Mayor’s Community Update: May 13, 2022
What a great week in the Borough! Some much needed rain may have dampened some of last weekend’s events and plans but not all! Our grasses are greener and our plants and trees are now vibrantly blooming. It’s a beautiful thing!
Here is a Catch Up of this Past Week in New Providence and Some of the Many Exciting Things Going On and Upcoming in our Community:
– It was with deep heartfelt appreciation and gratitude for her many years of outstanding dedicated service to our community, we announced at our Tuesday night 5/10/22 Council meeting, the retirement of our Police Chief Theresa Gazaway effective August 1st. Chief Gazaway has had a long and very distinguished career, most notably as our Chief of Police. She has been invaluable helping us through two of the hardest most challenging years ever in our community through the pandemic, social unrest, and Hurricane Ida to name a few. She will always have the distinction of being the first female Chief of Police in Union County, one of our best New Providence Police Chiefs, our neighbor, and our friend. We are devastated to see her go, especially me. We wish her well in all her future endeavors and thank her for her many years of outstanding service to our community. She will be very deeply missed. Read more https://www.tapinto.net/…/police-chief-theresa-gazaway…
Continue reading
Mayor’s Community Update: May 6, 2022
Welcome May and another great week in the Borough! Happy Small Business Week! We thank all our small businesses for their support of our community and encourage everyone to support local and SHOP NP! May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Our Diversity Committee and our Library have many exciting events and activities planned! May is also Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM). Let us all take this time to recognize the indelible contributions Jewish Americans have made, and continue to make to our history, culture, arts, sciences, music and society.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month:
-If you need help please call 866.202.HELP (4357) for free & anonymous emotional support 8am-8pm
Continue readingMee Lane and Douglas Street Pedestrian Bridges Officially Open
Mee Lane Pedestrian Bridge and Douglas Street Pedestrian Bridge are officially OPEN! A special ribbon cutting was held to commemorate the occasion. Mayor and Council are pushing hard to have the Commerce Street Bridge installed soon. The three pedestrian bridges were washed out and very badly damaged during Hurricane Ida and had to be replaced. Supply chain issues hampered installation causing many hardships and inconveniences for residents. The long awaited installations have been very warmly welcomed by the community, and have already been put to good use by walkers and bicyclists with the recent stretch of good weather.
Honoring Our Mothers
By Mayor Al Morgan
Read article on page 10: https://issuu.com/suburbanchambers/docs/collection_mothers_day-22_web_issue
Mayor’s Community Update: April 29, 2022
What a busy week in the Borough! We have another big update with many events, projects, and improvements going on in our community!
Here is a catch up of this past week in New Providence and some of the many exciting things going on and upcoming in our community:
The DeCorso Center is OPEN! We held our Grand Re-Opening this past Thursday with a ribbon cutting, tour of our newly renovated facilities, and refreshments. Free reusable bags were also distributed along with other giveaways. It was a very well attended event! The place looks great! It also feels great to be together again. We look forward to all the wonderful events and activities that can now resume and be held at this community gathering center. Thank you to our steadfast Borough Council, our Community Activities Director Allison Smith, our Director of the DeCorso Center Michelle Zack, all our Community Activities Staff, and Keith Lynch our Construction Official for their hard work restoring our center after all the damage from Hurricane Ida, and thank you also to all our volunteers and attendees for participating in the Grand Re-Opening event. DeCorso Center: (908) 665- 0046 – Email: decorsocenter@newprov.us. Read more: tapinto.net/towns/new-providence/categories/news/articles/large-crowd-celebrates-the-reopening-of-the-decorso-center-in-new-providence
Continue readingLarge Crowd Celebrates the Reopening of the DeCorso Center in New Providence
NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ – Mayor Al Morgan, Assemblywoman Michele Matsikoudis, New Providence elected officials, along with many community leaders were on site for the DeCorso Community Center’s “Grand Reopening” nearly a year since Tropical Storm Ida caused significant water damage to the facility.
Speaking in a room of over 100 attendees, Mayor Morgan exclaimed, “Welcome back,” and was quickly met with applause and cheers. “This senior center is such a big part of this community, you built this community, and we are happy to have you back,” he said.
“It looks terrific, I have seen the art room, and it looks beautiful,” said Linda Howe. Adding, “I live around the block I hope to be here often if they get exercise classes going again.”
Christine Maletano expressed joy, but also reflected on the path to the reopening, stating, “for us, this center has been closed since March 2020,“ due to the pandemic. “We lost a lot of members, it’s very bittersweet to be coming back here, but I am so glad.”
Allison Smith, Director of Community Activities, said the center suffered severe damage from floor to ceiling. “All the floors needed to be replaced, walls were cut four feet up and replaced all the way around; new paint, new ceiling, we had to replace everything,” she said.
During the time the center was under the repair, seniors temporarily resumed their activities in the municipal center. “Allison and the whole Recreational Department have been fabulous having us over, it’s been wonderful,” said Michelle Zack, Senior Center Coordinator.
Zack and Arthi Shri Selvaraj, Senior Center Program Coordinator, came up with a list of activities the seniors enjoyed most, and designed the new and improved space to accommodate the activities. Some changes include the flex room, which was previously a storage room and is now being used as a fitness room and possibly a rec room. The room directly adjacent to the great room, which was previously never used will be used as the treasurer’s office as well as a place for book club, knitting club, discussion, and small gatherings. The previous fitness space is now being used as the art room and is filled with art created by seniors.
The DeCorso Community Center is located at 15 East Fourth Street, New Providence. To reach the DeCorso Community Center, please call (908) 665-0046 or e-mail decorsocenter@newprov.us.
Reopening of New Providence Celebrated
Mayor’s Community Update: April 22, 2022
Happy Earth Day! What a great week in the Borough! We have a big update today with so many exciting things, new projects, and improvements going on in our community! Please be sure to support all our wonderful local establishments and SHOP NP!
Here is a catch up of this past week in New Providence and some of the many exciting things upcoming and going on in our community:
Continue readingMayor’s Update: April 15, 2022
Zumbini with Allie Celebrates Grand Opening with Ribbon Cutting
NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ – Sing, Dance, Play, and Learn at New Providence’s newly opened Zumbini with Allie.
Allie Lasota opened this new spot to be the destination for families in the greater New Providence area relating to children’s music entertainment and provide the “best” experience in music and dance starting at infancy through adolescence in a safe and energetic environment.
Lasota and her family celebrated the grand opening of her new studio with a ribbon cutting ceremony along with Mayor Al Morgan, Councilwoman Diane Bilicska, and Michele Elefante and Cindy Reis representing the New Providence Business Community.
“Welcome to the New Providence community,” said Mayor Al after he cut the ceremonial ribbon. “There is no other facility like this in New Providence. We’re very gratified that you are here.”
Lasota started her business after having her daughter and moving to New Providence where she quickly brainstormed and researched different music and theater programs. She found the Zumbini LLC Franchise and began offering weekday classes, after school classes, and birthday parties. She had a vision of owning a studio and has reached that goal by opening Zumbini with Allie, a children’s music and dance studio.
“I love what I do, and I think my passion really shows,” said Lasota. “I put a lot of love into this studio and believe our community and children really need a place like this to explore.”
Continue reading