LAKEHURST – The mayor and Borough Council got a royal visit from a pint-sized Poppy Princess during their latest meeting.
Five-year-old Poppy Princess Madison Lee Jones dressed in red, white and blue while sporting a tiara. She was joined by Lakehurst Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10061 Senior Vice President Harry Lee Young, Auxiliary President Lisa Springer and parent Heather Sloan for the occasion.
Members of the council purchased their poppies from Madison before her departure. The practice of gaining donations for the Buddy Poppies goes back to 1922. The VFW and the American Legion use the proceeds for the benefit of disabled veterans and family members of deceased veterans.
Young noted that throughout the month of May donations will be sought by veteran support organizations. “I urge all patriotic citizens to wear a Buddy Poppy as a symbol of our gratitude to the men and women of this country who have risked their lives in defense of the freedom that we continue to enjoy as American citizens.”
Madison will be waving to the crowd at the July 2 parade which is part of the Lakehurst centennial celebration that was delayed due to the pandemic.
Other business included the appointment of Martin Lynch as tax assessor, a resolution authorizing arrangements of the borough’s July 3 fireworks display and approving Lawrence DesJardins for membership in the Lakehurst Volunteer Fire Department.
The Council also voted on an ordinance that repeals a portion of an existing ordinance and adopts a new chapter adopting flood hazard maps to designate a floodplain administrator. This ordinance also provides for severability and an effective date.
Council President Steven Oglesby said he read a report from the Shade Tree Committee on new trees planted in the borough. “It will be interesting to see how they blossom in the next two years.”
Councilman Brian DiMeo noted that the Youth Recreation Committee made plans to hold another Nerf gun activity on May 14. “It was pretty successful last year so we thought we’d bring it back. They have to bring their own Nerf gun. We told the big kids to be careful with the little kids as they go out there together. We put up some barriers that they can hide behind.”
Councilwoman Bernadette Dugan said the steel for the refurbished pavilion had been installed. “There are some minor touchups to be done and there will be some lights put up in there. The street sign installation is commencing.”
Police Chief Matthew Kline and his department received some accolades from Council Robert McCarthy during the meeting. “They have made some significant arrests and we are getting some nasty stuff off our streets.”
