PLUMSTED — The Township Committee authorized the promotion of Plumsted Patrolman Earl Meroney to the rank of corporal at its Oct. 13 public meeting. Meroney fills the supervisory vacancy created when officer Matt Petrecca was promoted to sergeant, officer in charge, of Plumsted’s 12-member police department on Sept. 2.
According to Mayor Ron Dancer, Meroney was one of four qualified patrolmen eligible for the promotion with a minimum of five years’ experience to ultimately prevail in the promotional tests and interviews prescribed by department regulation.
Three of the four patrolmen who were considered for promotion, including Meroney, were hired in 2001, and one officer was hired in 2004. Meroney has served as Plumsted’s full-time school resource officer, the mayor said.
In other news, 30 additional parking spaces will soon be available in downtown New Egypt on Main Street as a result of the Township Committee awarding a contract to the lowest of six bidders, Marlin Construction, in the amount of $146,665. The Township Committee obtained funding from the state Department of Community Affairs Downtown Business Improvement Zone (D-BIZ) fund to pay for the new parking lot, according to Dancer.
Construction of the new parking lot is expected to begin within 30 days on the vacant lot at 6 Main St., next to the building that was formerly rented to the New Egypt Press and Bailey’s Fitness Center.
The specifications and drawings for the new 30-car parking lot, with entrances and exits from Main Street and Front Street, call for the installation of lighting, landscaping, benches, a bicycle rack, a Victorian-style clock and a flag pole for a park-like setting.
Plumsted’s D-BIZ funding application was prepared by the township’s Main Street/Neighborhood Preservation Program Executive Director Peter Ylvisaker. The members of Plumsted’s Main Street New Egypt board of directors and subcommittees worked with the Township Committee in a cooperative effort to apply for and submit the funding application, as well as the design specifications, Dancer said.
Also, Plumsted’s Municipal Alliance Against Alcoholism and Drug Abuse is providing a free senior citizen early-bird dinner on Oct. 23 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, 105 Lakewood Road.
The only bird in North America that dons red, white and blue is the bluebird, and Plumsted is uniquely its year-round home. Plumsted’s Bluebird Awareness Kickoff, benefiting the Ken Francis Environmental Stewards Scholarship Fund, will be held Oct. 30 at the Laurita Winery, Archertown Road, from 6:30-9:30 pm. For more information and tickets, contact Bill Lewis at 609-775-7134.
Fall Fest ’09 in downtown New Egypt will be held Nov. 1 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Ken Francis Memorial Kayak and Canoe Race/Tour will begin at 8 a.m. For more information on Fall Fest ’09 contact Lori at 609-758-7461.
A fall soup-and-sandwich social will take place in the senior citizen community room of the municipal building, 121 Evergreen Road, on Nov. 6 from noon to 2 p.m. The cost is $3, and seating is limited. To register, call the Senior Outreach Services office at 609-758-2241, ext. 111.
The annual fundraiser book sale hosted by the Friends of the Plumsted Library will be held on Nov. 6 from 2 to 7 p.m. and Nov. 7 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at New Egypt High School, Evergreen Road. In addition to the used books, CDs, DVDs, jigsaw puzzles and more will be available.
The Plumsted Township Council for the Arts is presenting the “Rat Pack” impersonators of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra on Nov. 7 at the Welcome Center, 31 Main St. at 7 pm. Tickets (including dessert) are $10 per person or $15 per couple. All proceeds benefit the arts council. For tickets and more information, contact the township clerk’s office at 609-758-7461.
The Township Committee will meet at 8 p.m. Nov. 4.