BRICK – While there was no formal announcement during the August 11 council meeting that the remainder of the SummerFest concert series was cancelled, it became de facto when the governing body voted to extend the contract of the vendor who provides the fireworks by one year “based on the township’s decision to cancel the event,” said Council President Lisa Crate.
Schaefer Fireworks, Inc. of Ronks, Pennsylvania has agreed to provide fireworks for the SummerFest concert series 2021 at this year’s rate of $22,000, by which time state restrictions on social distancing for outdoor gatherings due to the coronavirus would hopefully be lifted.
During his Facebook Live session the following day, Mayor John G. Ducey confirmed the cancellation, saying that with crowd limits in place due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, people would have to be turned away since an average of 3,000 to 7,000 attend the popular summer concert series.
In other news from the zoom council meeting, each year the township receives Community Development Block Grant funds to be used for social service projects for Brick residents.
“Today we would be doing that large check ceremony for the CDBG recipients, which are social service agencies that provide…basic essential needs to our residents, and do so with caring and compassion,” said Mayor Ducey.
This year CDGB grants totaled $43,500 to the township, which had to be split between agencies that had requested more than $114,000, the mayor said.
“I do appreciate the federal government for providing the money,” he said, “but we don’t have enough to fill all the requests, though.”
Normally, grant recipients are invited to the council meetings where they tell about their organizations and the work they do, but since public meetings are not happening, Ducey spoke on their behalf.
The recipients this year are:
The ARC, which would receive $2,000 as part of its program to provide vocational skills training for people with intellectual disabilities.
Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey was awarded $10,000 to assist the homebound and elderly with nutrition, transportation to doctor’s offices and companionship.
Church of the Visitation soup kitchen, who would be receiving $2,500 to help fund the Visitation Church community lunch program.
Meal on Wheels (Community Services) was awarded $3,000 for healthy meals for seniors.
Contact of Ocean and Monmouth Counties would receive $2,500 for its crisis hotline.
Dottie’s House, which provides temporary shelter, counseling and support for victims of domestic violence for women and children, was awarded $2,000.
Interfaith Hospitality Network would receive $5,000 towards continuing efforts to provide support for homeless families with children, to assist homeless families with shelter, meals, tutoring and programming through a network of volunteers.
The Jersey Shore Council Boy Scouts would receive $2,000 towards its work preparing young people to make ethical choices over their lifetime by instilling in them Scout values.
Oceans Harbor House was granted $2,300 to assist homeless, abandoned and abused youth with shelter, meals, tutoring and programming through the work of professional counselors and case managers.
Providence House, which provides assistance to abused women by providing domestic violence counseling and legal advocacy in the family court system would receive $5,000.
St. Vincent de Paul Society Church of Epiphany is also receiving $5,000 to be used to assist abused women by providing domestic violence counseling and legal advocacy in the family court system.
And finally, True Vine Community Services would receive some $2,000 in grant funding to provide temporary shelter and counseling and support for victims of domestic violence, including women and children.
“Again, thanks to all the organizations working so hard to meet the most basic needs of all our residents,” Ducey said. “Your work is vital and we are pleased to provide you with financial support.”
The mayor said that if anyone is willing to volunteer for any of these organizations, contact Town Hall at 732 262-1240 or email him at Mayor@Bricktownship.net and he would get in contact with the executive directors of the agencies.
