Lakehurst Looking For Lifeguards

Lake Horicon is in need of lifeguards. Those interested should contact Lakehurst Borough Hall. (Photo by Sydney Kennedy)

  LAKEHURST – The borough needs some lifeguards for Horicon Lake. During a recent Borough Council meeting officials discussed the lack of applicants for what is normally a very popular summer job.

  Councilman Robert McCarthy asked that a borough message board be used to bring more awareness that lifeguard positions are available.

  He also noted that the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office has a cadet program that might have an interested applicant and that he’d be reaching out to them.

  Borough Clerk Maryanne Capasso told The Manchester Times on July 7 that the borough is still in search for a lifeguard.

Residents Favor Marijuana Dispensary

  A special meeting of the Council was held on July 1.. “It was just for the public to voice any concerns that they may have regarding the sales or cultivating of marijuana,” Capasso said.

  Ten residents came out to speak about the issue. All were in favor of allowing cultivation and sales of cannabis in the borough according to Capasso.

  This bucks the trend of many Ocean County communities such as Lakehurst’s neighbor Manchester Township which passed an ordinance on June 28 banning the sale of marijuana and its cultivation on township property.

  Other communities that have passed similar ordinances include Lacey, Brick, Jackson, Seaside Heights, and Seaside Park. Lakehurst Council’s July 15meeting agenda includes the introduction of their cannabis ordinance.

  The State of New Jersey has given municipalities until August 22 to pass an ordinance that would allow them to opt out of marijuana sales, growth and related industries within their communities. Otherwise, as marijuana was legalized through a ballot question in the last election, businesses would be able to apply to operate within those towns. That deadline also allows for communities to opt in with ordinances tailor made with restrictions that make sense to their town, such as restricting locations.

Community Events

  Councilman McCarthy recommended that this year’s National Night Out event be held at the lake instead of the ballfield due to irrigation work at the field. The event is to be held later in the summer. “I thought we could also reach out to the Board of Education. I strongly recommend we shut down that area just as we do the Car Show. We aren’t doing anything else this year so it might be a nice break for the residents to have something.”

  “A lot of people come out for it,” Mayor Harry Robbins noted. Night Out involves community interaction between municipal police, fire and emergency service agencies along with businesses and various vendors.

  “I’ll reach out to our school resource officer,” McCarthy said.

  In a similar vein, Councilman Brian DiMeo spoke about the idea of a Community Night to be held at the lake in the fall. “This would be something to bring people together. Maybe we could have some music. It would be for a couple of hours.”

  Councilman James Davis added, “this would essentially be a cruise night from 6 to 9 p.m. instead of doing it downtown. It would be the second week of September.”

Problem At The Playground

  Council President Steven Oglesby noted a problem at the playground at the lake. “It was pointed out to me several weeks ago that the rock-climbing portion of the playground equipment had some cracks in it.”

  Oglesby said he called the Department of Public Works and added, “I don’t know if we will end up having to replace it or repair it. I don’t know if there is something we could do to it but I’m afraid someone will get scratched on it or cut and if it continues to crack like that it could be a problem.”

  Mayor Robbins said the cracks at the top of the rock-climbing apparatus were patched but had since been found to have re-cracked.

  “If we can’t repair it, it may cost a lot of money to get another one,” Oglesby added.