Hillsborough honors nine local businesses at 2025 Business Association awards

Susanna Karas, Hillsborough Township's economic and business development director, opened the 2025 Hillsborough Business Association awards dinner and introduced Mayor John Ciccarelli and EBDC liaisons to present honors to nine local businesses.

"We are here to support each and every one of you," Karas said, thanking township staff, volunteers and event partners for organizing the evening.

Mayor John Ciccarelli praised the local business community as a source of "strength, innovation, and pride," and encouraged businesses to use municipal resources and HBA connections as they grow. He also noted the township's diverse business base and recent initiatives to strengthen community engagement.

Awards presented included: - Arts & Culture Impact Award: Big Bang Music Center. Craig, who accepted the award on the studio's behalf, described 18 years of teaching and said, "Big Bang's more than just music — we're a family to these families." He thanked instructors and long-serving staff for helping students of all ages develop musically and personally.

- Experience Hillsborough Award: The hospitality award was presented to the coffee and tea business announced from the stage (the owner identified the shop in remarks as Aminato). Owner Oris Levitsky described a recent rebrand and said the award "is wonderful confirmation that we are on the right track," thanking staff and customers for their support.

- Hillsborough Vitality Award: Honor Yoga of Hillsborough. Nicole accepted, praised her teachers and staff and called the studio "a community-based business" that supports wellness and connection.

- Skilled Trade Excellence Award: Hillsborough Irrigation and Landscape Services. A company representative accepted, noting the firm's nearly five decades of service since its founding in 1977.

- Hillsborough Finest Slice Award: Joe's Family Pizzeria and Ristorante. Longtime employees accepted the honor and thanked generations of customers for continued support.

- Hillsborough Athletic Excellence Award: Max Fitness and Wellness. Brian, founder of the Max Challenge, and Jen accepted on the gym's behalf, describing the program's 10-week signature challenge and the center's role in members' long-term health transformations.

- Farm-to-Table Leader Award: Mishta. The owner described opening the Indian regional farm-to-table restaurant in 2024, thanked local farm suppliers and township inspectors for help with permitting and said the business celebrated its first anniversary recently.

- Lifetime Achievement Award: Petrox Bar and Grill. Family representatives accepted, recounted the business's multigenerational history since 1961, and noted their early move to a smoke-free floor policy in the 1990s.

- Hillsborough Rising Star Award: Robinson's Chocolate. Third-generation family representatives accepted, thanked the community for a warm welcome since opening, and highlighted custom confections for local events.

Throughout the evening presenters and commission leaders thanked Roycebrook staff and event partners for their hospitality; Teresa, a Roycebrook representative, noted this pavilion will be taken down in two weeks and said the venue will continue to support local events in other spaces. The Economic and Business Development Commission chair closed by encouraging continued participation in HBA networking and programming.

The dinner celebrated small-business resilience, community ties and a mix of long-established and recently opened enterprises that the township said contribute to local economic vitality. Organizers encouraged attendees to stay engaged with upcoming HBA events and networking opportunities.