The band GNGR won the annual Rock Fest competition on Saturday.

The annual event is sponsored by the Wayne Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Abuse (WAPSA). It is designed to give teenagers and young adults a safe place to hang out without the pressures of drinking alcohol or taking drugs.

Eight bands took to the stage at the Wayne YMCA. Each band played a few songs. GNGR won the $500 grand prize. Garrett Bell sings and plays guitar, Jake Lefkowitz plays lead guitar, Jake Miller plays bass guitar, Michael Barry is the keyboardist, and Nick VanLeer is the band’s drummer.

“It was great to see how much Rock Fest has grown,” said Robbin Gulino, coordinator of the Alliance. “We were so pleased to have more bands participate than ever before.”

Sgt. Charles Ahearn, Detectives Mark DuBois and Mike Zaccone of the Wayne Police Department helped run the event. Neil’s Pizza, Mayor Chris Vergano, and ShamRock School of Music in Pompton Plains sponsored Rock Fest.

WAPSA is funded by a grant from the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. The group meets the third Wednesday of every month at noon in health room two in the municipal building.

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