On Thursday morning, Dec. 5, I represented Mantua Township as the president of the Gloucester County Mayor’s Association at the 33rd annual county Mayors’ Prayer Breakfast at The Sapphire Grand in Deptford. It was a distinct honor to give the welcoming remarks at this service and to represent the 24 mayors throughout our county.
I was blessed to sit next to the keynote speaker, Rebekah Gregory. Rebekah survived the 2013 Boston Marathon after a terrorist bomb exploded less than 3 feet behind where she was standing with her son. She sustained life-altering injuries, including the loss of her left leg. She is quite the inspiration and an extremely humble spirit. To learn more about Rebekah’s story, please check out her website at rebekahmgregory.com.
On Saturday at noon, Wenonah’s American Legion Post 192 – with strong support from Mantua’s VFW Post 7679 – is sponsoring Wreaths Across America at the Wenonah Cemetery. This is the only Wreaths Across America event scheduled in Gloucester County this holiday season. There are 440 military veterans resting at the Wenonah Cemetery, with a goal of providing a wreath for each gravesite. If you’d like to sponsor a wreath(s) please go to wreathsacrossamerica.org and make sure to enter Wenonah Cemetery as the placement location. Also, please feel free to join us on Saturday for the ceremonial activities and to honor our veterans.
Clearview Regional High School will be hosting Pave the Lane for Mental Wellness on Monday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Toscano Theater. The Paul Michael Donahue Foundation and Faith on the Field are sponsoring this inspiring event focused on mental wellness at Clearview Regional High School. NFL Reporter Rob Maaddi and Eagles all-pro Lane Johnson will be sharing their personal journeys and insights on how to prioritize mental health. This in-person event is a unique opportunity to learn from these two amazing individuals and connect with others who are passionate about mental wellness.
Mantua and Harrison communities are combining efforts in support of mental-health awareness. The township committee and I recognize the seriousness of mental-health awareness, especially around the holiday season. We encourage our residents with teenage children to get involved and attend this event. It is free for anyone who would like to attend, however advanced registration is required at www.eventbrite.com.
Our Deck the House holiday decorating contest is in full swing and it’s now time to vote. We have twenty-eight residents participating this year in our second annual event. This year the categories are most colorful, most classical, most original and best inflatable displays.
The physical addresses of all the participants and the category they registered under is listed on our website at mantuatownship.com. To vote, go to our Google form where all the participants houses are photographed. We encourage you to drive by each of the houses and get a bird’s eye view of the creativity and holiday spirit displayed by all the participants.
You may vote for your top three favorite houses from each category. Remember, you can only fill out the form and submit it one time. Voting ends Friday at 11:59 p.m.
The MTPD was awarded a safe and secure communities grant from New Jersey’s Department of Law and Public Safety in the amount of $45,150.00. This grant money helps to off-set police officer salaries and is typically provided annually. The department also received a bullet proof vest grant in the amount of $5,533.22 and a $4,200.00 drive sober or get pulled over grant for supplementary drunk driving enforcement activities.
The township received an insurance dividend in the amount of $87,839.00 that will be credited against our 2025 insurance costs.
Upcoming township meetings and events:
- Thursday at 7 p.m.: Veterans Commission meeting
- Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Car-seat safety technicians
- Monday at 4 p.m.: Township committee meeting
- Tuesday at 5 p.m.: MUA meeting
- Tuesday at 7 p.m.: Land Use Board meeting
- Thursday, Dec. 19, 7 p.m.: Fire district meeting
On behalf of the entire township committee, we look forward to continuing our service with honesty, integrity and trustful leadership.
