News Archive

NOTICE OF NIGHT PAVING AND DETOUR

PORTION OF COURT HOUSE SOUTH DENNIS ROAD (CR 657)- MIDDLE TOWNSHIP

         The County of Cape May will be resurfacing a portion of Court House South Dennis Road (Cr 657) as part of a night paving operation beginning on Monday June 23^rd thru Thursday June 26^th.  The project limits begin approximately 500lf north of College Drive (Cr 672) and extend south to the Winding Way intersection. The existing roadway will be milled to a depth of 5” and resurfaced with a new 5” paving section. Due to daily traffic conflicts, the resurfacing of CR 657  will proceed as a night paving operation, with work starting at 8:00pm and extending thru the night until 6:00am each day. There will be no paving occurring between 6:00am and 8:00pm and normal traffic patterns will be maintained.

I order to safely execute the work, south bound traffic along Cr 657 will be detoured, north bound traffic will be maintained.  Local traffic will be maintained and residents will always have access to their homes during the paving operation.  Traffic heading south along Cr 657 will be detoured east onto Goshen Swainton Road (Cr 646) and will continue east along Goshen Swainton Road to Siegtown Road (Cr 652). Traffic will be directed onto Siegtown Road and continue along Siegtown Road to Route 9 south. Traffic will continue along Route 9 south to Court House South Dennis Road. This detour will remain in place during the active paving operation.

Normal traffic patterns will resume at 6:00am each day.  During the paving operation, motorists are advised to use caution when traveling thru the construction zone due to limited lighting, lane shifts and construction vehicles.  Motorists should  also proceed with caution during daylight hours since the roadway will not be striped and manhole and inlet castings may protrude 2” above the road surface until final paving is completed.

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Middle Township Announces First Annual Savor the Arts Festival

Middle Township is excited to announce the inaugural Savor the Arts Festival. The first annual festival will take place on Saturday, June 28th, 2025, from Noon to 5pm (Rain Date – June 29^th) at the Okie Wisting Recreation Complex, 7 Fulling Mills Road in Rio Grande.

Savor the Arts is envisioned as a community festival celebrating local creativity through music, art, and food. The event will provide a platform for local artists, vendors, and entrepreneurs to showcase their work and build community connections in an inclusive environment.

“Middle Township is home to an incredible array of artists, musicians, creators and crafters,” Mayor Chris Leusner said. “Savor the Arts is an opportunity for all of us to come together, support local artisans, and enjoy a day full of creativity, music, flavors, and fun.”

Highlights of the Festival Include:

Live Music

• Derek Warner (11:30 AM – 1:30 PM)
• 40 North Country (Line Dancing – 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM)

Activities & Workshops (12 PM – 5 PM unless otherwise noted):

• Cape Creative Painting Instructions
• Wetlands Institute (12 PM – 4 PM)
• Zoo to You with Animal Art (12 PM – 4 PM)
• Magician Ken Northridge
• Face Painting
• Birdhouse Decorating
• Mini Art Camp

Vendors:

• Sea Glass Artwork & Jewelry
• Photographers (offering prints for sale)
• Painters (offering prints for sale)
• Jewelry Makers

Culinary Delights

• Kona Ice
• Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee
• Spring House Farms
• Karen and the Nut
• Cheezy D’s

Committeeman Jim Norris oversees Recreation and Special Events in the Township.  Norris looks forward to the launch of this new, annual event supporting and celebrating the arts in Middle.

“We hope this will become a signature annual event that showcases the depth of creativity in Middle Township,” Norris said. “Whether you’re a year-round resident or a Summer visitor, Savor the Arts promises something for everyone—music that moves you, art that inspires you, and food that brings people together.”

Funding for the Savor the Arts Festival is made possible through a generous donation from Engineering Design Associates and the support of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Department of State, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Cape May County Board of County Commissioners through the Division of Culture & Heritage.

Vendor and Volunteer Opportunities:

The festival is currently accepting applications from local artists and vendors to participate.  The deadline for submissions is June 14, 2025. Interested parties should contact Anne Becica at  Abecica@middletownship.com,  or Lisa Cermanski LCermanski@middletownship.com

For further information, please call 609-465-8721.

21^st Annual Mayor’s Drumfish Tournament Funds Middle Recreation Programs

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The 21^st Annual Middle Township Mayor’s Cup Drumfish Tournament hit the waters of the Delaware Bay from May 16^th to May 18^th. Thirty-nine boats registered to participate in the 2025 Tournament. A portion of the registration fees are allocated to support youth sports programs in the Department of Recreation.

The Captain’s Meeting and Dinner was held at Menz’s Restaurant to review rules and assign boat numbers. Fishing lines were cast at noon on May 16^th.  The catch was officially weighed in and judged at Jim’s Bait and Tackle in Cape May between 10am and noon on May 18^th.

The Tournament Committee overseeing the weekend competition:

• Jeremy “Turk” Cox
• Phil Johnson
• Deputy Township Administrator Suzanne Schumann

The final results were as follows:

Kid’s Division: Ryan Trainor / Determined – 41.6 pound fish

Women’s Division: Taylor Laing / Twice As Nice – 51.7 pound fish

Tournament Stringer (combined weight of 2 fish)

1st Place: Determined / Roy Trainor: 124.8 total weight

2nd Place: Kaylee Ann / John McGroarty: 106.4 total weight

3rd Place: Bad Decisions / Jim Brown: 101.7 total weight

Single Heaviest Fish (weighed in as Calcutta):

Determined / Roy Trainor: 48.5 pounds

This tournament donated just over $10,000 to the Middle Township Recreation Department.

“Another amazing job by our Middle Township team in organizing this tournament to raise much-needed funds for our recreation programs” Mayor Chris Leusner said. “I want to thank all the captains and crew for taking part. Congratulations to Roy Trainor and the crew of Determined for bringing home the winning catch!”

The event was organized by the Middle Township Special Event Committee. Several Township Team members volunteered their time to seek donations, plan and coordinate tournament events.

In total, nearly $10,000 was raised in support of youth sports in the Township. Committeeman Jim Norris, who oversees the recreation department, praised the commitment of all involved to keep this great maritime tradition rolling.

“Our dedicated team works year-round on planning and fundraising for the Drumfish Tournament,” Norris said.  “Over $100,000 has been raised to support quality programs for our kids since the first tournament in 2004. On behalf of Township Committee, I want to offer special thanks to the generous sponsors in the Middle Township business community.”

NOTICE OF DETOUR MAGNOLIA DRIVE (CR 673),  MIDDLE TOWNSHIP

On Tuesday May 27, 2025, Magnolia Drive (Cr 673) in Middle Township will be closed to thru traffic and traffic will be detoured in order to accommodate a water main installation project being completed by the New Jersey American Water Company.   Magnolia Drive will undergo daily closures of through traffic. Local traffic will be maintained, and Magnolia Drive will reopen to traffic at the end of each workday. The roadway will not be closed on the weekends.

During the daily road closures, motorists traveling both north and south along Court House South Dennis Road (Cr 657) and wishing to take Magnolia Drive west will be directed  to NJ Route 9 south, then to Mechanic Street (Cr 615).  Motorists traveling along Goshen Road (Cr 615) and wishing to access Magnolia Drive via Church Street will be directed to continue traveling south along Goshen Road to the Mechanic Street intersection. At that point, motorists will travel east along Mechanic Street to Route 9 north.

During the construction activities, local traffic will always be maintained and access to businesses will be provided. The detour is anticipated to be in affect for two weeks.

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opens in a new windowDrum Fish Tournament Rules

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KENDRA KARSTENS NAMED MIDDLE APRIL EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

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Kendra Karstens, Administrative Assistant/Middle Township Police Department, has been named Middle Township’s April Employee of the Month. Kendra joined the Township team, at the age of 19, as a Temporary Clerk in February of 2006. She was promoted to a full-time position later that year. In March of 2013, Kendra was promoted to a supervisory role in Police Records and has overseen the Records team’s vital mission for the past twelve years.

Kendra Karstens will be recognized for her leadership and dedication at the May 5th meeting of Township Committee.

Kendra was nominated for the Employee of the Month recognition by Records Clerk Jessica Davis.

“Kendra is hardworking, compassionate, knowledgeable, genuine and always there to help when needed,” Davis said. “She listens and communicates extremely well. She always goes the extra mile.”

Mayor Chris Leusner lauded Kendra Karstens for years of service to both the officers of the MTPD and the residents of her hometown.

“I was honored to work side by side with Kendra to protect and serve or community for many years,” Leusner said. “She has overseen the increasingly complicated task of managing police professionally and efficiently with an caring and courteous attitude.”

Police Chief Tracey Super echoed the Mayor’s sentiments.

“Kendra has been such an asset in her administrative role, both in records and in supporting the Chief and the supervising officers in the department,” Chief Super said. “She is richly deserving of this public recognition of her dedication to the MTPD.

Nominations for the Employee of the Month Program are available at Township Hall at two locations: Human Resources and Training Department and the Administration Department. Residents from the Township who have had a very positive interaction with any Middle Township employee may pick up the one-page nomination form and fill it out in the employee’s behalf.

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MIDDLE TOWNSHIP INTRODUCES 2025 BUDGET

Middle Township formally introduced the municipality’s 2025 budget at the Township’s April 7^th Public Meeting. The proposed budget was presented by Chief Financial Officer Neil Young and Leon Costello from the Township’s auditing firm, Ford, Scott and Associates.

Several factors contributed to upward pressures on the Township’s spending requirements:

1. Loss of NJ Municipal Relief Fund Aid – $367,000
2. Increase in healthcare premiums – $697,000
3. Increase in contractual costs for trash and recycling from 2024 to 2025 – $394,000
4. Increase in the Township’s contribution to funding the Cape May County Animal Shelter
5. Contractual increases in employee salaries and wages

Mayor Leusner and Township Committee took several steps to mitigate the impact of increased expenditures:

1. A growing and healthy surplus allowed for an increase in surplus utilization of $250,000.
2. The Township’s ongoing efforts to diversify revenue streams created an increase in anticipated revenues from interest on investments, licensing fees, short term rental fees, hotel/motel tax, construction fees and business registration.
3. Savings from Salaries and Wages related to departmental personnel adjustments and retirements.
4. Total projected savings from newly negotiated service provider contracts of over a million dollars.

The 2025 budget as introduced calls for a 2.8 cent increase in the Municipal Levy.  The total tax rate is estimated to increase 3.34% over 2024, equating to a 2025 levy of $18,177,210. The municipal levy represents 29.72% of residents’ total tax bill.  School tax makes up 55% of the total tax bill.  County tax comprises 15.3%.

“Middle Township Committee is committed to providing quality municipal services at the most affordable cost to our taxpayers,” Mayor Leusner said. “We continue to work all-year round to mitigate cost increases, many of which are largely beyond our control. We look to tighten spending on the expenditures we do control and creatively diversify our municipal revenue streams. I applaud the hard work of our Administrator Kim Osmundsen, CFO Neil Young and our excellent Department Heads to deliver a financially prudent, well-structured 2025 budget.”