Jane A. Cook

Jane A. Cook .................... Legal & Personnel

The Family of Irving Gladstein and Township Officials . From left to right: sitting - daughters Lynn Meznik, Beverly Stern, wife Sylvia and son Ned; standing - Council Members Joe Fischer, Ned Rosenberg, Mayor Joe Tempesta, Council Members Jane Cook, Bill Payne and Dom Aiello.

Last year, Jane Cook finished serving 12 years on the West Caldwell Township Council and, as is tradition in her town, the other cou ncil members offered to hold a brunch or dinner to recognize her years of service.

But Cook, who has been an advocate for breast cancer research aft er facing her own battle with the disease seven years ago, had a better idea. She suggested that the council use the money it would have spent her going-away dinner and donate it instead to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Last fall, West Caldwell Mayor Joseph Tempesta, Jr. made Cook even better offer - he would give all of the funds raised from his upcoming mayor's ball to the Komen Foundation's North Jersey affiliate in Cook's honor.

"I told her I would be willing to donate the entire proceedings," he said.
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Cook said she jumped at the mayor's offer and is spending her free time organizing the March 11 ball with other committee members. While she doesn't have a specific fund-raising goal, she hopes to sell at least 300 tickets.

Cook said she was drawn to the Komen Foundation because money donated to it pays for research and helps provide health care for the uninsured. "They provide mammograms for women who can't afford them," she said.

This year's ball is being held at the Greenbrook Country Club in North Caldwell and starts with a 7 p.m. cocktail hour, followed by a dinner and dancing to live music. Tickets are $125 per person, but there will be no auctions or other fund-raising at the ball itself, Cook said.
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For Cook, 55, the ball is a nice way to end her years on the council. She was the second council woman in West Caldwell's history, and the driving force behind getting the gazebo built at Crane Park and organizing the annual summer concert series there.

"I loved it," she said.

Honoree, Jane Cook, Major Joseph Tempesta, Jr. and members of the West Caldwell Council present a check to our Executive Director, Deborah Belfatto for the money raised at the West Caldwell Mayor's Charity Ball on March 11, 2005
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Jane Cook with her husband, daughter and son-in-law at the West Caldwell Mayor's Charity Ball

Left to right - Councilman Joe Fischer, Councilman Dom Aiello, Asst. Vice President and Bank Branch Manager Mary Ann Beltz, Councilman Bill Payne, Gazebo Committee Member Jane Cook, Mayor Joe Tempesta and Asst. Branch Manager Debbie Miele.

Jane A. Cook