News Archive

Notice from Atlantic City Electric:

Within the next two to three months, Asplundh Tree Expert Company, on behalf of Atlantic City Electric, will be performing tree pruning and removal around our electric distribution facilities in your Municipality.  This is being done to improve electric service reliability and safety to our customers, including the municipal government, and your residents.

All affected property owners will be notified of our activities prior to work being done, and will have the opportunity to discuss with us any concerns they have prior to work proceeding.

Ownership of affected trees is determined by our easement or public right-of-way rights. 

Please be assured that our work crews will be doing professional utility pruning and tree removal, utilizing best management practices. 

Below are samples of the door hangers which will be utlilized when they are in a neighborhood.

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NOTICE: There will be no interruption of trash & recycling for the week of December 26th-30th, 2022 and January 2nd-6th, 2023GME will be running on a normal schedule.

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Middle will present award to bus driver who started school reading program

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Mr. Herman reading with Middle Township Elementary #1 student Ayden Green (top), and with Corbyn Conroy (below), who was the bus driver’s first reading student last year.

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The feel-good story of Middle Township Public Schools bus driver-turned-reading volunteer Herman Cruse has inspired national media coverage – and plenty of local appreciation.

Middle Township will demonstrate its gratitude by presenting Mr. Herman with a Middle Matters Award at its Dec. 19 Township Committee meeting. The award was created to “recognize residents for their wide variety of endeavors toward building a better Middle Township.”

Mr. Herman is a resident of Egg Harbor City and commutes 40 minutes each way to Middle Township, where he’s worked for the school district since 2013. He was always seeking worthwhile ways to spend his time between his busy morning and afternoon bus runs.

“His routes have always been loaded with students,” said Dawn DeVico, Transportation Coordinator for the Middle Township Board of Education. “He always manages to maintain the students’ behavior with great communication skills. He gets to know his students very well. He takes the time to listen to them and get to know them.”

When a kindergarten teacher from Middle Elementary #1 proudly told Mr. Herman about one of her students learning to read, the bus driver quickly found a new purpose. He volunteered to help other children at the school with their reading and began working with students two days a week last February.

Mr. Herman, a father of five, was a natural with the kids, who appreciated the attention and conversations that accompanied the one-on-one reading sessions. The informal lessons soon blossomed into “Mr. Herman’s Kids,” a three-day-a-week reading program open to all students at Middle Elementary #1.

“He’s a very humble man,” said teacher Alexandrea Byron, whose kindergarten students were the first to get help from Mr. Herman. “He doesn’t brag, he does it because he genuinely wants to.”

But Mr. Herman’s generous work drew praise from many corners. He was recognized at a Middle Township School District Board of Education meeting last April. His story was featured by local and national news outlets, including “Good Morning America.”

And now, Middle Township will honor Mr. Herman for stepping up to help young students.

“Mr. Herman exemplifies the community spirit that makes Middle Township such a special place to live and work,” Mayor Tim Donohue said. “The simple act of giving his time to read with and listen to students makes a huge difference in the lives of these children. We commend Mr. Herman for spreading compassion and we are proud to present him with a Middle Matters Award.”

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Traffic Advisory:

Cape May County Contractor, South State Inc, will be starting work on the repairs to the Great Channel Bridge (Ocean Drive CR619) that connects Middle Township to Stone Harbor.  The work includes under-deck structural steel repairs and the replacement of the fender system.

In order to safely complete the work, traffic across the bridge will be restricted to a single-lane alternating traffic using a temporary traffic signal.  This setup will be in place starting on December 7th, 2022 and is expected to be in place until early May 2023.

Motorists are advised to allow for a little more time to cross the bridge and to use caution for the safety of the workers.

Middle’s Joe LaConte named Employee of the Month for his kindness and concern

The Sewer Department worker stepped up when his colleagues needed aid

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Joe LaConte said he enjoys the variety of his job with Middle Sewer Department, as well as his outdoor ‘office.’

While on a recent lunch break, Middle Township Sewer Department employee Joe LaConte spotted a township vehicle on the side of a shopping center lot. It seemed a little unusual, so LaConte wanted to make sure everyone was safe.

When he approached the car, he learned Business Administrator Kimberly Osmundsen and Deputy Business Administrator Suzanne Schumann were awaiting some assistance from Public Works with a roadside matter.

Osmundsen and Schumann naturally assumed LaConte was the staff member who responded to their call for help. It wasn’t until another Township truck arrived that they realized LaConte was voluntarily taking on the job.

“Without being assigned, Joe stopped just to check on us,” said Osmundsen. “He gladly pulled out his shovel and rake, put on a pair of gloves, and joined in on our project, without ever blinking an eye. It’s employees like Joe who make Middle Township a better place to live and visit.”

To show her appreciation for LaConte’s kindness, Osmundsen nominated him for Middle Township’s Employee of the Month.

“It’s a privilege to be nominated,” said LaConte. “All I did was something simple. It should be a given that people help others, but I’m old school.”

Middle’s Sewer Administrator Steve Mills said LaConte deserves to be recognized as Employee of the Month at the Township Committee meeting on Dec. 5.

“Joe is always willing and ready to go above and beyond helping out with any project or job that needs to be done,” said Mills.

LaConte plans to work at the township Sewer Department until he retires. He is enrolled in wastewater and water treatment classes at Atlantic Cape Community College and plans to take a state exam in the spring to earn a license.

“The best part of my day is being outside all the time,” said LaConte. “I don’t care if it snows or rains. I am driving and going from one place to another. Every day is different.”

Middle Township makes season bright with Christmas Parade and Celebration

Tree lighting, S’mores bar and decorating contest will help spread holiday cheer

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Dance performances, the high school marching band, and a sing-along will help welcome the holidays in Middle Township.

Residents can also get into the spirit by entering the Christmas House Decorating Contest.

Middle Township residents will be rockin’ around the Christmas tree on Friday, Dec. 2, as the town hosts its annual Christmas parade and celebration.

The parade will include decorated fire trucks and ambulances, floats, marching groups and the Middle Township High School Panther Marching Band. Santa and Mrs. Claus will close out the procession, which begins at 6 p.m. on Pacific Avenue next to Memorial Field.

After the parade, a tree-lighting celebration will take place around 7:15 at Town Hall at 33 Mechanic St. Santa and Mrs. Claus will stop by before dashing to the Middle Township Volunteer Fire Department on Hand Avenue to hand out candy canes and stockings. The public is also invited to the fire department, for a Christmas carol sing-along and hot beverages and cookies.

New this year, Girl Scout Troop 46436 will run a S’mores bar and the Township’s Environmental Committee will welcome guests to a crafts station.

Dance performances will take place in front of the library after the tree lighting. Judges will select winners in the following parade categories: first responders, dance groups, community group, single/family, and float.

Those who want to participate in the parade can register by 3 p.m. on Nov. 30 at opens in a new windowmiddletownship.recdesk.com or call (609) 465-8728 for more information.

House decorating contest

Residents who want their homes to make the season bright are encouraged to enter Middle Township’s Christmas House Decorating Contest. Registration is required and must be completed by Dec. 9. Judging takes place Dec. 13 and winners will be announced on Dec. 15.

To register, visit opens in a new windowmiddletownship.recdesk.com, or email a registration form to nmcdevitt@middletownship.com. For more information, call (609) 465-8728.

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