Middletown Hosts Rededication Ceremony for Murray Farmhouse During "Weekend in Old Monmouth"

Last weekend, Middletown Township was thrilled to participate in Monmouth County's 2-day event "Weekend in Old Monmouth". On both Saturday and Sunday, residents were invited to Poricy Park (345 Oak Hill Road) to tour the middle-class Colonial-era Murray Farmhouse and Barn. 

On Saturday, the Township held a rededication ceremony for the Murray Farmhouse to celebrate its recent renovations. The ceremony began with Revolutionary War reenactors presenting the colors and performing a gun salute. During the rededication, Monmouth County Clerk Christine Hanlon gave Mayor Tony Perry and members of the Township Committee a framed piece about Joseph Murray, a patriot who lived there with his family during the Revolutionary War. 

On Saturday, Girl Scout Troop #894 from Leonardo participated in "Weekend in Old Monmouth" by dressing in Colonial attire and teaching kids how to play games from that time period. Visitors also got to enjoy a petting zoo, while Colonial reenactors offered tours and a butter churning and bread tasting experience throughout the weekend. Additionally, the Middletown America 250 Committee was there to promote upcoming events and initiatives, as well as hand out 250-themed coloring books, pennants, and pins to those who attended.

Click HERE to view photos from the event.

MonmouthNJ 250 Committee's Podcast Talking 250 Highlights Middletown America 250 Initiatives

On Monday morning, Mayor Tony Perry was honored to be a guest on the MonmouthNJ 250 Committee's podcast, Talking 250, with hosts Monmouth County Clerk/MonmouthNJ 250 Co-Chair Christine Hanlon and MonmouthNJ 250 Executive Director Ted Maturo. 

While in the studio, Mayor Perry talked about the Middletown America 250 Committee's events and the importance of celebrating this milestone in our nation's history.

Be on the lookout for the episode coming soon!

Boy Scout Troops Participate in Cleanups of 

Historic Cemeteries

On Saturday, Middletown Landmarks Commissioner Roseann Eteson hosted cemetery cleanups at the Eastmond Burial Ground (York Avenue and Wood Avenue in Port Monmouth) and the Joseph Johnson Family Cemetery (121 Kings Highway). One of the initiatives of Middletown's America 250 is to recognize our Revolutionary War landmarks and Patriots. Beautifying these cemeteries where these war heroes are buried helped launch this effort.

Port Monmouth Boy Scout Troop #47, led by Mike Marinelli, focused on the Eastmond Burial Ground while Fairview Boy Scout Troop #140, led by Don Antenucci, dedicated their time to the Joseph Johnson Family Cemetery.

Thank you to these two troops for all their hard work in clearing these overgrown areas, preserving our local history, and honoring our Patriots!

Find Out the Answer to This Week's Township Trivia Thursday!

Middletown Township and the Middletown Township Historical Society are partnering to present Township Trivia Thursdays every other week. 

Test your trivia skills while learning more about our town and its rich history. This week's question can be found on middletownnj.org/trivia and the Township's YouTube channel. 

The next trivia question will be featured via the Township’s Instagram story on Thursday, May 22^nd. The answer will be revealed in the Friday, May 23^rd issue of Middletown Minutes and on our Township Trivia page. Follow us on Instagram!

Mayor Tony Perry and Monmouth County Commissioner Director Tom Arnone Host Successful Annual Small Business Roundtable

On Tuesday, Mayor Tony Perry and Monmouth County Commissioner Director Tom Arnone hosted their annual Small Business Roundtable at Town Hall. Over 40 small-business owners and employees attended, as well as state, county, and Middletown elected officials. 

Mayor Perry began the event by introducing the Township professionals and elected officials who where present as well as outlining the agenda which covered  several projects. 

Monmouth County Commissioner Director Tom Arnone discussed improvements to County Road 520 as well as programs the County currently offers to promote small businesses, such as Grown In Monmouth and Brewed & Distilled in Monmouth. He was also excited to introduce Slice of Monmouth, a new initiative the County will be officially announcing soon to highlight pizzerias.

Middletown Planning Director Amy Citrano provided updates about redevelopment for Campbell's Junction and the Route 36 Corridor. She also shared some feedback with the small-business owners about economic development from the Master Plan, which is currently in the draft phase.

Township Administrator Tony Mercantante spoke about the redevelopment project that is planned for Port Belford. Within the next few years, the Township expects to add shops, restaurants, an amphitheater, and more to the area. The goal for this project is to serve as a community hub where new businesses and jobs can thrive. The proposal has received all the required approvals from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), so now the NJDEP needs to come to the Township for site approval. Plans for this redevelopment project will be available online once the Township receives them. If you have any questions, please contact the Planning Department at 732-615-2098.

Thank you to everyone who attended this annual networking event. Middletown is proud to support our small businesses!

McDonald's Unveils New Renovations and Celebrates Grand Re-Opening

Mayor Tony Perry, Deputy Mayor Rick Hibell, Committeeman Ryan Clarke, and Committeeman Kevin Settembrino had a great time celebrating McDonald's' (925 NJ-35) grand re-opening and the completion of its recent renovations.

With Town Hall being across the street, we are especially excited to have a view of their new and improved golden arches! Whether McDonald's is serving our community with their classic and craveable meals or giving back through the Ronald McDonald House Charities, we are “lovin’ it” and wish them all the best!

The Plastic Surgery Center/Institute for Advanced Reconstruction Opens in Middletown

On Wednesday, Mayor Tony Perry attended the grand opening of The Plastic Surgery Center/Institute for Advanced Reconstruction (331 Newman Springs Road, Building 2). This 14,500-square-foot facility offers complex reconstructive procedures, transformative cosmetic enhancements, specialized hand surgery, breast health, and aesthetic treatments.

With their highly-trained surgeons and doctors, many of whom have double-board certifications, and skilled physician assistants, they aim to give their patients the best experience possible.

Visit advancedreconstruction.com for more information.

Exciting News: Tindall Park's Tennis and Pickleball Courts are Now Open!

The resurfaced tennis courts and newly dedicated pickleball courts are now open for play at Tindall Park! We kindly request that visitors abide by open play rules. Look for an announcement for an official ribbon cutting ceremony soon! 

Learn more about ongoing park improvements at middletownnj.org/parkprojects.

Middletown Parks & Recreation Hosts Successful Kids Fishing Derby

MTFD and Middletown Fire Prevention Remind Residents About the Importance of Smoke Alarms

The Middletown Township Fire Department (MTFD) and Fire Prevention Office would like to remind our residents about the importance of having working smoke detectors in your residence.

There is no doubt about it: SMOKE DETECTORS SAVE LIVES. Please take some time over the next few days to test your smoke alarms in your homes.

Smoke & carbon monoxide alarms are available at most hardware and/or department stores in the Middletown area. 

Remember, you want to "Hear the Beep, Where you Sleep"! Place smoke detectors in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, on every level of your home, in your living room, in basements/garages, and near stairways.

Should you have questions about your smoke detectors, including issues with installation, we urge our residents to contact the Middletown Township Fire Prevention Office at 732-615-2270.

Attend Second Public Input Session About Newman Springs Road/County Road 520 Traffic Improvements on Tuesday, 5/13 at 6 PM

Contribute Your Ideas to the North Middletown-Port Monmouth Neighborhood Plan on Thursday, 5/15 at 6 PM

Middletown Township, Affordable Housing Alliance, Bayshore Family Success Center, Ideal Beach Community Association, and Monmouth County Habitat for Humanity are creating a community-driven neighborhood plan for the North Middletown-Port Monmouth area! This neighborhood planning process will bring together residents, business owners, public officials, local organizations, and other stakeholders to develop a comprehensive set of proposed strategies and activities to improve the community.

Once completed, this neighborhood plan will unlock special state funding to implement these proposed strategies through the New Jersey Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit (NRTC) Program. 

The meeting on Wednesday, April 23^rd was rescheduled to Thursday, May 15^th at 6:00 PM at Ocean Avenue Elementary School (235 Ocean Avenue). We hope to see you there! 

Visit middletownplan.org for more information about the plan.

Attend Annual Police Memorial on Friday, 5/16 at 11 AM

Formally founded on May 15, 1928, the Middletown Township Police Department is celebrating its 97^th anniversary. The culmination of our Police Week celebration is the annual Police Memorial Service held at the Middletown Police Memorial, located at the corner of Kings Highway and Route 35. We encourage community members to attend.

Honor Our Fallen Heroes at Annual Memorial Day Parade with American Legion Post 338 on Monday, 5/26 at 10 AM

Visit middletownnj.org/parade for details about the parade route (pictured below).

Register Now for Middletown Alliance's 

Final Spring Parent Presentation

Next one is on Thursday, 5/22!

The Middletown Alliance proudly presents its Spring Parent Presentation Series! The Alliance hosted the first presentation on Thursday, March 27^th and the second one on Monday, May 5^th. The first presentation focused on current drug trends and the second one focused on social media.

 The final presentation will be about raising resilient kids and take place on Thursday, May 22^nd from 7-8 PM in the Training Room at Town Hall (1 Kings Highway).

Click HERE to view the graphic in a larger PDF format and visit middletownnj.org/presentation to register for the presentation.

Check Out DPW's Spring 2025 Brush Collection Schedule

NJAW Lead Service Line Replacement Program 

Door-to-Door Canvassing Continues

CDM Smith, on behalf of New Jersey American Water (NJAW), started a door-to-door canvassing effort related to the Lead Service Line Replacement Program (LSLRP) in Middletown on Monday, February 3^rd. The canvassing and internal inspections are currently taking place in the Harmony Elementary School District and New Monmouth Elementary School District in Area 1 on the map above. The entire canvassing is expected to take place over the next few months. 

All CDM Smith inspectors will wear co-branded (NJAW and CDM Smith) high visibility logo vests and will have NJAW-issued Contractor ID badges. Inspectors will introduce themselves and the program to property owners and will then ask to enter the home to inspect the water service where it enters into the home (typically in a basement or crawl space). 

The inspector will take exterior photos of the property and interior photographs of the service material and record the pipe material identified. Inspections generally take 15 minutes or less. At no time will residents be asked for money. Any customer that prefers to not have an internal inspection completed will be directed to alternatives to the inspections including self-reporting. 

The Middletown Township Police Department is aware of the canvassing. If you have any questions about LSLRP, please email njawlead@cdmsmith.com and LeadFreeNJ@amwater.com.

MonmouthNJ 250 Committee Announces Student Poetry Contest: Submit Your Entry By Friday, 5/16

The MonmouthNJ 250 Committee recently announced that they are hosting a Semiquincentennial Poetry Contest for Monmouth County students in grades 3-5 in recognition of America’s 250^th birthday. This contest invites students to write a poem reflecting upon what patriotism means to them.

Prizes will be awarded for each grade level. The winning essays will be showcased on monmouthNJ250.org and the MonmouthNJ 250 Committee's social media channels. It will also be highlighted throughout the committee's Semiquincentennial celebration.

The deadline for submissions is Friday, May 16^th and the winners will be announced by Sunday, June 1^st.

Click HERE for more information about the contest and how to submit your entry.

Last Day to Pay Quarterly Taxes Without Interest is Monday, 5/12 by 4 PM

Click HERE for more information about how to pay taxes.

Pay Off Library Fines by Donating Nonperishables through MTPL's Food for Fines Program until Sunday, 6/15

Food for Fines is back at the Middletown Township Public Library (MTPL)! Pay off your library fines by dropping off nonperishable food bank donations at the MTPL's Circulation Desk (55 New Monmouth Road) from Thursday, May 1^st through Sunday, June 15^th. Expired food items will not be accepted.
 
Each nonperishable item donated eliminates $1.00 of late fees. Patrons can reduce up to $10.00 per card. Please note that donations cannot be used to pay for lost items.

All donations will be brought to the food banks at Calico Cat (96 Kings Highway), Project Paul (211 Carr Avenue, Keansburg), and Middletown Helps its Own (612 Carter Avenue, Port Monmouth).

Attend MAC's Spring Arts & Crafts Festival TOMORROW (Saturday, 5/10) from 11 AM - 3 PM

Participate in MTPL's Financial Fitness Spring Series and Learn About Mortgages on Tuesday, 5/13 at 4:30 PM

Learn about mortgage basics with the Middletown Township Public Library (MTPL) at this financial workshop with Ryan Heitt of M&T Bank. The program will be taking place in the MTPL's Group Study Room/Classroom, located in the back of the Reference Area (55 New Monmouth Road). Registration is recommended.

Click HERE for more information and to register.

Shop at the Friends of the MTPL's Spring Book Sale on Friday, 5/16 and Saturday, 5/17 from 10 AM to 4 PM

Come to the Friends of the Middletown Township Public Library's (MTPL) Spring Book Sale to browse a selection of books, games, and movies for sale. Items will be available for sale outside the main library doors, beneath the overhang.

The Friends of the MTPL is a nonprofit operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. All funds go toward library programs and resources.

Shop or Sell in Our Annual Town-Wide Garage Sale on Saturday, 5/17 and Sunday, 5/18

Spring clean or shop ‘til you drop at our annual town-wide garage sale! This fun event is free for shoppers and costs $8 for households to register. 

Click HERE for more information and to get your house on the map.

Be the Difference Suicide Prevention Community Walk to Take Place on Sunday, 5/18: Sign Up Now!

On Sunday, May 18^th, the third annual Be the Difference Walk will be starting at the Middletown Arts Center (36 Church Street) at 10:00 AM and ending at Town Hall (1 Kings Highway). The proceeds from this event, which was founded by former Middletown High School South student Piper Wyman, are donated to the New Jersey chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. 

This year, Middletown High School South senior Alex Taddeo is spearheading the event. Mayor Tony Perry and the Township Committee are proud to support the event that will once again travel up Church Street to Town Hall. 

Follow @bethedifference_nj on Instagram and click HERE for more information and to register.

Register for Middletown Parks & Recreation's MLB Pitch, Hit & Run Competition Happening Tuesday, 5/20 at 5 PM

Join Middletown Parks & Recreation for MLB's Annual Pitch, Hit & Run Competition! This fun event provides children an opportunity to showcase their baseball and softball skills with the possibility of earning a chance to attend and compete for a championship during the 2025 MLB World Series. 

Register today because if Middletown gets 150 registrants, then our winners automatically advance to the regionals hosted at a nearby MLB stadium! 

Click HERE for more information and to register.

Register for Annual Relay for Life of Middletown Happening on Saturday, 6/7 from 6-10 PM

The Township Committee encourages everyone to attend the Annual Relay for Life of Middletown.

Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society's annual nationwide signature event that celebrates survivors, remembers those who have lost their battle with cancer, and unites our community to fight against a disease that has taken too much from too many. This year, Relay for Life will be taking place on Saturday, June 7^th from 6:00-10:00 PM at Middletown High School South (900 Nut Swamp Road).

Visit middletownnj.org/relayforlife to sign up.

• As of Monday, March 31^st, Chapel Hill Road is closed at Whipporwill Valley Road for construction. A detour is set. Properties 1-230 have access from the NJ-35 side. Properties 231-400 have access from Kings Highway East. The road will be closed 24/7 for approximately 6 months. Click HERE to view a map of the detour.
  
• Church Street in Belford (near Saint Mary's School) between Leonardville Road and Drift Road is currently closed to replace Bridge MT-10. It will be closed 24/7 to vehicular traffic through October, but pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the course of the project.
• As of Monday, January 13^th, Broadway is closed between Main Street (Port Monmouth) and Church Street (Belford) due to construction of the final phase of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Port Monmouth Flood Control Project. Broadway will be closed for approximately 2 years. Detours were posted. Port Monmouth Road between Main Street (Port Monmouth) and Church Street (Belford) reopened on Monday, January 13^th, providing an alternate detour route for the Broadway closure.

Middletown Township Animal Control Provides Information About Baby Birds Learning to Fly

Need Assistance? Utilize the Monmouth ACTS Navigation System

Monmouth County proudly offers the Monmouth ACTS Navigation System – an easy way for residents to find and access appropriate services in Monmouth County to meet their needs. Created as part of Monmouth County’s Department of Human Services, the Navigation System serves as one point of entry for residents to be connected to any human service provider in the County without needing to make multiple calls.

Call the Warm Line at 732-683-8959 to reach countless service providers and visit monmouthacts.org for more information.

Know the Difference: Tornado Watch vs. Tornado Warning

With tornado season generally being March through August in New Jersey, the Middletown Township Office of Emergency Management (OEM) would like to educate our community about how to prepare for tornadoes and stay safe.

Noted above is the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning. Stay on the lookout for additional educational materials!

Visit ready.gov/tornadoes for more information.

Connect with the Township to Help Correct Concerns

Middletown Township is now utilizing the “See-Click-Fix” platform so residents can easily contact the Township to report any concerns. The Township is branding this reporting tool as Connect & Correct since you can submit your request via the website and track its progress through completion.

Visit middletownnj.org and click on the Connect & Correct button. This link will direct you to a page of categories you can choose from to report your concern. Simply choose the relevant category from the list such as lost pet, pothole, sidewalks, playgrounds, etc. and add a brief description of the issue. You will be able to enter an address or pinpoint the location of the issue on the map. You will also have the option to attach a photo if you would like, and then you can click to submit the report.

You will then be able to track the status of the issue through updates on the platform or via email notifications.

Exciting news — the Connect & Correct app is now officially available on the Apple App Store and Google Play! The goal of the app is to make it even easier to report your concerns on-the-go as well as streamline communications regarding any concerns you may have.

Register for Middletown's Emergency Alerts & Updates 

Click HERE to access hi-res photos from this

e-newsletter. 

Facebook    X      Instagram      YouTube 

Verizon FiOS Channel 26/Comcast Cable Channel 20