — not your typical canine. While Rottweilers are typically strong and powerful, he is 115 pounds of love. This past winter, the American Kennel Club named Axel as the top therapy dog in the country — as part of its prestigious 2022 Awards for Canine Excellence.
Axel is owned, trained, and handled by John Hunt — co-founder of the South Jersey-based Crisis Response Canines. The nonprofit’s mission is to provide strength, comfort, and emotional support to those experiencing intense traumatic emotions after critical incidents. Axel has become a leader in the organization, spending more than 2,000 hours with people in need across the U.S.
📷: Michelle Pardo Productions
Once written by S.L. Gray, “I have late-night conversations with the moon; he tells me about the sun, and I tell him about you.” For Washington Township residents Rosalie and Manny Gonzalez, the quote about long-distance relationships rings true, as they fell in love from opposite sides of the world. Meet the Gonzalezes by reading our February cover story!
📸: Michelle Pardo Productions
This month, we proudly feature Washington Township’s Joe and Teresa Scarpinato, who have been married for 20 years and are the proud parents of Lucia. They, along with Joe’s other children — Gia, Nikki, and Sal — have shared great memories over the years, many of them at their family’s restaurant, Scarpinato's Cucina & Catering.
The Scarpinatos relocated their popular and growing business from Greentree Road to a larger Fries Mill Road location in September 2018. But their family has owned restaurants in Washington Township for decades.
While the Scarpinatos' locations have changed, their delicious dishes — made using family recipes passed down through generations — have stayed the same.
A firefighter by trade and a passionate barbecuer, Washington Township native Fred Brewer says he is fortunate for his dual career — describing it as the “best of both worlds.” Meet Fred in our latest feature story!
📸: Michelle Pardo Productions
Happy Thanksgiving to our ! For resident Shanaye Bunch — a single mother of four girls — the holiday is a great time to reflect, express gratitude, and be thankful for the things in life that matter the most.
This month for Washington Township Neighbors Magazine, we feature Jennifer Rhine, NJ Outreach Coordinator for Rothkoff Law Group, and her family. For Jen, her husband, two daughters and future son-in-law, uplifting others in the community is deeply important. Jen says: “Having respect, compassion, and empathy for each other leads to happier families, happier neighborhoods, and ultimately, happier lives.”
All seven Varsity players on the Clearview Girls' Tennis Team advanced to the semifinals of the Gloucester County Open.
Dr. Eric Schwartz, athletic trainer at Washington Township High School, has been named among the NJSCA 2023 Hall of Fame inductees.
This month, we proudly featured Vicky Binetti — the 2022 recipient of the Greater Washington Township Chamber of Commerce’s Rick Zammer Award. The longtime resident has devoted countless hours giving back to the community, with a special focus on the environment. 🌲♻️
📸: Michelle Pardo Photography
As one of the top-rated Class of 2023 football prospects in the state of New Jersey, Washington Township High School senior John Stone has proven he has special talent.
Today, we remember and honor the lives that were lost on this day, 21 years ago.
We are saddened to learn of the recent passing of Thomas E. Hills, Sr, who we featured in our July 2022 issue.
Growing up in Indianapolis and later Atco, Tom could be found chasing fire trucks down the streets. Little did he know then that this childhood interest would spark a 50-plus-year career as a firefighter in Washington Township.
In December 1962, Tom became a charter member of the Whitman Square Fire Company. He was named its second-ever chief just four years later and was re-elected in 1967. Tom served in the role through 1982 and stayed on as a volunteer firefighter for many years after.
Tom got along with everyone and was well-respected among his peers. He was always been “on-call” and willing to give advice whenever someone knocked on his door — whether firehouse-related or personal.
Our thoughts are with the Hills family at this time.
Washington Township Neighbors magazine strives to bring people together by focusing on positive, inspiring stories about neighbors in our community. We're looking for our next story! Contact [email protected] if you or someone you know wants to be featured in an upcoming issue.
We wish our Washington Township Neighbors a happy Labor Day! Enjoy your BBQs and time with family!
NJ
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