“Drew’s Law” is named for 11 year-old Drew Keough Cerrata. The boy was killed in a motor vehicle accident last April
Legislation proposed by Senator Joe Kyrillos (R-Monmouth) and Senator Nicholas Sacco (D-Bergen and Hudson), Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, would lower speed limits to 15 mph on roads adjacent to or passing through parks when they are open or when children are present. Violators would face fines of between $100 and $400, double the current amount.
Dubbed “Drews Law,” the legislation is named Drew Keough-Cerreta, the 11 year-old Keansburg boy killed last April by a vehicle that was apparently traveling at the 25 mph speed limit.
“The Keansburg community is still reeling from this terrible loss,” said Kyrillos . We must make sure the roadways around parks give our children the utmost safety. The time to do that is now. Slowing traffic is a small price to pay and I thank members of Drew’s family and others for their input on this important measure.”
Joseph W. Pezzano, Drew’s uncle and a 29 year veteran of the Keansburg Police Department, was on duty and answered the call when his nephew was struck.
In a statement issued in support of the legislation, Pezzano said,
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Posted: June 25th, 2014 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Joe Kyrillos, Keansburg, New Jersey, NJ State Legislature | Tags: "Drew's Law" Keansburg, Drew Keough-Cerreta, Drew's Law, Josepeh W. Pezzano, NJ State Legislature, Sen Joe Kyrillos, Sen Nicholas Sacco | 2 Comments »
RAINE Foundation volunteers in Union Beach, November 2012. Click for larger view.
During the first week of November, 2012 Tim Mills was alone working on cleaning up what remained of his Union Beach home. He was making very little progress. His home was badly damaged and he felt there was no way possible for his family could return to the shambles or overcome the devastation. “I was in a very dark and desperate place emotionally that day, ” Mills recalled.
Mills noticed a group of at least 20 men and women walking down the street, approaching his home. He was scared, fearing they were looters coming to steal what little he had left. One of the group pulled the family’s American flag from the muddy debris that used to be the front lawn.
“Who the hell are you?” Mills shouted at the group. “We are from RAINE. We here to help,” the team leader responded. Mills stood in silence as the man, a U.S. Marine, who pulled his flag out of the mud draped it over the furniture that was drying out on his lawn.
“It was at that point that I didn’t feel alone or lost any more. I felt like somehow, we were going to be OK. That team saved my life that day.”
Mills donated his flag to RAINE (Reaching All In Need Everyday). Since then the volunteers that lead the non-profit have put the flag on tour as a symbol of leadership, perseverance and strength in the face of adversity.
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Posted: April 25th, 2014 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: RAINE Foundation, Superstorm Sandy | Tags: Joe Kyrillos, Raine Foundation, Sen Joe Kyrillos, Superstorm Sandy | Comments Off on RAINE Foundation passes the flag to Kyrillos
