Some upcoming projects, three cheers for our police and EMS, and the yearly poetic snapshot of our town mark this month’s Message.

As to the projects, the town is considering, and has funding for, improvements at both Santelle Park, and Sickles Park and its entrance.

At Santelle, the proposal includes restrooms, pickleball courts, an extension to the dock, a small shelter for our rescue boat, and some benches along the waterfront; the current parking lot, tennis courts, basketball court and tot lot would remain.

At Sickles, a proposed new parking lot that drew fire two years ago has been altered to preserve trees and bring it further off Rumson Road while still preserving its purpose – eliminating the need for overflow parking across Harrison Avenue (the entrance to Sickles) and the resultant crossing of that busy roadway by children on their way to sporting events on the fields.

In addition, the easterly entrance to the park, off Rumson Road, would be widened and become the only entrance to the park, Sickles Market and the Parker Homestead. The westerly entrance would be closed and become green space.

Both proposals will be discussed at a February 27, 2023 meeting of the Borough Council at 6 p.m., and the public is invited to attend and comment. The intent is to make Sickles Park a safer place, and to enhance our beautiful riverfront park.

As to the accolades, police officer Jack Massaro was recognized for his professional response to a health emergency, de-escalating the situation and enabling EMS to treat a patient at Red Bank Regional High School, where Officer Massaro is the school resource officer.

In addition, Officer Scott Lorenson was appointed Team Leader for the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Maritime Emergency Response Team.

And we received a nice call from a resident who was very thankful that our EMS and police not only responded to a call, but that EMS then accompanied the resident during treatment and advocated for her, resulting in the diagnosis of a long-standing issue. We’re thankful for everyone’s efforts, and proud of all of our volunteer first responders and police.

Lastly, the snapshot. Here’s this year’s poetic effort at the January reorganization meeting to look back at 2022 and anticipate events in 2023. The intent is to inform and appreciate – but don’t look for it in any great poetry anthologies.

Do we mention COVID, I guess that we should, it seems to be sticking around;
With RSV and the flu, good Lord! - everyone’s had something, we’ve found.
So be courteous, be tolerant, just try not to spread what you’ve got;
Get vaxed if you’d like, get tested, and be sure to wash your hands - a lot.
We fixed stuff this year, a bridge, a train crossing, a trail through the wood;
A pedestrian crossing was lit up on Branch, Pinckney was paved and lined as it should.
Creatively financed, we have a new dock, at Santelle Park, come and see;
We’re shooting for restrooms and pickleball courts there, in 2023.
Parker Homestead won grants, has a kitchen and orchard, and a classroom in one of its barns;
Getting WiFi this year, so much more in the works, history lives on Little Silver’s old farm.
Our environmentalists won a Bronze award, and twice held environmental day,
And Shade Tree cared for our trees, but without, John Heidema, who sadly moved away.
This isn’t your father’s recreation department, which has baseball and softball and more,
But also concerts and courses for adults, Carlye and team are the best at the shore.
Our planners were busy, Colleen helped us through, we’ve a ten-year plan in place;
And this year they’ll consider a Dunkin and more, as applications proceed apace.
Our library could sometimes be hot in the summer, and in winter could sometimes be cold;
But tweaks and insulation made the climate just right, for Anita and patrons young and old.
Police reached out, gave us coffee with cops, and National Night Out? Great job!
So please pay attention when they say lock up your cars! – and PLEASE, remove your fob.
Superstorm Sandy’s tenth anniversary, reminded us to sign up for Code Red;
Affordable housing was in the works - a property and ordinances, plans moving ahead.
Public Works fixed up the building, we’re privileged to be in tonight,
“We can do that,” Director Gannon says, our guys have the talent, and might.
Paving, and drainage and picking up leaves, installing new water mains too,
And building on safety improvements, the defibrillators at our fields are new.
Our schools remained the best in the state, the voters approved in the fall,
But Mr. Nolan retired, Pam Albert did too, we’ll miss them, they gave us their all.
We’ll miss Janice as well, after years in the courts, and AJ serving in finance,
On the council Mrs. Thygeson vacated her seat, Doug Christensen’s taking a chance

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