Summer Playground - Banner Year!

Once again, I congratulate Doug Glassmacher and his counselors for conducting a superb summer program for our children.   I have received many emails from very satisfied parents.   I’m sure you can count on the continuation of that caliber program with Doug at the helm.

Two River Alert System:

For those who missed the newspaper articles regarding the new emergency notification system, I will briefly explain the set up.   The Borough of Shrewsbury and Little Silver along with Red Bank Regional High School launched the Two River Alert, a regional emergency text and voice messaging system.   This enables municipal and school officials to send email, text and voice messages to first responders and more than 12,000 residents via cell phones, emails and other mass notification during an emergency.   Alerts can now be sent simultaneously to all of these devices, increasing the likelihood that each resident will receive the message, no matter where they may be located at that time. As Police Chief Shannon Giblin noted, “providing information to parents and the public as quickly as possible is one of the most critical factors in saving lives and preventing injuries during an emergency”.   The service is free, and residents can sign up for the Two River Alert through the school districts’ or municipalities’ websites, or directly at www.tworiveralert.com

Memorial Park:

Bids for construction and initial landscaping have been awarded, and work should begin soon.   This will include moving the monuments from Borough Hall to this area

Planning for the surrounding gardens has already begun with the Garden Club and other community volunteers.   These gardens will be designed and maintained by and for the community.   Various plantings and objects will be available for donation by community members.

Memorial Park will be an attractive and special place for reflection and sanctuary, to remember those people and events who have passed before us, while enjoying the beauty of our natural surroundings.

We will keep you posted on progress, and are compiling items available for donation.   Anyone wishing to volunteer time to this effort will also be welcome.   We look forward to finally watching this special park become a reality, and once again, thank Monmouth County for the funding that has made it possible.          

Downtown Shopping Area:

My sincere thanks to Ben Lucarelli, owner of Markham Plaza, for the wonderful exterior upgrading of the buildings in the area. Also, accolades to all business owners who have enhanced the appearance of their establishments both inside and out plus the attractive addition of expansion awnings, benches, window dressings and the like!

School’s Open!

As the summer of 2010 draws to a close our children and grandchildren are off to school once again.   As drivers, we must obey all traffic rules and regulations and drive slowly when pedestrians or bicycle riders are present in the area.

·     Avoid using hand held cell phones and or texting while driving.   If   you must make a call pull over to the side of the road and stop.

·     Remember to make a full stop when pedestrians are in a crosswalk and allow them to cross the street safely.

·     Make sure your children are aware that they must cross at the crosswalks and to always look both ways before crossing the street!

Let’s hope we are now in for some cooler weather and much needed rain!

I am always available for a chat when necessary.   I can be reached at Borough Hall, 732-842-2400 ext. 119; Home, 732-741-8857; or s castleman@littlesilver.org

Most sincerely,

Suzanne S. Castleman

Mayor, Borough of Little Silver