Leeann

Middle ‘rookie’ Recreation Aide named Employee of the Month for welcoming ways

Since joining department in January, Dominic Caraballo has connected with community

Recreation Aide Dominic Caraballo says he is happy to be ‘part of an operation that cares so much about the community and the kids.’

Middle Township Recreation Aide Dominic Caraballo works hard to make sure the department’s facilities are kept clean, organized, and safe – but it’s his warm, welcoming smile that the community notices.

Caraballo says he wants everyone who uses the rec facilities to feel welcome and safe, and he treasures the connections he has made through his work.

“The most enjoyable part of the job for me has always been the friendships you make with people throughout your time being here,” he says. “I’ve never been part of an operation that cares so much about the community and the kids, especially youth sports. It’s truly an honor to work in Middle Township.”

After just seven months on the job, Caraballo has made enough of an impression to be named Middle’s July Employee of the Month.

Caraballo is honored to receive the recognition, which will be officially awarded at the July 18 Township Committee meeting.

“I am full of gratitude,” he says. “This is not an individual nomination; my coworkers deserve this honor as much as I do. We all truly work together as a family for the best of Middle Township Recreation.”

Committeeman Jim Norris, who oversees the Recreation Department, says Caraballo is an asset to the residents of Middle Township as well as the recreation facilities.

“Dominic’s work ethic, demeanor, and positivity toward our residents has been recognized and lauded by multiple people in our community,” he says. “I applaud his well-deserved achievement and see big things in his future with the Middle Township recreation team.”

Kim Osmundsen, Business Administrator and Township Clerk, nominated Caraballo based on her interactions with him.

“Each and every time I am at the recreation center, whether it’s in a professional role as the Business Administrator or as a parent of a child in a recreation program, I witness firsthand his pleasant and professional demeanor,” she says. “Dominic is a hard worker and it is a true pleasure to have him work with our Recreation Team.”

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Middle Lets Every Dog Have its Day at Work

Township teams up with county animal shelter for National Take Your Dog to Work Day

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Ollie needs no training in customer service as he waits to greet the public with owner Emily Bartleson in the Township Clerk’s Office. Ollie and other employees’ dogs visited Town Hall to celebrate National Take Your Dog to Work Day.

It was a “pawfect” day at the office for Middle Township employees when their four-legged best friends became co-workers to celebrate National Take Your Dog to Work Day.

The pets shared office space at Town Hall for the day as Middle joined forces with the Cape May County Animal Shelter and Adoption Center to encourage donations and promote pet adoptions. Employees and community members donated puppy pads, blankets, towels, and other supplies.

Vera Kalish and Varvara Keun, personnel officers for Middle’s Human Resources Department, coordinated the successful event.

“We had some ‘pawsome’ visitors in the building, which brought tons of laughs and a lot of smiles throughout the day,” said Suzanne Schumann, Deputy Business Administrator for Middle Township (and “dog mom” to Captain). “Everyone enjoyed the day, and some donations were passed along to the Cape May County Animal Shelter.”

Residents still have an opportunity to help as the Cape May County Animal Shelter accepts donations year-round – plus, a visit may introduce you to a new friend. For more, visit
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The Township also looks after animals through its Animal Advisory Board. The board promotes responsible animal care and ensures animals do not suffer because of abuse, neglect or lack of proper care. For more, visit opens in a new windowmiddletownship.com/animal-advisory-board/.

NOTICE: There will be no interruption of trash & recycling services for the week of July 4th-8th. GME will be running on a normal schedule.

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The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) today announced that its Division of Housing and Community Resources (DHCR) will be accepting pre-applications online for the State Rental Assistance Program (SRAP) Waiting List. Pre-applications will be accepted to enter a lottery for the statewide SRAP program in the Elderly, Family, Disabled, and Homeless categories.

Elderly applicants must serve as head of household and be 62 years of age or older. For those applying in the Family category, the head of household must be 18 years of age or an emancipated minor, with or without children. To qualify in the Disabled category, the head of household or spouse must be permanently disabled. Homeless applicants must lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

“At DCA, we have made and continue to make unprecedented investments to reduce the long-term financial impacts of this pandemic and are committed to increasing affordability, especially when it comes to one of the biggest expenses facing families – housing,” said Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver, who serves as DCA Commissioner. “We will be selecting 4,000 applicants for the wait list through a lottery process out of the pool of all the applications received. As vouchers are awarded, they will provide the stability that families need. That is why this State Rental Assistance Program opening is so important.”

All pre-applications submitted online during the open enrollment period from Monday, July 11, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. until Friday, July 22, 2022, at 5:00 p.m., will be entered into a database and a lottery system will be used to select applicants for the waiting lists. Pre- applications for SRAP assistance will be accepted from very low-income households. Applicants must be eighteen (18) years of age or older to apply or be an emancipated minor. Pre-applications successfully submitted during the open enrollment period have the same chance of being selected during the lottery.  Those selected in the lottery for the wait list will then be eligible to receive SRAP vouchers as they become available.

APPLICANTS MUST HAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS TO APPLY. Web browsers like Google Chrome, Fire Fox or Internet Explorer 10 or higher are recommended. If an applicant is disabled and needs assistance with submitting their pre-application during the open enrollment period, they can contact DCA at 609-292-4080 and select Option 9 from the menu to request a reasonable accommodation. For more information concerning the SRAP opening, people can visit: http://www.nj.gov/dca/.

At the time of selection from the waiting lists, applicants must meet the maximum household income limits of the county where they want to live and provide proof of residency. Also, Disabled and Homeless applicants must provide verification of their disability and homelessness at the time of selection from the waiting list.

Individuals selected by the lottery to be placed on the waiting list will be notified via email which may take several weeks.

The Division of Housing and Community Resources strengthens and revitalizes communities through the delivery of affordable housing, supportive services and the provision of financial and technical assistance to communities, local government and community-based organizations. For more information, visit: http://www.nj.gov/dca/

DCA offers a wide range of programs and services, including energy assistance, housing vouchers, affordable housing production, fire and building safety, community planning and development, local government management and finance, and disaster recovery and mitigation.

For more information about DCA, visit https://nj.gov/dca/

Middle Twp. Festivities Celebrate America’s Freedom
Guests can dance, play games, and watch fireworks as they observe nation’s independence

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A concert and pie-eating contest will return for this year’s Fourth of July event in Middle Township. Community members can also play games and visit food trucks.

Celebrate America’s independence at Middle Township’s 4th of July celebration.

The family-friendly event will begin at 6 p.m. Monday, July 4, at the Goshen Complex in Cape May Court House.

“Our traditional Fourth of July celebration is the kind of event that makes Middle Township a true community,” said Mayor Tim Donohue. “We enjoy the opportunity to bring families and friends together to celebrate America and have a great time.”

Spanky’s BBQ, Sirens (surf & turf), Mac’s Cafe and Mr. Softee food trucks will be on site to satisfy holiday cravings. The Animal House band will entertain the crowd.

A variety of games such as giant Jenga and giant Connect Four will offer the chance for friendly competition. A pie-eating contest will take place at 8:15 p.m. Contestants will eat a pie topped with mounds of whipped cream as fast as they can – and yes, their hands will be tied behind their backs.

After eating, dancing, and playing games, guests can find a comfortable spot and watch fireworks light up the evening sky. The display begins around 9 p.m.

The rain date for the event is July 10.

For more information or questions about Fourth of July events, please contact Nancy McDevitt at (609) 465-8728 or nmcdevitt@middletownship.com.