Restaurateurs go to Washington

A delegation of restaurant operators from the New Jersey Restaurant Association, including two from Andover, traveled to Washington, D.C. to represent New Jersey at the recent National Restaurant Association’s annual Public Affairs Conference. They met with lawmakers on key hospitality, small business and consumer issues such as food prices, nutritional disclosure, affordable health insurance and tourism. Back Row, from the left: Jimmy Thornton, vice chairman, Grand Summit Hotel, Summit; Christopher Shaffery, member, White Castle, Statewide; Richard Dorchak, immediate past chairman, Cloverleaf Tavern, Caldwell; Wade Avondoglio, past chairman, Perona Farms, Andover; Stephen Hallett, board member, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, statewide; Jon Aneson, board member, Café Madison and Madison Pub, Riverside; and Harry Jensen, member, White Castle, statewide. Center, from the left: Laura Kalinich, director of membership, NJRA, Trenton, Lisa Hodgson. Front row, from the left: Deborah Dowdell, president, NJRA, Trenton; Ginny Avondoglio, Perona Farms, Andover; Jeanne Cretella, member, Liberty House and Stone House, Jersey City and Warren; Marilou Halvorsen, member and president of the Travel Industry Association, Jenkinson’s Pavilion, Point Pleasant.