**To view photos and events prior to 2024, please CLICK HERE**
OCTOBER 25, 2024
Neptune Recreation hosted its Annual Halloween Magic event at Gables School on Friday, October 25, with over 150 youth in costume participating in a magic show, costume parade, and dance party!
Imperial Healthcare sponsored the event with candied apples and chocolate covered pretzels along with some gift cards used for costume awards in addition to candy goodie bags provided by Neptune Recreation!
The event was preceded by NTEA’s popular Trunk or Treat at the Middle School!
Please CLICK HERE to see photos from the fun event!
SEPTEMBER 14, 2024
Neptune Day 2024
On behalf of the Neptune Recreation Department, Mayor Tassie York, and the Neptune Township Committee, THANK YOU to all those who were a part of Neptune Day. From the sponsors to the vendors who sold their wares and the local community groups who shared information about their organizations, you added to the day’s events and made the day a success.
Neptune Day was once again held in the Middle School parking lot, and the weather was perfect with barely a cloud in the sky! Individual attendees and families alike enjoyed games of skill, a video gaming truck, pony rides & petting zoo, inflatables, face painting, balloon animals, and more! Then there was the food provided by a variety of vendors which included fair staples and some unique offerings like—fish sandwiches, empanadas, kielbasa sandwiches, funnel cake, fried Oreos, shaved ice, and more!
Thanks to the Board of Education for sharing the location and to Hackensack Meridian Health / Jersey Shore University Medical Center who partnered with us for this community day by adding an entire section of a health fair with hands-on activities and games!
Thank you to all those who added to the day – from event sponsors who helped make all the activities possible—Imperial Healthcare, 107.1 The BOSS, and Nelson Realtors– to the groups who added to the opening remarks with Neptune NJROTC presenting the colors, and a performance by the Dollhouse Divas Majorettes & Dance team.
And thanks to the many township departments who helped with the day and interacted with attendees, including Public Works, Police, Fire, Administration, Housing Authority, EMS, OEM, Senior Center, CERT, the Municipal Court, the Library, Vital Statistics, and Recreation. Thanks to the volunteers from CERT, Neptune Township, the Neptune Recreation Committee. We couldn’t do it without you!
It was a day filled with fun! Thanks for all the community support to make it happen! For more information about getting involved with next year’s Neptune Day, please contact Neptune Recreation at 732-869-1202.
CLICK HERE to see photos from the day!
JULY 16, 2024
Please CLICK HERE to view more photos from this fun day!
JULY 10, 2024:
Touch a Truck 2024
It was a warm evening with a good breeze on Wednesday, July 10, and if you were anywhere near Neptune Middle School on Heck Avenue you couldn’t help but stop by to check out all the commotion in the parking lot!
Hosted by the Neptune Recreation Department, there was a spray truck, police cars, ambulances, fire trucks, an earth mover, emergency vehicles, rescue trucks, a garbage truck, and a loader. Sounds like an interesting traffic jam; only this packed parking lot was planned! Neptune’s twenty-second annual Touch A Truck featured real sirens, big steering wheels, about 25 vehicles, and larger than life excitement.
Children and adults could sound the siren on a rescue truck, try on emergency gear, and sit in the driver’s seat of so many favorite vehicles!
The young and young at heart “drove” to their hearts content, and the younger crowd enjoyed recycling trivia, balloon creations, fire truck spray and a huge fire truck slide!
Blasting sirens, flashing lights, and smiling faces were just a few of the things you saw or heard as children could climb into a truck, ask questions, sound a horn, and let their imaginations run wild. Anyone who heard the excitement came to see what all the noise and lights were about.
Added this year was a child seat inspection where NJ State Police and Neptune Police checked and helped to properly install child seats in cars.
Thanks to our individual volunteers, and to the following organizations for their support: the Neptune Office of Emergency Management, Neptune Emergency Medical Services, Neptune Department of Public Works, Neptune Police Department, Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, NJ State Police, Neptune Fire Company, Hamilton Fire, Shark River Hills Fire, Ocean Grove EMS, Mazza Recycling, Jersey Central Power & Light, Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore, CERT, Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health, Neptune Township Committee, Kona Ice, and the Neptune Township Board of Education.
Please check out our pictures on the Neptune Township website! Please note that all of the volunteer organizations need volunteers and would welcome your support and involvement.
Contact: Dawn Thompson, Recreation Director Neptune Township 732-869-1202
JUNE 19, 2024
“2024 Fly with a Cop”
Neptune Township Police and Neptune Municipal Alliance to Prevent Substance Misuse celebrated Tuesday’s Fly With a Cop event at Sky Zone.
Neptune elementary-age youth enjoyed their flying time! Thanks to the Neptune Board of Education’s assistance in helping to coordinate the event!
JUNE 1, 2024:
Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs Event
It was a sunny day, and the pond was packed with hungry fish on Saturday June 1 in Neptune, as over 90 youth tried their luck at this year’s 8th annual ‘Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs’ event. The free tournament was held at the Hamilton Fire Company Pond and organized by the Neptune Township Municipal Alliance to Prevent Substance Misuse, Recreation, Police, and Marina; Bradley Beach Surf Casters; and Ocean Grove Fishing Club.
The fish were biting early, as kids went running to measuring stations around the pond, operated by volunteers from the Surf Casters and Fishing Club, with fresh-caught bass, catfish, bluegills and sunnies. Everyone was smiling and enjoying the great outdoors as shouts of “I got one!” were heard from around the pond with each new catch. While trophies were awarded for the heaviest catches, prizes were awarded for the two biggest catches in each age category. The trophies were provided by the fishing clubs, while the prizes were provided by the fishing clubs and Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Top catches were awarded to Da-Diyah M (6lb, 7oz, 25.5” catch) and Reagan D. (7oz, 8” catch) in the 1-6 age group, Janai S. (8oz, 9” catch) and Parker B. (7.2oz, 8” catch) in the 7-10 age group, Leah F. (6lb 8oz, 25” catch) and Ryanna C. (10oz, 10.25” catch) in the 11-14 age group, and Jazelle N. (8oz, 6” catch) and Anya D. (3oz, 7” catch) in the 15-18 age group.
Throughout the event a dozen other prizes (including tackle bags, gift cards, and sets of rods and tackle) were awarded to youth participants.
For use of the pond, hats, towels, bait, and raffle items, special thanks to event sponsors—Hamilton Fire Company, Imperial Healthcare, Seacrest Recovery, Dick’s Sporting Goods, the Governor’s Council on Substance Use Disorder, Mike’s Pet Supply, Jodi & Jodee’s Fishery. Thank you to Chick-fil-A of Ocean and The Cone Zone for providing snacks to all the youth to help make it a perfect day for fishing! There were even special appearances made by several of the turtles that reside in the pond that were sunning themselves early in the morning, and later helped themselves to a worm brunch.
NJ Department of Environmental Protection designed the Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs event to create an interest in safe, healthy, outdoor activities for youth, and Neptune Township is proud to be an event supporter. Look for our 9th annual Hooked on Fishing event next year!!
Please CLICK HERE to view more photos from this fun day!
MAY 19, 2024
On Sunday, May 19 skateboarders gathered at Neptune Township’s Skatepark and Pump Track to get pointers during an open skate session with Sandy Avocado Surf instructors Steph Mags, Jennifer Morrison, and Zoe Herishen.
Neptune Recreation will again be hosting the trio for a 3-hour workshop on Sunday, June 2 from 10:30am-1:30pm. Registration opens on May 23 at www.sandyavocadosurf.com and is required to attend the session.
MARCH 26, 2024:
After a day of rain and winds on Saturday, Neptune Recreation’s Egg Hunt was moved to Tuesday, March 26 at 6pm. With the extra days to dry out the fields at Bert Willis Park were ready to host the event. Children raced for their bounty of colored eggs across all three fields this past cool and cloudy Tuesday evening.
Children from ages pre-k through 5th grade made short work of gathering up 4,000 brightly colored eggs, each containing a small toy or wrapped candy. There were 36 lucky individuals who found golden eggs mixed in with the pastel-colored eggs. These golden eggs earned the individual a large chocolate bunny and gift card to McDonalds.
After some time to award the golden egg finders, and for the volunteers to reset the fields was the 3rd Annual Egg Hunt at Dusk for children in 6th through 9th grades. This year approximately 40 youth searched for eggs in the dark using headlamps, flashlights, glowsticks, or their phones to light up the one field in search of a thousand candy filled eggs, and a handful of golden eggs that promised a larger prize. There was even a large golden egg stuffed with extra goodies this year too!
A huge thank you to Imperial Healthcare and Cris Brown for providing prizes for the golden eggs at the Dusk event and giveaways throughout both Egg Hunts.
Thanks to Mayor Tassie York, Deputy Mayor Robert Lane, and Township Committee Member Keith Cafferty for joining in the festivities and lending a helping hand. A special thank you to helpers: Patty Sneddon, Cathy Crelin, Neptune High School Student Council, Neptune Township Police for their help at the event, and to Neptune Department of Public Works in preparing the park for a great event.
To view all photos, please CLICK HERE
MARCH 12, 2024:
Neptune Cops Win 16th Annual COPS VS. KIDS Basketball Game
The Neptune Township Municipal Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse would like to extend a huge thank you to all who helped make the sixteenth annual Cops vs. Kids basketball game on March 12 such a success! The prevention message was clear; the game was fun, and the Cops and Kids enjoyed some friendly competition.
It was a great event—from pre-event sponsorship to the last basket. The Cops continued their winning streak with an 61-51 victory. Spectators attempted foul shots at half time, while wearing Fatal Vision Goggles, simulating what it’s like to be impaired by drugs or alcohol. Not many shots even came close!
Dozens of youth in attendance won prizes, and the grand prize winner of the cruiser bicycle was Kailynn Lavern!
The Kids’ team (coached by Matt Gorman) included: David Boone, Lana Ellington, Daren Fonrose, Robens Jordonne, Aaron Lawson, Julian Lemus, Daaron Lynch, Mike MacLennan, Stephen McQuay,
Daniel Merritt, Jayden Myrthil, Majiah Quarles, David Ramirez, Jayvion Rogers, Nick Sapp, Phil Singleton, Donovan Steverson, Cameron Stukes, Alex Velasquez, Kimani Wallace, and Tyshawn Wilder.
The Cops’ team (coached by Jim MacConchie) included: Lt. Kaan Williams, Josh James, Jaheem Woods, Marcus Alston, Sgt. Mysonn Ledet, Lt. Robert Baldwin, Nick Krimin, James Weinberg, Robert Newman, Briant Nixon, Scott Gomez, MiJaut Berry, Matt McDonough, Tressa Yurman, Javaugh Rogers, Deputy Chief Mike McGhee, and Chief Anthony Gualario.
Special volunteer thanks also to: Catherine Crelin for coordinating the Kids’ team and school logistics; Mark Clark for refereeing; Ken Maher for scoring & timing; Del for announcing, Lana Ellington for singing the Star-Spangled Banner, Neptune Cheerleaders, Neptune ROTC, the players, coaches, Neptune Board of Education; Patty Sneddon for refreshment help, and Prevention First / Prevention Coalition of Monmouth County for hosting a table with prevention giveaways at the event.
Thanks to all of our event sponsors, including: Neptune Township Police PBA #74, Neptune Twp FOP #19, McDonalds Rte 33 & 66, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Theo’s Demolition & Construction Clean-Up, Impact Auto Body, Bruno’s Italian Deli, MJ’s Pizza Bar & Grill, Allied Fire & Safety, Uni-Serv, Inc., Target, Neptune Board of Education & High School, the Neptune Municipal Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, Midtown Urban Renaissance Corporation (MURC), and the Neptune Recreation Department. Funding for this event is also provided through the Governor’s Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse.
Thanks to everyone who supported the game, and in turn, helps us spread our prevention message to the community. Be sure to look for our next Cops vs. Kids fundraiser, as I heard more than one, “Wait till next time!”
Sincerely,
Dawn Thompson, Recreation Director & Coordinator, Municipal Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
