JACKSON – Former Councilman Barry Calogero left the municipal building recently holding a plaque and several placards that resembled street signs.
Mayor Michael Reina jokingly reminded him not to put any of those street signs up around town. Calogero was once again honored for his years of service on the township’s zoning board and his years on the council.
Council President Alex Sauickie noted that when Calogero had resigned in April, it was during a time when the governing body was holding meetings virtually and while the council were present in the council chambers, the public was not.
Calogero and his wife Gina were able to attend the most recent public meeting of the governing body which allowed for a live presentation and verbal praise of his work over the years as well as his leadership skills.
“Those signs go back a few years,” the mayor said.
“We also have a plaque for you,” Sauickie said. “Tonight we just wanted to take some time out to honor Barry Calogero as we didn’t really have time to do it as timely as we would have liked due to the restrictions of COVID. I wanted to allow the public to get back in when things were somewhat back to normal.”
“It is my honor to recognize Barry tonight. For those of you who don’t know he’s an adopted (Jackson) son from Queens (New York). He met the love of his life Gina there and moved to Jackson. Whether he realizes it or not he really affected a lot of people’s lives, inspiring several of us up here – including myself – to serve in public office,” Sauickie said.
The Council President added, “I met Barry about six years ago I got to watch him do what he was doing in town and he was nice enough to mentor me and take me under his wing. Low and behold a few years later I’m doing what I had always wanted to do – to serve this town.”
“I saw Barry as an example and so on behalf of the mayor and council I wanted to recognize his years of service which includes being on the council from 2013 to 2020, being council president in 2015 and 2020, council vice president from 2014 and 2019 and all together 15 years of service to the town when you consider all the other boards he served on,” Sauickie said.
Council Vice President Andrew Kern echoed those sentiments saying, “thank you Barry for we really appreciate everything you have done.”
“Thank you guys I appreciate all the recognition. The last eight years have been a true honor to serve the people of Jackson. I left the township in great hands. You guys are doing a great job – continue doing it,” Calogero said.
Also noted during the evening was Hunger Awareness Month. Councilman Martin Flemming read a proclamation for the observance noting the many volunteers that work to assist those in need of food within the township.
“Hunger and poverty are great issues of concern to those in the United States and the State of New Jersey…Jackson is committed to work with Fulfill, formerly known as the Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean counties to educate people about the role and importance of food banks,” Flemming said.
He added, “more than 250,000 individuals living in Monmouth and Ocean counties are provided food by Fulfill and its partners since the beginning of the pandemic. The unemployment level is the highest it has ever been in the history of this state and the poverty level for a family of four is $25,465 and 9.5% live below that level.”
He noted that since March 14, “Fulfill has provided 1,986,909 meals including 16,000 more meals per day than the year before and 1,082,925 of those meals were provided to Ocean County residents.”
Flemming added that due to the pandemic “one of every six people in Monmouth and Ocean counties receive emergency food from Fulfill and their network food pantries, shelters and other community organizations.”
Food banks across the country including Fulfill are holding numerous events in September to bring awareness to encouraging involvement and efforts to end hunger in the community. “September 2020 will be known as Hunger Action Month,” Flemming said.
The governing body urged residents to support local food banks with their time and donations and to spread the word and educating others about the problem of hunger.
Councilman Ken Bressi noted that “there are so many times when we have a proclamation it kind of falls on the wayside when it comes to the meaning but I think this year with the pandemic, unemployment, people out of work it really shows the need that is out there. The severity of it and the worries people have of feeding their families”
Flemming added “please keep Fulfill and these other groups in your donation plan whether it be monetary, food or most importantly your time. They always need your help.”
