Mantua continues to distinguish itself as one of Gloucester County’s top communities, and recent winter storm “Fern” was no exception.
With 10.5 inches of snow dumped on our community on Jan. 25 and 26, we took the crown for the highest accumulation in the county according to nj.com. Our township rose to the occasion with professionalism, preparedness and pride throughout one of the most challenging storms in recent history.
Thanks to the coordinated efforts of our public works, Municipal Utilities Authority, police, fire, emergency management and the cooperation of our residents, Mantua met the moment with a strong sense of community. On a personal note, I got quite the workout this storm, clearing my own driveway four times.
A word on coyotes
- Many already know that Mantua has had its share of coyote sightings over the years. One of them has been making regular visits to my backyard in the Sewell section of our township in the past two weeks. Wildlife is very active this time of year and coyotes are especially busy in the winter months, when food is scarce and it’s mating season.
- While the animals generally avoid people, residents with small pets should remain vigilant. Keep pets indoors or on a leash and directly supervise outdoor time. By staying aware, we can safely coexist with the wildlife around our community.
‘A good friend’
Trish Peterson was honored by Mantua last March in conjunction with Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. It’s with profound sadness that I share the news of her Jan. 26 passing after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Trish was a resident of Mantua Township since 1991 and had fought Stage 4 colon cancer since 2018.
Trish was a good friend, former neighbor and registered nurse, and embodied the bravery, strength and resilience needed to handle such obstacles. During her toughest times, she worried about others, and selflessly wanted to help promote the importance of early detection through colonoscopies.
Our thoughts and prayers are with her husband, Tom and her entire family during this most difficult time.
Worth mentioning
The township committee and I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Police Chief Darren White, who has filed for retirement effective March 1. Officer White has been with the department for 25 years and has served as our chief since August of 2017. At our township committee meeting on Monday, we will appoint Capt. William Murphy as officer in charge until White’s departure.
We also want to commend Melissa Gildein, who manages our finance office. She is a Mantua resident and recently passed the very difficult New Jersey Certified Municipal Finance Officer exam, earning Chief Financial Officer designation. Congratulations to Melissa as we look forward to her taking on a more active role in our finance department.
A new tree
Our Christmas tree in Chestnut Branch Park at the circle has seen better days and will soon be retired. We will be purchasing a new tree for its replacement and are working through the logistics now. The new tree is expected to be a Norwegian Spruce about 22 to 25 feet in height and will be bought using tree trust funds.
We’re hoping the tree will be planted before the spring or late fall – timing is very important with this species. Our goal is to unveil it at this year’s holiday winter festival.
