Local and county officials gathered Friday morning for the annual Hopewell Valley Mayors’ Breakfast, hosted by the Hopewell Valley Municipal Alliance at the Hopewell Valley Golf Course. The event, now in its 29th year, celebrated the Alliance’s ongoing work promoting healthy youth and strong communities — and recognized this year’s Volunteer of the Year, the STRIVE PTO.
Heidi Kahme, coordinator of the Municipal Alliance, opened the program and welcomed guests, including County Executive Dan Benson, Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, and County Commissioners Nina Melker, Kristin McLaughlin, and Lucy Walter. Local leaders in attendance included Hopewell Township Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning and Deputy Mayor David Chait; Hopewell Borough Mayor Ryan Kennedy and Councilmembers Sherri Hook, Krista Weaver, and Deb Stuhler; and Pennington Council President Nadine Stern. Representatives from the Hopewell Valley Regional School District Board of Education also attended, including President Anita Williams Galiano and members Pamela Lilleston, Amanda Stylianou, Mark Peters, and Michael Wilson.
Benson praised the Alliance’s work, calling it a “great example of what a municipal alliance should look like.” He also emphasized the County’s focus on mental health and the importance of supporting youth as they navigate growing challenges.
Peters-Manning spoke about the strength of the Hopewell Valley community, saying, “What sets us apart is that people show up for each other here. We live in troubled times, and it feels like we’re all supposed to be divided — but that’s not the case here. We need to make an effort to do more and be an example for our kids.”
Kennedy thanked the Hopewell Valley Regional School District and the STRIVE PTO for their work supporting local families. He also provided an update on the Borough’s Safe Routes to School project, which received a $1.5 million grant last year. An engineer has been selected and design work is now underway. Kennedy also spoke about the importance of addressing food insecurity and thanked organizations such as Aunt Chubby’s Luncheonette and the Hopewell Valley Mobile Food Pantry for their ongoing efforts.
Council President Stern offered brief remarks before Kahme presented the Volunteer of the Year Award to the STRIVE PTO. Kahme also read remarks from founding member Andrea Jacobs, who was unable to attend.
The STRIVE PTO — a parent-run organization supporting students with physical, cognitive, developmental, and medical challenges — was recognized for more than 15 years of dedicated service. Representatives Katie Furey and Maya Yatom accepted the award on behalf of STRIVE, which has been a member of the Hopewell Valley Municipal Alliance Executive Committee since 2019.
The PTO also received a Joint Legislative Resolution from Senator Shirley Turner, Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, and Assemblyman Anthony Verrelli, commending its “immeasurable contributions” to Hopewell Valley students and families.
