Local news- Press Release
Highland Park New Jersey - Mayor Foster Offers Thanks 10 January 2024 ( news )
Highland Park , state New Jersey ( By Press Release office)
Jan 10,2024
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Excerpt from Mayor Elsie Foster ' s
State of the Borough Address
Delivered Tuesday January 2 , 2024
As I look ahead to our work in 2024 , I am quite mindful that our progress is built on the reliability , the integrity , and the dedication of our core Borough departments and their staff .
Our Fire Department responded to 469 calls this past year , everything from car fires , brush fires , hazardous materials calls , to house fires . They were also a regular presence at all our major public events and taught fire safety practices to children at different schools during Fire Prevention Week .
Thank you HP FD!
Our Police Department addressed 23 , 400 calls for service in 2023 , which included 1 , 100 responses to calls for medical assistance and 250 high visibility traffic details . They conducted 1200 directed patrols of the Borough’s houses of worship , in response to concerns raised from international or domestic events .
Thank you HP PD!
Our Department of Public Works collected residents’ and businesses’ trash and recycling 260 days in 2023 .
They also responded to calls to address fallen tree branches ,
· downed power lines ,
· traffic safety concerns ,
· potholes ,
· and other matters that presented a danger to the public .
When winter weather arrives , they provide snow and ice removal for over 31 miles of roads , municipal parking lots , and public sidewalks in Highland Park .
Thank you DPW!
Our First Aid Squad was there for our residents when they encountered an emergency and gets them the fast and skilled assistance they needed , during the year . These volunteers exercised professionalism and discretion , when addressing calls for help . They too are also a regular presence at all our major public events .
Thank you , HP First Aid Squad!
One office of the Borough is charged with thinking through threatening situations and planning how we can get through them in the least disruptive ways possible . The Office of Emergency Management also helps us consider how to best handle extreme weather conditions . And when there is a fire in town , and residents are put out from their homes , it is this office that helps the victims find temporary shelter and provides for their other needs . Alongside this office , the volunteers of the Community Emergency Response Team respond when there is a crisis in town , at all times of the day or night or on weekends , to provide emotional support to the victims and practical assistance . Thank you , OEM and CERT!
I cannot begin to recount the many programs and services organized and overseen by the staff of our Highland Park Community Center . For an example of their responsiveness to changes in town - When Stop & Shop closed in spring 2023 , it was the community center staff who rose to the challenge and quickly developed a schedule of weekly bus trips for our seniors to area supermarkets . Over the past nine months , they’ve offered dozens of trips , enabling seniors to get the groceries they needed with great care and convenience .
Thank you HP Community Center!
The Highland Park Public Library hosted over 7 , 569 people at 360 programs and outreach events all year at their home location , as well as at partner sites within our community . They welcomed over 600 new members to the library community in 2023 . The library also circulated 102 , 549 items this year and the staff also answered over 7000 reference questions from our community .
Thank you , HPPL!
The staff in the Borough Clerk’s office , the Code Enforcement office , the Borough Administration office , and our Tax & Sewer department interact with residents on a daily basis and address a wide range of resident and business needs and concerns .
For many residents , business owners , and contractors , these four offices – all based in Borough Hall – are the very face of Highland Park and their professionalism and diligence makes a big difference in many people’s lives .
Thank you , Borough Hall staff!
When we talk about the Teen Center/Zone 6 , we are talking about the efforts of one staff member , Ashton Burrell . And those efforts are truly exceptional . Ashton mentors dozens of teens each year and provides them with top flight vocational training , encounters with state government officials , business coaching , and other forms of support that enable those teens to realize their potential .
Thank you Ashton!
Just one more thank you , I promise .
Highland Park is blessed with dozens of residents who devote countless hours by serving on our many boards , commissions and committees . They address many vital concerns , from urban forestry to sustainable environmental practices , from municipal communications to intergroup relations , from zoning to planning to public health , from emergency response to food aid for those with limited means , and so much more .
Thank you to all our amazing volunteers!
When I reflect on the many positive stats , staff , services , and volunteers of our town , I’m awed by how much it takes to keep things running well in Highland Park . Thank you!
We in the governing body realize that we stand on the shoulders of so many , who are doing some truly remarkable and often unsung work ,
· to make this town safer ,
· healthier ,
· more cohesive ,
· more forward thinking ,
· more compassionate ,
· and more inviting .
While the Mayor and Borough Council get to pursue the high visibility efforts , it is the countless smaller decisions , seemingly routine projects , and quiet heroics that make this town the gem it is .
So as we step forward in 2024 , we realize that here will be formidable challenges but with the commitment and dedication of our essential partners we are absolutely confident that we will succeed and do great things for Highland Park .
Remember - we are Highland Park , a small town with a HUGE heart!
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