John Pittari Named Recipient of 2018 James J. Clark, Jr., Community Service Award
The officers and board of directors of the Woodbury Business Association have announced that John Pittari, owner of New Morning Market in Woodbury, has been named recipient of the 2018 James J. Clark, Jr., Community Service Award.
Initiated by the WBA in 2003, the Clark Award acknowledges a commitment to community service and volunteerism that James Clark personified over 40 years to the Woodbury community. Clark Award candidates are nominated by both WBA and community members. Mr. Pittari prevailed in the voting from a list of nominees.
“There are a great deal of people contributing their time and energy to doing good,” said Rick Richardson, president of the WBA. “But few of us can ever hope to match the tireless effort which John Pittari has made to helping people and improving the community.”
New Morning Market is celebrating its 47th anniversary with the majority of those years under the ownership of John Pittari. Under his direction, the market provides so much to the local community, including quality foods, products and services which are healthy for people and the environment, and are humanely produced and support a sustainable lifestyle. He has encouraged the sustainable and humane production of local foods by seeking out local producers that share New Morning’s vision and meet the market’s quality standards.
Mr. Pittari has led New Morning to be a practicing repository of knowledge for the community about the values, philosophy and information needed to live a healthy and wholesome life. Meanwhile, he has gathered a community of holistic health professionals who share in a vision of how to live a healthful, wholesome and sustainable life and therefore, mutually support each other’s mission.
To Mr. Pittari, goodness at New Morning also means sharing knowledge and culture. Classes include variable topics on health and well-being, music, the mystical and many more. The free, ongoing Singer Songwriters events in the Community Room at New Morning offer original music performed by local artists. Annual Earth Day celebrations in April at New Morning Market, and elsewhere in Woodbury, have been organized or assisted by John Pittari. New Morning’s annual Ice Cream Social Benefit for Safe Haven is held every June to assist victims of domestic abuse. Then there are the many quiet donations and contributions to the local community by John Pittari and New Morning that never make the headlines. Mr. Pittari will be honored at the James J. Clark Community Service Award Dinner at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 20, at the Curtis House Inn, 506 Main St. South. The cost is $35 per person with a portion of the proceeds to be donated in John Pittari’s name to the Community Services Council of Woodbury. Meal choices include sirloin steak, roasted chicken, grilled salmon and pasta primavera.
Additional information and reservations may be had by visiting the Woodbury Business Association website at www.woodburybusiness.org Payment is by credit card online (preferred) or by cash or check at the door.
