Talk about bush league moves on the part of Middletown, this is a classic and one that I've never heard of any other towns doing.
Middletown "blacked out" field permits to all youth sports teams for tomorrow in order to encourage participation in the township's "Middletown Day".
This came as news to all the parents and kids who play youth sports over the weekend and based on the comments that I have been getting in my email and those on line at Middletown-Patch, these people aren't very happy about it; vowing not to attend Middletown Day in protest.
According to the statement issued to Middletown-Patch yesterday by Township Administrator Tony Mercantante, "The Township notified all leagues at the time field permits were being applied for, long before the fall season started, that there was a blackout day on September 29th and that fields and facilities were not going to be open.
This was done to make Middletown Day more accessible to the Township’s youth, who often in the past found it difficult to fit the festival into their schedules since sports commitments took up much of the day."
If this is true than assurances must have been given to the sports leagues at the time fields permits for the season were issued, how else do you explain the email sent out to parents of Lincroft Soccer participants who seem to have been blindsided by the news? I could be wrong, but it seems that plans were made to play :
To All Parents and Players,The following is from the Township: "All facilities are closed and a reservation block had been placed on them for Middletown Day. This is being done with the hope that families would have the opportunity to come down and participate, have their kids compete in the 3 athletic contests, and not have to run back and forth the morning of to any practices or games for any of the youth sports in town. That is why the facility permits issued have the reminder all fields are closed Middletown Day." We will have games next weekend.Kevin WilliamsLSCPresident
Regardless whether or not proper notice was given or plans were or weren't made to play youth sports games on Middletown Day, this is just another example of the arrogance that permeates throughout those that run Middletown and those that organized Middletown Day. Were they really that worried that no one would show up to the festivities and participate in celebrating the town that they felt it necessary to ban all township youth sports programs for the day?
What made them think the kids would rather come to Middletown day rather than play soccer or fall baseball just because there would be sports "games" being played at Croydon Hall? What, are there no other kids that live in Middletown,who don't participate in organized youth sports that couldn't come out and enjoy the games?
This was a bad precedent to set and oozes elitism that send the wrong signal to parents who's kids don't or can't play youth sports. It says your kids aren't good enough for Middletown, we want only those capable of playing sports entering our events.
Bush League!
23 comments:
Who thought that this was a good idea? What a bunch of knuckleheads.
Wonder if the American Civil Liberties Union should be notified and also the local newspapers . Is this action even legal ??
Maybe Heir Lawyer should issue a statement.
Sounds like the township folks are very anxious to have high attendance- will there be political pitches perhaps?
How about "encouraging" folks to pick up the brush that is already accumulating by levying some fines since they are apparently so adept at the "carrot and stick" for trivial matters such as this?
Middletown Day is a joke. overpriced vendors and little to no activities. no thanks. Shutting down the fields is an abuse of power.
The barbed wire and electrified fences are going up around all Middletown fields. Are guards being posted??
Very strange.
If you check the line-up of activities for Middletown Day, you will see it opens with a demonstration of the "punt, pass and kick" as well as a magic show. Now those are skills I know the current regime excels at! Can't wait to see our crop of carnival barkers demonstrate their well practiced shell games and disappearing money tricks!
When a citizen is DENIED a choice about what activities to participate in and the egos of these morons are more important than that freedom of choice ,it's time to show these creatures what AH's they really are.
Middletown Day is not worth the aggravation or loss of freedom of choice.
Not wasting time with this one. Just more political BS from the inept TC !
So let's get this straight, the Democratic Party of Middletown now stands in opposition to Middletown Day?
My understanding is that upwards of 10,000 people attend Middletown Day, or have done so in the past, clearly the largest and most participation for any township-wide event, and Mikey and the Democratic commeneters here are against it?
Talk about making mountains out of molehills - you guys are something else, LOL
And, Anon at 1:57, Really? The ACLU? I'll bet you're the same joker who is always calling for a "forensic audit" of everything in town, and calling for the Attorney General to investigate, now the ACLU?
Where does Linda stand on this? Is she opposed to allowing children who would otherwise not be able to fully participate in Middletown Day activities because of the demands of the sports leagues schedules the ability to take part?
This could be THE ISSUE for the election!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Run with that.
You guys are soooooo funny.
Keep up the faux outrage fellas, I'm going to Middletown Day...
Legion,
Where did I say I or the Middletown Democratic Party was against Middletown day?
You're attempt at agitation is weak.
I said it was a bush league move on the part of the organizers to close the sports fields in order to "encourage " participation of the youth leagues in the event.
From those I've talked to, both in town and from out of town, something like this has never happened before. There was no need for it.
As you said the day is always well attended, so why screw up the sports leagues schedules, extending a season just so it appears that they would rather attend Middletown day over playing their games?
Legion,
I am not a Democrat but a free thinking Independent and don't like the the excuses for TC representation in Middletown trying to tell me or anyone else what to do with their recreational time.
You AH's are good at this crap.
Middletown Day was so important last year,it was cancelled but the patronage went on and on! What a sham !
You are so full of s--t,it comes out your ears !
So is Heir Lawyer the 11:59 version of Legion or vice versa? BS artists,both of you.......
Motivation here seems clear......politically motivated to try and achieve a captive audience....
did you paint the noses of the TC members in attendance brown ?
Anon at 4:20 - Middletown Day was cancelled last year because in the past it cost money to run it.
It was revived this year because fund raising, vendor fees, sponsors and volunteers mean that there is zero cost to the taxpayers. Pretty good idea, huh?
Mikey - MY attempt at agitation? Aren't you the one who said that this was an "outrage?" Ir something like that? LOL
Anon at 4:26 - Are you trying to say something in German? Do you mean "Herr Lawyer?" I ask because I don't think Mr. Nelson is "heir" to any fortune or anything like that.
I think that before you make an ethnic or Nazi slur, you'd better make sure that you are spelling it correctly - kind of makes you look foolish otherwise.
Maybe someone should call for a "forensic audit" of your posts before you send them - LOL!!
With over 10,000 people attending today, I'd say those who wanted to sulk in a pity party weren't really missed.
Middletown Day is about being a resident of Middletown! Not being part of a league or team...
If the TC wants to blackout a day on the field schedule because of a townwide event, maybe its not a bad change of pace, but would anyone have known unless it was tried - NO!
Its not like the decision was made last week. Your acting like just becuase YOU found this out last week, doesn't mean it was decided last week or ALL the coaches didn't know about this.
I know its tough to see the forrest when your focusing on one tree, but if you stop drinking the cool aide, your vision may come back!
Legion,
Once again you make a comment that shows you're only interested in agitation. Nowhere in this post did I mention that I was outraged. I never used the word.
You have s bad habit of interjecting your own twisted thoughts onto words that were never said or written in order to make yourself seem witty.
Trust me, you're not.
Anon 7:25,
You're right, a few disgruntle people wouldn't have been missed if they did indeed decided to stay home. I doubt however there were 10,000 people there today.
Heir..
beneficiary , next in line .......spelling is correct.
It makes even less sense if you meant to say "heir..."
LOL
Middletown Day was terrific. A good time was had by all.
Did the methadone clinic that the all Republican administration bestowed on the township have a booth set up today?
I understand the exhibit on the Magic of Recycling displayed those old Money magazines with Middletown in the top places to live to demonstrate how yesterday's treasures are today's trash.
Guess you can eat your words now-
http://middletown-nj.patch.com/blog_posts/middletown-days-magic-mix-of-attractions-scores-with-families
Mike,
It's reading posts on both sides that keeps people like me Independant and not having a desire to join any party as anything done different is only cast in a light to bash the other "party". Is asking to take a day off the youth recreational sports in town really eliteism or Nazism? It sounds like the only schedule problem was on the part of the leagues if they failed to construct a schedule around a date that was not open before their season began. I guess their inability to properly schedule games for the next day or maybe a weekday make up is the town's fault. The people complaining are probably the same crazy people who put too much importance on the kids games and yell and curse at referees and fight with other parents in front of their own kids. I went to Middletown Day and the sports events were a small component of it. I don't think anyone wanted to up the competition of the games, maybe the families of the kids who would have had games deserve a day off and the choice whether or not to bring the family to a community event. When recreational sports are too important and you can't miss a day on the schedule to give families a choice you are kinda forcing them to play their games as I am sure it is held against the poor kids if they miss the big game because the parents chose a family day instead. If Middletown Day had upwards of 10,000 in attendance in the past then they had 20,000 to 30,000 this year as it appeared as if there were that many more people there than in the past. Funny, no big speaches by the Mayor or ANY TC members. Just about a 30 second welcome from the Mayor and that he hoped everyone enjoys the day. What a concept.... No soap box....no beating the we did this chest, just welcome and enjoy! With all the different events and entertainment and how many families were there, I would have been upset with the TC for spending what must be a small fortune for an event like that, but all off donations and vendor fees? I wonder what these leagues do when it rains on a Saturday as it often does and games are cancelled, oh then it's OK to play Sunday or during e week as they would have to play until December otherwise. Maybe these leagues should remember what they volunteer for and that the kids and their families are a little more important than the sport or what day of the week in which the game is played. At least the idiots who spoke of boycott, few as they may have been, had a choice not to attend; not something afforded to them by their coach I'm sure. I'm not sure who or how they changed how Middletown Day was laid out or run, but thanks as my family and many I spoke to really enjoyed it this year and I had no idea of how many different businesses and community groups were right here in town. Well done.
Well said! It was a very fun day and the cover band that volunteered their time was awesome.
The usual township apologists on this page constructed their own little issue out of whole cloth by throwing around this Nazi nonsense. As a Jew, I'm repelled by their bogus outrage revolving around a a slur which exists only in their own imaginations and which belittles the real horrors of the Nazism.
No one has an issue with people going to or enjoying Middletown Day. As always, it's the heavy handed way the Middletown martinets impose their will, even for minor stuff, that sticks in people's craws.
Just one more reason I can't wait to go to the polls this November and undo the harm I may have done by voting for some of these fools in the past.
Anonymous 9:06 p.m.,
That's exactly the point. ..the heavy handed way this TC treats the residents of this town. No respect is shown to anyone and especially none to anyone who disagrees with their conduct.
We the people of Middletown find TC meetings a drill in frustration and not worth the time or effort. Maybe the individuals who successfully put on this Middletown Day should RUN this town. It might then become a better place to live again.
The political landscape is rancid in this community and that is the fault of the majority party hierarchy of the Middletown Republicans. With near 70,000 residents, it's not all about that bunch but about ALL of the people who live here,regardless of party affiliation .Long past time to recognize that fact .
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