Rutherford Chamber of Commerce 73rd Annual Holiday Parade

By Jennifer Ersalesi

On Saturday, November 29th, the Rutherford Chamber of Commerce will kick off the holiday season with the 73rd Annual Holiday Parade. The parade will feature music from rock bands and the RHS Marching Band, special characters, floats, sports teams, community groups, businesses, and much more. Before the parade begins at 4:00 p.m., various activities will take place on the West End starting at 2:30 p.m. Little Play Cafe will serve hot chocolate, local band Fretless, Santa and the band, Stereo Junkies, will perform, and children can ride the Trackless Train for free.

This year's Grand Marshal is the Rutherford Fire Department, which will be celebrating its 150th Anniversary this year. Since 1875, when Union Truck & Bucket Company No.1 was formed, the Rutherford Fire Department has been an all-volunteer fire department. In 1886, Rutherford Fire Engine Co. 2 was founded, and in 1890, West End Engine & Hose Company No. 3 was created.

The fire department operates out of three firehouses - Ames Ave (houses Truck 1 and Engine 4), Mortimer Ave (houses Engine 2 and the Special Services Unit), and the West End/ Union Ave (houses Engine 3 and Rescue 5).

These are the 2025 Chiefs, Deputy Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs, and Lieutenants:

Chief of Department Bryan Sartori

Deputy Chief Christopher Branca

1st Assistant Chief Robert Buell

2nd Assistant Chief Jason Frahm

3rd Assistant Chief Justin Mohajer

Truck Company 1

Captain Andrew Michalski

Lieutenant Fredrick Liller

Engine Company 2

Captain Drew Scott

Lieutenant Robert Ziemkiewicz

Engine Company 3

Captain Moshe Stareshefsky

Lieutenant Karim Harrison

Engine Company 4

Captain Christian Dansbach

Lieutenant John P. Melfa

Rescue Co 5

Captain Mirsad Kucevic

Lieutenant Robert Van Winkle

3rd Assistant Chief Justin Mohajer, 1st Assistant Chief Robert Buell, Chief of the Department Bryan Sartori, Deputy Chief Christopher Branca, and 2nd Assistant Chief Jason Frahm.

The Rutherford Chamber of Commerce is proud to celebrate the many accomplishments of the Rutherford Fire Department. Their hard work, dedication to the safety of their community, and consistent bravery and heroism are the reasons the Chamber, along with the community, is proud to honor the Rutherford Fire Department as this year's Grand Marshal.

One of the featured bands performing on the West End before the parade and during the parade on a float sponsored by the Williams Center for the Arts and Blue Foundry Bank is Fretless. The band members all met at Rutherford Rock, which is a program run by the Rutherford Recreation Department. The band members are Luke Scano on drums, Kai Marinelli on bass guitar, Marc Smith on guitar, and Mia Kuznia and Felice Kakaletris on vocals. Fretless performs alternative rock and punk rock music. They cover bands such as System of a Down, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Vampire Weekend, and Ozzy Osbourne. Fretless has performed at Crossroads in Garwood, the Williams Center, the Bandshell at Lincoln Park, Porchfest, the Grand Opening of Chick 'n Chill, and this is their second year performing in the Rutherford Holiday Parade.

This year, the Rutherford Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce its featured parade sponsors: Smile Today Dentistry, located at 47 Orient Way, Lightbridge Academy, located in the Meadows Office Complex at 201 Route. 17 North, Fond & Faye, located at 21 Park Ave, and Mikayla's Thriftique, located at 155 Park Ave.