West Bergen Mental Healthcare
Recognizes Chagares’ At Annual Brunch

On March 25, West Bergen Mental Healthcare celebrated its 31st Annual Brunch at the Sheraton in Mahwah and recognized the Honorable Michael A. Chagares and Mrs. Margaret M. Chagares, Esq., Wyckoff. At the Brunch, the Chagares’ (center, with gift) were presented with the Distinguished Service Award by: (l-r) Russell D. Kamp (Midland Park), President of West Bergen’s Board of Trustees; Robin M. Kazmierczak, Esq., (Oakland) Brunch Co-Chair and a member of the Board of Trustees; Susan Newell (Franklin Lakes) Brunch Co-Chair and a member of the Board of Trustees and Michael J. Tozzoli, LCSW, West Bergen’s Chief Executive Officer.

In presenting the award to the Chagares’, Mr. Kamp said, “I am pleased to join with my fellow Board Members in congratulating Peggy and Michael on this prestigious award. As a couple and as a family they exemplify all of the qualities that West Bergen values. They have both supported many worthy causes and West Bergen is one of the fortunate organizations to benefit from their time and talents.”

Peggy Chagares is devoted to her family and her community. An attorney, Peggy has contributed many hours to volunteer legal work – representing the working poor in court proceedings. In addition, Peggy is actively involved in many educational and recreational programs in Wyckoff.

Michael was nominated by President Bush and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate as Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in April, 2006. Before taking the bench, Michael was a Partner in the New Jersey law firm of Cole, Schotz, Meisel, Forman & Leonard, P.A. in Hackensack where he focused on litigation. He is regarded as one of New Jersey’s premier appellate litigators and was named a “New Jersey Super Lawyer” by New Jersey Monthly Magazine.

All proceeds from the Annual Brunch went toward West Bergen’s Center for Children and Youth in Ramsey. The Center provides quality counseling, psychiatric and addiction treatment services for youngsters in our community, age 2-18. No one is ever denied services at West Bergen because of inability to pay.