Anonymous Postcard Asks "Why is no one talking about the "Restructuring" at Poricy?"

"Mike, Why is no one talking about the "restructuring" at Poricy?", asked an anonymous postcard that I received in the mail recently. That's a good question that I don't have an answer to.


At one of the Township Committee meeting back in August it was mentioned that the Department of Recreation, which used to be housed at Croydon Hall before being moved out to make room for Trinity Hall School, was moving from the old Port Monmouth satellite branch of the Middletown Library on Main Street, to the Poricy Park Nature Center. A notice was posted to the Township website shortly there after, which I posted  HERE with a commented.

Since I last posted about it, I've heard that a few individuals were let go and a number of volunteers were told that their services were no longer needed.  I've also heard that a number of  activity fees were either imposed or raised substantially as a result and a part of the activity center was being remodeled to house the Dept. of Recreation.

I haven't been over to Poricy Park in a few years, since my son finished Cub Scouts. The grounds and Activity Center were nicely kept and the people there were always wonderful to the visitors. I would suspect that some of that "nicety" will be affected by the changes.

If anyone else has any further information that they would like to add, feel free to leave a comment, I'd be interested in hearing from you.

Middletown Department of Recreation Relocated To Poricy Park

The Middletown Recreation Department is moving once again. It was moved from the Croydon Hall complex a couple of years ago to make room for Trinity Hall all girls school. It was relocated to old Port Monmouth Library on Main St. after the satellite branch of closed.  It is now moving to Poricy Park. 

I wonder what will need to be relocated from Poricy Park to accommodate the arrival of the Recreation Department.

Here's the public notice that was posted Friday on the township's website:

The Recreation Department office has been relocated to the Poricy Park Nature Center.

Poricy Park is located 345 Oak Hill Road, Middletown – just west of Route 35 South. There are directional signs posted on Route 35 and at the Parkway exits. Please pardon our appearance while we finish settling in.

Also please note the street address for GPS navigation is 345 Oak Hill Road, Red Bank.

Holiday Train Ride Tickets Saturday, December 14

Middletown Alerts:


Holiday Train Ride Tickets are on sale Monday through Friday from 9 am to 3pm, excluding Holidays at the Bayshore Annex, 180 Main Street, Port Monmouth. Tickets can only be purchased in-person at the Recreation Office. Cash, checks and credit cards are accepted. Fee is $15 per ticket.

The Holiday Train Ride will be held on Saturday, December 14. Train rides are available at either 10:00 am or 1:00 pm. Space on the 10 am train is limited. The trip features visits from Santa and friends, jugglers, holiday caroling, clowns, magic and goodie bags. Trains leave and return to Middletown Train Station.

Ride is free for children younger than 1 year of age, but a ticket is still required. Registrants will be assigned a specific car on the train at the time of registration. It is highly recommended if you would like to sit with other families that everyone registers early and at the same time. Pre-registration is required for this event. After November 4th, tickets sale will continue Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) from 9 am to 3pm.

Beach Alert: No Lifeguards on Duty, Bathing Prohibited at Middletown Beaches

From Middletown Alerts:

The Middletown Township Recreation Department announces that the Township’s two beaches, Ideal Beach and Leonardo Beach, are open to the public but will not have lifeguards on duty this summer until further notice. Due to conditions that may exist as a result of Superstorm Sandy, bathing is prohibited. For more information call the Recreation Department at 732-615-2260.

Sounds Like Fun - Sand Volleyball at Normandy Park

From Middletown Alerts:


This summer the Middletown Recreation Department will be holding an adult Sand Volleyball Program at Normandy Park. The program will run for 10 weeks on Tuesday nights, starting Tuesday, June 11. Teams will be picked weekly. To register, please go online and sign up with our NEW registration program, communitypass.net/Middletown. If you have any questions, please contact the Recreation Office at 732-615-2260. Looking forward to seeing you all on the court!

Mtown Newsflash 2-1-13

Seasonal Job Opportunities
Applications Accepted Beginning Saturday, Feb 2
Looking for a fun job this summer? Come work for Middletown Township! The Recreation Department Recreation is looking for enthusiastic and motivated candidates for our Summer Recreation Program. Lifeguarding positions are also available for our beaches – applicants must be a certified lifeguard from an accredited agency. The Public Works Department is seeking candidates to work in Maintenance – Parks, Roads, Buildings and Automotive.

Applications will be accepted beginning Saturday, February 2 from 10 am to 12 pm at the Croydon Hall Senior Center, 900 Leonardville Rd. After that day, return recreation applications to the Recreation Office, 900 Leoanardville Rd, Leonardo and maintenance applications to Public Works, 52 Kanes Lane, Middletown. Download applications from www.middletownnj.org. Go to Forms and Resources then Parks and Recreation to access application.


High School Scholarship Contest
High school juniors and seniors who live in Middletown are invited to submit essays about their local government for a chance to win a $1,000 scholarship in the 2013 Louis Bay 2nd Future Municipal Leaders Scholarship Competition.

The scholarship is offered through a joint venture between local mayors and the New Jersey League of Municipalities. The contest is open to any high school junior or senior who lives in Middletown. Each student must write an approximately 500-word essay on the theme, “What My Mayor and Governing Body Do Best,” to be included in the contest. The theme is chosen by the state League of Municipalities, said Mayor Gerard P. Scharfenberger.

All essays must be received by March 8, 2013. Read more

2013 Scholarship Application


New Hours
FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC)
Saturday hours for New Jersey disaster recovery centers will change to 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 2. Monday through Friday the hours will remain 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Location: Henry Hudson Trail Activity Center|, 945 Highway 36, Leonardo, NJ 07737

New Hours
Croydon Hall Relief Center
Wednesday and Saturdays Only 10am to 2:00 pm
900 Leonardville Road, Leonardo NJ 07737
Clean-up supplies, non-perishable food items, clothing & personal essentials
Keep Updated: www.facebook.com/croydonhallreliefcenter
VOLUNTEER: please click here http://vols.pt/hEK3M7 and sign up for a shift


2013 Ski/Snowboard Trip Registration Open!
Like to Ski? Interested in learning how to Snowboard? Join the Middletown Recreation Department on a trip to Camelback Mountain Resort (Tannersville, PA) on February 9th or February 23rd. Trips are open to all Middletown residents. Children under 13 years of age must have a parent/guardian present. Registration is ongoing until all slots are filled. If needed, a waiting list will be generated. Registration can be done via mail or in person at the Croydon Hall Administrative Office, Mon-Fri 9am-3pm. Visit www.middletownnj.org, go Recreation, then special events to download registration form.



Help Wanted: Part-Time Recreation Aide
Middletown Township is seeking part-time recreation aides for Tonya Keller Community Center to assist with recreation activities and preschool program. Must 18 or older, have a background in recreation and/or education, basic office skills, and be able work flexible hours including weekends. HS diploma req. Apply at Recreation Dept, 900 Leonardville Road, Leonardo 07737.


Sandy Recovery

Sandy Recovery Information Tips and FAQs
Americorps:www.facebook.com/AmericorpsReliefMonmouthCounty
Middletown Disaster Relief Fund www.middletownrelief.com
FEMA Assistance, SBA Assistance - REGISTRATION EXTENDED TO MARCH 1, 2013 www.disasterassistance.gov/ Find assistance, request assistance and track applications

SAVE THE DATE
Feb 2 – Season Job Applications Accepted – Senior Center, 10 am to 2pm
Feb 2 – Duprees and Planotones @ the MAC
Feb 9 - Ski/Snowboard Trip
Feb 14 – Tea & Chocolate Tasting – Library, 7pm
Feb 23 - Ski/Snowboard Trip
Feb 23 – Poricy Park Summer Camp Open House – 2-4p
March 1 - FEMA Registration Deadline
March 3 – MAC Open House 1-4pm
March 23 – Eggstravaganza
Oct 25 - Halloween Hullabaloo
1st & 3rd Saturday Monthly – Mayor’s Office Hours – 10 am to noon, Town Hall.

Heard it in the Hallways: Brightbill To Step in As Director of Recreation

Remember all the controversy that surrounded former Middletown Parks and Recreation Director Gregg Silva that lead to his termination retirement? If you remember there was speculation that former Deputy Mayor Pam Brightbill was interested in snagging herself a plum township job upon stepping down from the Township Committee and she had her sights locked onto the Parks and Recreation job being vacated by Silva. Of course at the time, she denied having any interest whatsoever in succeeding Silva as the head of the soon to be reorganized Department of Recreation, saying at the time the she preferred to continue volunteering on one or more advisory boards.

At the time of her denial, I thought it unlikely that Brightbill would take over for Gregg Silva. After all, she wasn’t qualified in the first place to assume the job but more importantly the job as Director of Parks and Recreation was (is) classified as a civil service position and from what I was able to gather at the time, Pam had never taken the civil service exam. Not that it ever mattered, in the past Middletown has changed many ordinances or resolution so that favored people could get a job, you only need to look at the lawyer sitting up on the dais next to the mayor, for a perfect example of the cronyism that I speak of.

So now it’s been six months since Gregg Silva stepped down and the department that he headed has now been downsized, reorganized and renamed as the Department of Recreation and Janet Dellet (Adams), who was the director of the Tonya Keller Community Center in North Middletown, was promoted to lead the new recreation department for the township and Pam Brightbill has been busy on the Planning Board and a few committees such as the Middletown Day Planning Committee. Her volunteerism has kept busy and floating around the hallways of Town Hall and Department of Recreation complex over at Croydon Hall, driving people crazy. So much so, that Janet Dellet’s job performance as head of Recreation is now being scrutinized after only a couple of months into the job and much of what she does is questioned by township administrators.

Do you think it could have anything to do with the fact that Janet Dellet is pregnant and will be going on maternity leave next month? There are some that think so. Especially since administrators won't tell anyone what the plan is for coverage while she is on maternity leave.

So why do you think people are so tight lipped and won’t give Janet Dellet or anyone else, any clues as to who will be taking over her duties as the Director of Recreation in her absence? The reason being I’m told is because Pam Brightbill will be covering for Dellet while she is on maternity leave.

It has been said that Pam is persistent when she wants something and eventually gets what she wants and she really wants to head the Department of Recreation; she has wanted to head the department for a long time.

I was told that she is the one responsible for talking the Township Committee into laying off all the employees in the Parks and Recreation Department last year because she didn't care for Gregg Silva, even though the programs sponsored by Parks and Recreation kept the department in the black and paid the salaries of  its employees. Brightbill couldn’t rightfully get him fired so she made his job as difficult as possible and waited for him to screw up so that she could take over for him one day.

Now that Janet Dellet will be leaving on maternity leave soon, Pam will have her chance to head the Recreation Department just like she has longed for.  The only question is will her reign be short lived and over as soon as Dellet comes back from her leave or will it be extended for some unforeseen reason? For Dellet’s sake, I hope that it is the latter.