As we come to the end of 2025 and look forward to the new year, here’s a look back at Williamstown’s top stories.
Honor Flight of Southern NJ is the only hub that services New Jersey veterans and holds two trips throughout the year – one in October and one in April – at Williamstown High School.
Honor Flight
It’s a patriotic sight to see when the Honor Flight of Southern NJ departs from and returns to Williamstown High School.
The chamber choir and band showcase their musical talents for the veterans. Students, staff, faculty, local businesses, organizations and members of the community are on hand for a block party to welcome them back.
The honor flights to Washington, D.C., evolved from a class project in 2008 through now retired educator Pam Pontano. She still co-leads the trips alongside her husband, Ron, along with Gretchen Czbas, chair of the social studies department at the high school.
On Oct. 16, the community sent out its 24th flight with 90 veterans from across the state. Their tours of duty spanned the Korean and Vietnam wars.
Honor Flight of Southern NJ is part of the national Honor Flight network, a nonprofit dedicated to honoring America’s veterans by providing them with a free, one-day trip. There are a number of Honor Flights in the tri-state area. Honor Flight of Southern NJ is the only hub that services New Jersey veterans and holds two trips throughout the year – one in October and one in April.
The next honor flight is scheduled for April 14 and will be the organization’s 25th trip.
Shades of Harmony won first place in the 2025 Atlantic Bay-Mountain Region 19 competition of Sweet Adelines International in April.
Voices in harmony
After performing “Almost There” and “Back in the Old Routine” during the small barbershop chorus competition between 10 a cappella groups from four states, members of Shades of Harmony gathered in the ballroom of a Lancaster, Pennsylvania, hotel on April 7.
“Wouldn’t it be great if we got third place?” the female group’s membership chair, Karen Bonin, recalled asking as the singers awaited results of the Region 19 competition of Sweet Adelines International. “It wasn’t us. Maybe we’ll win second place. It wasn’t us.
“When they announced that we won, all of us leapt out of our seats and screamed,” she recounted of the first-place win. “I lost my voice.”
“It was a huge accomplishment, above and beyond what we were looking for,” noted musical director Lori Ludlum during the group’s weekly practice on May 13 at the Whitehall School auditorium in Williamstown. The win came as Shades of Harmony celebrated its 20th anniversary as a chartered chorus.
“All of the stars were in alignment,” Ludlum believes. “As we celebrate two decades of harmony, friendship and growth, this milestone is a beautiful affirmation of what our chorus is capable of.”
To recognize the group’s award-winning performance at Region 19, Monroe Township council honored Shades of Harmony during its meeting on April 23. Mayor Gregory Wolfe and Council President Donald Heverly presented the chorus with a certificate of recognition to celebrate the win.
Shades of Harmony is a women’s barbershop chorus and member of Sweet Adelines International, a worldwide organization committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education and performance.
Monroe police held a ceremony in March that included the promotion of John McBride (back row, second from left) to chief of police, Capt. Mark Burton (next to McBride) to deputy chief, Lt. William Yorio to captain, Sgt. Edward Brown to lieutenant and officer Daniel Marino to sergeant.
‘Well deserved’ promotions
With the retirement of Police Chief Ryan Borkowski came a number of worthy promotions within the Monroe police department.
“As you can see, one retirement spurs various promotions, which is always good for the police department,” said Mayor Greg Wolfe, a retired officer who noted he had served with the promoted officers, at council’s meeting on March 26.
“These gentlemen who were promoted tonight. It is very well deserved.”
Borkowski introduced new Chief John McBride, who served as his deputy chief. The former was chief for a year before retiring after a 27-year career in law enforcement on Feb. 28.
“The police department is rich in tradition,” Borkowski noted. “These ceremonies like today are part of that tradition. A promotional ceremony gives recognition that they deserve.”
McBride has been a member of the department for 27 years. He graduated from the 62nd session of the Atlantic County Police Academy on 9/11 in 1998 and rose through the ranks from patrol, corporal and sergeant to lieutenant, captain, deputy chief and now chief.
“He took the task of supervision very seriously,” explained Borkowski, adding that as deputy chief, McBride was “spot on.”
McBride served the patrol division and the tactical entry team, and was the department’s first drug recognition expert. His roles also included detective bureau investigator, federal taskforce officer with the Drug Enforcement Agency and field training officer.
With a salute, Borkowski pinned McBride, the 14th chief of police. Following that were the promotions of Capt. Mark Burton to deputy chief, Lt. William Yorio to captain, Sgt. Edward Brown to lieutenant and officer Daniel Marino to sergeant.
