|
Works in progress, upcoming concerts by truly talented bands, the passing of a revered town leader, a courtesy reminder, and more mark the dwindling summer season here in busy Little Silver.
First, of course, this important yearly entreaty: please keep a careful eye out for students walking and biking to school as the academic year begins. With a couple upcoming road projects, please pay close attention to detours or lane closures, and if need be, make extra time for travel.
Our kids are counting on you to do your part. And our talented crew of police officers are watching.
And speaking of police, on a sad note, we mourn the passing in August of former police chief and former fire chief Tom Bruno. Chief Bruno also served on the First Aid Squad (now the EMS), and in retirement was a fixture in town, often out mowing his lawn and waiving to virtually every resident who passed by.
On behalf of the Governing Body, we offer our condolences to wife Kris and family, friends, and colleagues on the LSFD, LSPD and EMS, who honored the Chief with a procession and observances throughout town. His service was exemplary, and he will be missed.
Please remember also to honor the memory of those lost in the September 11 attack by terrorists on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the plane that was commandeered and crashed in Pennsylvania. This area was particularly hard hit 22 years ago, and Monmouth County has declared a holiday on that day and will hold a service in Atlantic Highlands in observance.
As to the works in progress, as I’ve written here previously, the Borough Council continues to discuss enactment of a tree preservation ordinance, and safety improvements at Sickles Park.
The intent of the tree ordinance will be to prevent the wholesale removal of all trees on a lot to make way for new construction, and the removal of certain single, larger trees without a permit. An ordinance is being worked on, and once a version is formally introduced, a public hearing will be scheduled.
The Sickles Park improvements include reconfiguration of the current parking lot to allow easier, safer entrance and exit; the addition of 24 parking spots adjacent to the playground (reduced in size, and using a pervious surface at the request of the Environmental Commission); and the removal of the current entrance/exit of Harrison Avenue at Rumson Road to accommodate a new entrance/exit to be located where the current one-way entrance is, extending straight back toward Sickles Market.
Current plans are available for viewing at Borough Hall, and we are working on creating a visual that can be more widely distributed. An application for a county grant has been submitted to help fund the project.
As to the concerts, Little Silver may soon become known as a music mecca. First, on Labor Day weekend, and through the generosity of John Luckenbill (John, his dad and mom and family are famous for their musical Little Silver background) his accomplished John Luckenbill Pops Band will be playing at the Gazebo on Markham Place at 7 pm on September 3, 2023.
The band plays throughout the area and especially at Shore venues throughout the summer. Its repertoire is diverse, including rousing renditions of pop songs, Broadway tunes, medleys, and each of the military service branch songs. Anchors aweigh, my friends!
And on October , we’re fortunate to have one of the hottest cover bands at the Shore, The Cliffs, play behind Borough Hall. I saw them recently, and even guys who haven’t danced in years were out on the dance floor. The Black Magic Woman guitar solo alone is worth the price of admission (which is free, by the way, thanks to the generosity of the Little Silver Endowment Fund).
And speaking of the Endowment Fund, this is a new 501c3 funded by generous donors, designed to help support municipal improvements that the town might otherwise not be able to afford. Much of the recent 100th Birthday Party is an example of its work. Those interested in learning more can contact the Borough Clerk’s office at (732) 842-2400, or contact me directly at my information below.
Regarding the courtesy reminder: yes, Little Silver, we have a noise ordinance. It’s been a nice summer, and parties have proliferated, lawns have been mowed, and all kinds of noisy outdoor activity continues to take place. But please be courteous: if that party might go late, if you’re thinking of starting that outdoor project involving power tools in the early morning, remember your neighbors, and consult either the Borough Clerk’s office or check the ordinance online for timing purposes.
As a couple residents have pointed out, you really don’t want your neighbors having to call the police. Avoid the issue entirely and just be courteous.
In other news, August’s National Night Out, courtesy of the Little Silver Police Department, was a hugely successful community gathering. Held on borough fields with food, demonstrations (love that demonstration on the minivan, LSFD!), and more, this annual event was a great way for the town to come together, meet our police and emergency volunteers, and enjoy the food provided by some of our generous local businesses. Great job by all!
Coming up, the well-known Little Silver 5K returns this year on Sunday, October 1. To register for, or sponsor, this critical PTO fundraiser, go to www.littlesilver5k.com. Kids too!
And our Environmental Commission will again hold Environmental Day on . This increasingly popular event at the Women’s Club will take your gently used clothing, dispose of your electronics, shred your paper, and provide various environmental seminars and information from 9-1.
And that fall baseball classic, the old-time Monmouth Furnace ball game at the Parker Homestead, is scheduled for September 7 at noon, with the historic Homestead open for tours until 4 p.m. that day.
Lastly, we want to mention a recent meeting of the Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce, attended by local mayors, County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone, and others. We appreciated the invitation to discuss ways that businesses and government can work together to everyone’s benefit.
We encourage all of our business to consider membership in the Little Silver Business and Professional Association or the EMACC, or both. If you would like contact information, please contact the clerk’s office in Borough Hall.
On behalf of the governing body, we wish everyone a happy end of the summer, and good health as fall approaches. As always, please call borough hall with any concerns, or contact me directly by calling my home phone at (732) 576-8595, or emailing me at bobneff80@gmail.com.
print
