Tami Eagle Bowling, Creator of #LightUpMBC Live
Tami Bowling is an inspiration. Diagnosed with incurable metastatic breast cancer (MBC) at the age of 41, she radiates only positivity and joy. I am in awe of her. A decade after defying her prognosis, Tami lives with purpose demonstrating the power of science and research and channeling her grief by fighting harder. She is a powerful advocate for those living with Stage 4, giving motivational speeches through her company, The Eagle Method and through her work with #LightUpMBC. Here she champions what is now hailed as the largest visual representation of awareness for MBC. Prominent landmarks across all 50 U.S. states, 20 countries and 176 cities illuminate in teal, green, and pink - the colors that represent Stage 4 (Teal for spirituality & healing, green for hope and pink for breast cancer). This year’s #LightUpMBC landmarks include One World Trade Center (NYC), the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (OH), Matagarup Bridge (Australia) our very own Township of Scotch Plains Building, and Fanwood Borough Hall (NJ). This happens annually on October 13th, National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day, and it culminates in a global livestream event, #LightUpMBC LIVE featuring musical performances and inspiring patient stories. Tami is the Co-host of this event, and more impressively, the original Creator, now having raised over $2M in funding for Stage 4 breast cancer. For her commitment to Faith over Fear, we say thank you Tami!
Ron and Kara Shovlin, Resident Do Gooders
Shovlin has been a household name in our community for over fifty years. A family business that is well regarded for their exceptional custom mattresses, customer service and witty ad campaigns. As funny as they are, Ron and Kara Shovlin’s commitment to giving back is serious and intentional. First, investing locally is a top priority. Not only have they maintained their mattress warehouse and showroom in Fanwood but they will soon launch a second Fanwood business - Beem Light Sauna - opening at the new Soho Development. Their generosity stretches far beyond local investments. Last year, they ensured comfortable rest for those who served by donating 100 mattresses to veterans at Valley Brook Village in Basking Ridge. This year, a percentage of mattress sales will benefit the NJ Chapter of Make-A-Wish, bringing dreams to life for children facing serious illnesses. Over the years, their commitment to breast cancer awareness has been unwavering, with thousands of dollars donated to the cause.
Ron and Kara collect pajamas and books for foster kids, and open their doors to Girl and Boy Scout Troops, offering tours that invariably end with joyful bouncing on beds. Their dedication to sustainability and eco-friendly practices is equally profound. A proud partnership with One Tree Planted, a non-profit dedicated to combating global deforestation, sees a tree planted along the Appalachian Trail for every wood product sold. To date, Ron and Kara are directly responsible for over 11,000 trees planted. A few years ago, they embraced solar energy, powering their operations with clean energy. They also bear the cost of recycling every mattress they take away and collaborate with the local Green Team. For their commitment to making their community and the world a better, more comfortable place, we say “Thank you Ron and Kara Shovlin!”
Riley Yau, Rescue Squad Volunteer
By the time this goes to print Fanwood native Riley Yau will be at basic training in Fort Jackson, SC as he prepares to enter the Army. A recent VoTech graduate, Riley spent the better part of his high school years volunteering at both the Fanwood and Scotch Plains’ Rescue Squads. In all, he logged over 2,500 hours serving as an EMT and caring for the people of our community during their times of need. As Vice President of the Fanwood Rescue Squad, Riley brings his generation’s perspective to ensure longevity in the organization. Riley shares that he was hooked after his first shift, working alongside “The Tuesday Crew” while also getting EMT certified. With his sights set on becoming a nurse, Riley carries a heart of service - dedicated to the community over himself. Thank you Riley!
Bill Picard, Scotch Plains Fanwood Community Ambassador
As the Moderator of the Scotch Plains Fanwood Neighbors Facebook page, Bill Picard is responsible for fostering a sense of community and town pride in the place we can all be found: on social media. Bill took over as Moderator in 2023 with 1,000 followers. Today it has over 23,000. Bill’s ability to maintain decorum in open discourse is a reflection of his even temperament. He is respectful, objective, and most importantly, informative. Born and raised in Scotch Plains, Bill has chosen to raise his own family here calling it “the best place to live”. He is Chairman of the Town Environmental Commission. Treasurer of the Scotch Plains Public Library and a member of the Green Team. He can often be found roller skating around town, enjoying coffee at Blackdrop and posting hilarious messages from scammer accounts trying to worm their way into the group. And for that, we say Thank you Bill!
Frank Lettera, Summer Fun and Fund Raiser
June 20th marks the first day of summer for most, but in Scotch Plains–Fanwood, the season begins with Patrick’s Downtown Race to Summer—a 5K Family Fun Run created to honor Patrick Allocca. Nearly 25 years ago, longtime resident Frank Lettera lost his nephew Patrick at only 31 years old. In 2010, Frank organized the first race at Oak Ridge Park with just 45 participants, donating all proceeds to The Center for Hope. What began as a small tribute has grown into one of New Jersey’s largest nonprofit races. This year, Frank raised more than $50,000 and welcomed nearly 1,000 runners and families. With 100% of proceeds reinvested locally, the race has funded scholarships for local students and financial aid across a variety of community needs.
Eugene Raphael Oppido, Carpool Tech Talks
Eugene Raphael Oppido, known to many as "Mr. Tech," is a trusted local business providing expert technology support and repair services. From fixing smartphones and computers for free after the recent flooding to setting up home networks and offering personalized tech tutorials, Eugene approaches each job with professionalism and care. His friendly demeanor, patience, and extensive knowledge have earned him a loyal following and glowing reviews from clients of all ages. Eugene takes pride in making technology accessible and less intimidating for everyone. Whether troubleshooting a device or giving advice on the latest gadgets, Eugene’s mission is simple: to help people stay connected and confident in today’s digital world.
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The American Red Cross
On July 14, torrential rains caused significant and devastating flooding in Scotch Plains and the surrounding areas. With homes and businesses affected, American Red Cross disaster volunteers went door-to-door offering relief. Together with Scotch Plains Police they installed a fixed station for two days at SPF High School, where impacted residents could collect clean-up kits, water, relief supplies and a warm meal. All together, Red Cross volunteers distributed more than 3,000 clean-up kits to help 1,200 families across three counties. They served 7,800 meals and together with community partners, provided 49 overnight shelter stays. Over 150 families with destroyed or severely damaged homes also received direct financial assistance. Red Cross disaster responders and caseworkers worked more than 13,500 volunteer hours to bring comfort and care to those affected by the flooding. “I was proud to serve alongside our team of Red Crossers who mobilized to provide relief to the many families impacted by the flood event this summer,” said Kim Goetz, Executive Director, American Red Cross of Central New Jersey. “Despite seeing the pain and grief so many felt as they faced the reality of cleaning up their homes and navigating loss, we also witnessed resilience, a strong sense of community, and hope. We are grateful for the quick and efficient collaboration with officials from Scotch Plains Township, Union County, and other local organizations to provide our mission services and connect those affected with additional programs offered by our partners.” Thank you Red Cross!