In Eatontown, a new look at old ideas for the new year

By Coleen Burnett
Eatontown — A New Year sometimes means taking a fresh look at some old ideas.  At its January 11 meeting, the Eatontown Borough Council decided they are willing to look again at a couple of projects that have been discussed in the past but have yet to become reality.

Council President Anthony Talerico asked Borough Engineer Ed Hermann to revisit the idea of a community garden.Specifically, Talerico asked that the tentative plans and permits that were drawn up in 2015 be looked at again — ostensibly to make sure that everything is neatly in place should the idea be pursued in 2017.

The garden has been earmarked for Grant Avenue (probably in part of Husky Brook Park), subject to final approval of the council.

Mayor Dennis Connelly has said in the past that he would welcome such a project — with the borough spending a minimum amount of money, if any. At this session, he repeated those thoughts. He also urged Talerico to see if there was any interest in reviving the project in the first place.

“One of the problems we have with that property is that it would be open to anybody — not just Eatontowners. Before we invest more money and research into the project, we need to weigh all those factors,” said Connelly.
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Members of the Eatontown Food Co-op, a food bank for residents, came to the meeting to pitch the idea of a community food drive.

Various borough groups and organizations, such as borough employees, the P.B.A., Lions, Elks, Fire Department, First Aid Squad, and sports teams, would be solicited to help out. Volunteer Candace Faust explained that the drive would be based in the streets.

“Our volunteers would be sorted into groups and sent out to canvas the town — knock on every single door. A flyer would be ignored; this would put a face to the problem and it becomes something not easily forgotten,” she told the Council.
“Sounds like a good idea,” said Mayor Connelly.

A firm date for the drive has not been established, but it was determined that donations tend to be lower in the months of July, August and September.