School and PBA pull together for the community

By Walter J. O’Neill, Jr

Long Branch – For the past four years the Long Branch Public Schools and PBA Local 10 of Long Branch have partnered together to help make the holidays for those less fortunate in the city look brighter and provide smiles for those in need.

Long Branch Public Schools Student Services Program Supervisor Tara Puleio and Long Branch Police Detective Michael Decker, who is also the President of PBA Local 10, stand with some of the items that will be given away on Saturday at the 2014 Community Holiday Celebration at Gregory School.

Saturday, December 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. a Community Holiday Celebration will be held at the Gregory Elementary School located at 201 Monmouth Avenue in Long Branch. “We will have family style meals, pictures with Santa, and fun activities for the children and much more,” said Tara Puleio, Student Services Program Supervisor for the LBPS. “Our biggest supporter over the past four years have been PBA Local 10 of Long Branch. The officers have donated coats, shoes, boots, toys and Christmas trees with decorations. At a time when communities around the country are upset with law enforcement, we get to show the positive side of what these brave men and women do for our community.”

All Long Branch residents are welcome to attend the celebration on Saturday. Puleio stated that they will even have a gift shop set up for students to get those last minute gifts for family members.