MANCHESTER – The year 2022 will be marked for its changes and challenges that took place throughout the community.
The challenges started early, with a slight delay of the Township Council’s first meeting of the year due to a serious crash that blocked Route 37 and caused a few detours.
“The state of our Township is strong, and the future is bright,” Mayor Robert Hudak said. He was sworn into office at that meeting to finish up the end of the term of the previous mayor, who left to become a judge. His oath of office and that of Councilwoman Michele Zolezi were administered by Manchester Township Judge Daniel F. Sahin, in front of family, friends, township employees, and dignitaries from the county and state.
Councilwoman Joan Brush who served as vice council president last year took the gavel as council president while Zolezi was chosen to serve as council vice president.
While Hudak won his first political battle against challenger Robert Arace in 2021 he would face him twice more during 2022.
First, they went head to head in the November election. It was a crowded ballot with three mayoral candidates and six council candidates (two Republican teams and a Democrat team). When the dust cleared and the votes were counted, the election proved inconclusive as none of the candidates received a 51% plurality and a runoff was called for on December 6. Trenton later pushed this back to December 13 for all runoff elections in the state.
That contest was left between Hudak and his running mates and Arace and his team. In a neck and neck race, Arace and his team ultimately won.
In other news, two new police officers and two new firefighters were sworn in by the mayor. The Police Department welcomed Patrolmen Lorenzo Jorge and Connor Maliff. Also sworn in for service were firefighters Danielle Curiale and Levar Wright.
That same month, members of the Township Council voted to award a contract for a redrilling project for Well 5 that included improvements to the water utility in the western service area.
Business Administrator Brandon Umba said, “This is a well that was built in the 1960s as part of the old Crestwood community system that we acquired. It has become silted in and has become faulty so the township is looking to use American Rescue Plan money to redrill the well.”
The Township School District continued its focus on social emotional learning (SEL) and celebrated student participation as part of International SEL Day. Students are learning to focus, cope with stress, and how to get along with each other and it has become more crucial as they struggle with mental health issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The activities of SEL Day focused on the five competencies for social emotional learning identified by the New Jersey Department of Education which include: self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision making, social awareness, and relationship skills.
Ridgeway School Counselor Melanie Jaenicke and Vice Principal Kerry Young designed lessons for the event and showcased resources based on this year’s SEL Day theme: ‘Finding Common Ground, Pursuing Common Good.’
Later in the year it was all fur one as students teamed up with an animal rescue organization for learning – and to help animals find homes. Manchester Middle School teacher Kristine LaPorte proposed the project whereby the school district has formed a partnership with All Fur One Pet Rescue (AFO) in Toms River as a method to engage students while meeting curriculum standards.
LaPorte was happy to see it come to fruition and noted that AFO is a local non-profit organization whose mission is “to create a community of like-minded individuals with a passion for animals that strive to reduce the homeless pet population through rescue, safe harbor, proper care and camaraderie.”
She said, “their facility is designed to “promote mental wellness for rescued pets, focusing on de-traumatization and transitioning from ‘shelter animal’ to ‘loving, family pet.’”
The year also noted the planned departure of two familiar faces. Long time Councilman Sam Fusaro announced his plan to resign sometime in January as he was moving to Toms River Township. Township Clerk Sabina Martin announced her plan to retire at the end of January and Deputy Clerk Teri Giercyk was appointed to take over those duties and title on February 1.
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