It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Historic Portland Place gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Middletown, NJ is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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“I am a current client of this provider We are very happy with Always Best Care.”
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“I am a current client of this provider We hired Always Best Care two weeks ago”
“I just started using always best care for my dad The certified aids that came from the agency were fantastic This situation is new for myself and my dad For having no complaints from my dad is a plus So ty again for such an easy transition for my dad Much appreciated Susan”
“Such an amazing company with employees who truly care about their business and those they take care of. Caretakers are top notch and customer service is great and they are available whenever you need them.”
“I am a current client of this provider I can’t begin to tell to you how pleased I am with Always Best Care. Not only have they placed the perfect caregiver with my mother they also take care of the billing and when I need to speak to a receptionist they are always available. Thank you!!”
“I cannot thank Always Best Care enough for helping us find an ideal Assisted Living Facility for my mother. We moved to the city a month ago and had little idea about the local senior living communities. I’d like to thank the highly experienced and knowledgeable caregivers of Always Best Care for helping our family during the difficult time.”
“I am a current client of this provider Your manager is always nice and flexible, and the caregivers are sweet and wonderful”
“I am a current client of this provider We are very happy with Always Best Care. They do 24hr care, and the caregiver is excellent. I would recommend them.”
“I am a current client of this provider We have hired Always Best Care. We have them for 5 to 6 weeks now. My mother practically does everything herself, but sometimes they might fix her her lunch, there might be a little bit of shopping, and they take her to her appointment. My mother is fine. The hours are fine. She got the hours that she requested. I know she is being billed on her credit card. They have been very helpful and very cooperative. The women always call back.”
“I am a current client of this provider We hired Always Best Care two weeks ago for my mom. The woman comes in three days a week to assist my mother with doing the wash, keeping the house picked up, and just talking to her. She’s wonderful. We interviewed several people, and there was just something about the way they were organized in their presentation and their follow up. that impressed us. They were a level above the other ones that we spoke to. They really listen to you about your needs and work very hard to match the caregiver up with what you’re looking for. We were very impressed with them.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Poricy Park Nature Center with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Oak & Reed or visit William Murray House, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Middletown, NJ, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Middletown, NJ understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Middletown, NJ 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
HIGHLANDS, NJ — An unexploded piece of ordnance (military ammunition or a bomb) was found Saturday evening on Sandy Hook, the National Park Service confirmed.It was a park visitor who found the ordnance at 5 p.m. Saturday. The person found it in the tidal area of South Gunnison Beach. (Gunnison Beach also happens to be Sandy Hook's nude beach; it is the only nude beach in the state of New Jersey).The ordinance is believed to be a mortar round from WWI, but this has not been confirmed, said National Park Service spokeswoma...
HIGHLANDS, NJ — An unexploded piece of ordnance (military ammunition or a bomb) was found Saturday evening on Sandy Hook, the National Park Service confirmed.
It was a park visitor who found the ordnance at 5 p.m. Saturday. The person found it in the tidal area of South Gunnison Beach. (Gunnison Beach also happens to be Sandy Hook's nude beach; it is the only nude beach in the state of New Jersey).
The ordinance is believed to be a mortar round from WWI, but this has not been confirmed, said National Park Service spokeswoman Daphne Yun. She does not know its dimensions, she said.
The visitor reported what they found to the park ranger station, and a team from Naval Weapons Station Earle removed the ordnance at 2:30 a.m. Sunday, during low tide, Yun said.
Ordnance is the term for military bombs and other munitions that have not exploded. The National Park Service calls it unexploded ordnance, or UXO.
It is actually relatively common for people to find unexploded ordnance at Sandy Hook, said Yun, as Sandy Hook is a former military ammunition proving ground used by the U.S. Army in World War I and II. A proving ground is where the U.S. military tests weapons and bombs.
The National Park Service did stress that "unexploded ordnance (UXO) should always be considered extremely dangerous," and stresses that anyone who finds any ammunition or bombs at Sandy Hook should not touch or move the device.
"UXO have been found throughout Gateway National Recreation Area, most recently at Fort Tilden and Fort Hancock," according to this webpage on the subject from the National Park Service, which has photos of what unexploded ordnance found at the park can look like.
Writes the National Park Service:
"UXO come in many shapes and sizes. They can look like a pointed pipe, a soda can or a muffler. They can look old or new; be alone or in groups; and be visible or buried under the surface."
Anyone who stumbles across found at unexploded ordnance at Gateway National Park (the formal name for Sandy Hook) should immediately report it by calling 718-354-4700.
For more information visit the UXO Safety Education Website at: www.denixosd.mil/home/
He's been immortalized in movies and magazine covers. He's terrified scores of children and built a cult following among others.The evolution of the Evil Clown of Middletown from roadside ad legend has a special place in New Jersey pop culture history.His name is Calico but most New Jerseyans know him as the Evil Clown of Middletown. Calico is an 18-foot metal road sign on Route 35 outside the Circus Wines store. When Calico was installed in 1956, it advertise...
He's been immortalized in movies and magazine covers. He's terrified scores of children and built a cult following among others.
The evolution of the Evil Clown of Middletown from roadside ad legend has a special place in New Jersey pop culture history.
His name is Calico but most New Jerseyans know him as the Evil Clown of Middletown. Calico is an 18-foot metal road sign on Route 35 outside the Circus Wines store. When Calico was installed in 1956, it advertised the first in a series of Food Circus grocery stores owned by the Azzolina and Scaduto families.
Full disclosure: I worked for the Azzolinas as a public relations assistant during college and later as a reporter for their weekly Bayshore-area newspaper, The Courier, which has long since closed.
READ MORE: Was a Skeleton Found Under the Sandy Hook Lighthouse?
Calico greeted me every day as I headed to work. He was so commonplace in my world that I didn't appreciate just how weird it was having a gigantic, menacing-looking clown along the highway outside of your newspaper office.
Maybe it was nostalgia or homesickness, but it was only after leaving New Jersey that my fondness for the big creepy guy grew.
I decorated my office with a framed copy of the Weird NJ issue featuring Calico. After the clown cover went into hiding for a few years during the pandemic, I triumphantly brought him back to adorn the wall of my home office.
READ MORE: You Know You Hung Out in Red Bank as a Teen in the '90s If...
I'm not alone among the current and former Middletown residents who hold a special place in their hearts for Calico.
The evolution of the Evil Clown of Middletown from roadside ad to legend has a special place in New Jersey pop culture history.
The idea for Calico began at the Azzolina family kitchen table in 1955. Then-businessman and eventual New Jersey state Sen. Joseph Azzolina and his wife, Lynn, partnered with his sister Grace Scaduto and her husband, Louis, in opening a grocery store.
"They were sitting around the table trying to come up with names for the company and my Aunt Claire, my mother's sister, came up with the idea of a circus," said Joseph Azzolina Jr., executive vice-president of Food Circus Super Markets.
The family went to Road-Ad Service in Asbury Park and asked the company to come up with ideas for the sign. Road-Ad Service artist Leslie Worth Thomas created the design for Calico in the summer of 1955.
Thomas also came up with the Tillie sign on the Palace Amusements building in Asbury Park. A restored version of the Tillie sign is shown above.
Route 35 in Middletown was a single-lane road when construction on Calico first began in December 1955.
Pictures of Calico also appeared inside the grocery store when it opened Jan. 18, 1956. The clown was nameless at the time, but would eventually come to be named Calico by a customer because of his bright red and yellow checkered outfit.
The clown cost $18,000 to build in 1955 -- the equivalent to over $200,000 in 2024.
The Evil Clown of Middletown electronically rotated until the mid-1970s.
While heavy wind gusts played a role in the decision to anchor Calico town, teenagers in Middletown also may have had a part to play. Bored kids would try to spin the clown at night.
Calico also saw his fair share of wear and tear after having cheated death at least twice: once when he was struck by lightning and another time when a bird's nested inside the sign and caused an electrical fire.
RoadsideAmerica.com editor Doug Kirby is likely the first to dub Calico "The Evil Clown of Middletown."
"What happens over the years is there's an appreciation for these things beyond the pure commercial interest," Kirby told the Asbury Park Press in 2015. "At some point they cross over from being a crass commercial thing to a beloved historical landmark. The clown definitely fits that."
Calico has made multiple appearances on film and television, largely in Kevin Smith-helmed projects.
The Highlands native filmed an opening scene of Clerks II. Employees from the newspaper and the liquor store rushed to buy flasks for the director to sign.
Smith also filmed a Tonight Show segment with Azzolina Jr. and returned a third time for a scene in Clerks III.
The Evil Clown's first movie appearance, though, was in Phillip Botti's 1996 documentary Middletown, according to its Wikipedia entry.
According to the Azzolinas, there have never been plans to get rid of the beloved clown.
"When we closed the store here in Middletown the supermarket, people were like, 'what’s going on with the clown?' It made sense to keep it when we opened the liquor store," Azzolina Jr. said of the 1991 closing of the Food Circus grocery store.
Rumors the clown would be torn down began flying again in the 2000s when the Azzolina and Scaduto families proposed a mixed used development project on a parcel of land at the Circus Wines location.
Later, a Save the Evil Clown of Middletown Facebook campaign popped up again when another development project was planned behind the Circus Wines location.
That campaign led to the clown being registered as a landmark with the state of New Jersey, according to an article in the Two River Times and confirmed by Azzolina Jr.
The Evil Clown has proven a marketable branding opportunity, with merchandise including T-shirts sold at the Circus Wines store and a limited-edition beer produced with Twin Lights Brewery.
Today, Calico remains in his rightful place, smirking and wagging his red-tipped finger at drivers on Route 35.
The Red Bank of the 1990s occupies a special place for older Millennials and younger Gen Xers who were teens in that decade. Those Monmouth County residents who were teenagers in the '90s likely share memories of the locations and activities below.
Filed Under: Evil Clown of Middletown, middletown, Monmouth County
Categories: Articles, Community, Monmouth/Ocean News, News
The property is located between Rt. 36 and Thompson Avenue near the Polar Bear Ice Cream stand. It is currently woods.Patch Staff|Updated Thu, Oct 31, 2024 at 9:48 am ETMIDDLETOWN, NJ — Middletown Township and the Monmouth Conservation Foundation are working together to create a new, permanent green space on a three-acre parcel in North Middletown.The property is located between Rt. 36 and Thompson Avenue near the Polar Bear Ice Cream stand. Monmouth Conservation Foundation and Middletown Township have a s...
Patch Staff
|Updated Thu, Oct 31, 2024 at 9:48 am ET
MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Middletown Township and the Monmouth Conservation Foundation are working together to create a new, permanent green space on a three-acre parcel in North Middletown.
The property is located between Rt. 36 and Thompson Avenue near the Polar Bear Ice Cream stand. Monmouth Conservation Foundation and Middletown Township have a shared goal of turning it into a passive park.
The property is currently densely wooded and would require improvements for public access.
The three-acre property was originally zoned for commercial use. It was on the market for sale when its owners donated it to Monmouth Conservation Foundation in 2020 as a "trade land" — this means proceeds from its sale would benefit Monmouth Conservation Foundation's conservation work in Monmouth County.
However, some Middletown residents raised concerns that the property could still be developed once it was sold. Their concerns are correct: This specific property could still be developed, and proceeds from its sale could be used to preserve land elsewhere. That's how trade-land deals work.
Monmouth Conservation Foundation and Middletown came to an agreement, and MCF recently transferred the three-acre property to Middletown Township. Middletown will now place it on the Township’s Recreation and Open Space Inventory (ROSI). This designation permanently restricts use of the land to only be used as park land, and MCF and Middletown will together make it into a jointly branded park.
"We welcome input from the community on what amenities they would like to see added, such as a nature trail, habitat improvements, or benches, honoring our shared commitment with Monmouth Conservation Foundation to save open space and create parks," said Mayor Tony Perry.
“The Township Committee and I will not relent to developers that want to build high-density housing as we continue to fight for open space preservation,” Perry added. “We have made significant investments in protecting our remaining open space, including designating this natural oasis on Rt. 36 as a respite for our community in this highly developed and commercial area.”
“As a land trust, MCF’s objective is to facilitate how a property will be best preserved and utilized so the public-at-large benefits,” said MCF Executive Director Bill Kastning. “We applaud Mayor Perry’s commitment to open space, and we are proud to work with him and the Township to bring this open space to the community, in line with our efforts to #KeepMonmouthGreen.”
Monmouth Conservation Foundation was founded by visionary, lifelong Monmouth County residents Judith Stanley Coleman and Michael Huber, both of whom hailed from Middletown.
Many of MCF's collaborative projects to preserve land and open space have been done in Middletown, including:
MIDDLETOWN, NJ — As voters head to the polls this week and next Tuesday (Election Day, Nov. 5), residents in Atlantic Highlands, Middletown and Wall will see a question that asks if they want to increase the tax levy — pay more in taxes — to preserve open space in those towns.In Middletown, residents currently pay three cents for every $100 of assessed home value. The ballot question seeks to raise it to four cents.Here is how the question reads on the Middletown ballot: "Should Middletown increase the le...
MIDDLETOWN, NJ — As voters head to the polls this week and next Tuesday (Election Day, Nov. 5), residents in Atlantic Highlands, Middletown and Wall will see a question that asks if they want to increase the tax levy — pay more in taxes — to preserve open space in those towns.
In Middletown, residents currently pay three cents for every $100 of assessed home value. The ballot question seeks to raise it to four cents.
Here is how the question reads on the Middletown ballot: "Should Middletown increase the levy for the existing Middletown Open Space, Recreation, Floodplain Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund, from the currently approved and implemented annual levy of three cents per $100 of equalized valuation to four cents per $100 of equalized valuation, to fund additional acquisitions and improvements to open space and parkland properties?"
Middletown first started its Open Space Trust Fund in 1998; residents were initially asked to pay one cent per every $100 of equalized home valuation.
The last time Middletown asked voters to increase the tax was in 2020, when Mayor Tony Perry urged residents to pay a little more. That year, Middletown residents approved a one-penny increase, to pay three cents per every $100.
This year, the town seeks to raise it to four cents.
If the referendum passes, an average Middletown home assessed at $653,000 will pay $24 more in total yearly property taxes. That home pays $73 now in total yearly property taxes towards the Middletown Open Space Fund, and would pay $97 if the ballot question passes on Nov. 5.
The additional funds will go toward preserving open space, investing in recreational upgrades and restoring historic landmarks, said Middletown Township.
Bill Kastning, who runs the Monmouth Conservation Foundation, urged residents to vote "yes" to increase the tax.
"Based on the increase in residential and commercial developments anticipated in Monmouth County over the next decade, preserving our remaining, unprotected land now is imperative," Kastning said this week. "Once a farm, forest, natural habitat or meadow is developed, it is lost forever."
Perry also encouraged Middletown residents to vote "yes" during last week's debate with Mike Morris.
Affordable Housing The Hot Topic Of Perry/Morris Middletown Debate (Oct. 23)
Atlantic Highlands seeks to increase the annual levy from one cent to two cents per $100. Atlantic Highlands started their open space trust fund in 2000 and has used the tax money to preserve Lenape Woods.
And Wall Township seeks to create its first-ever open space trust fund this year. One currently does not exist in Wall. Wall residents will be asked to pay a municipal property tax of $0.015 per every $100 of real property value "to be used for the conservation and preservation of land and open space."
Middletown Mayor Urges Residents To Approve Open Space Referendum (Sept. 2020)
Polls Open Saturday, Who's Running In 2024 Middletown Election (Oct. 22)
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