ABERDEEN TOWNSHIP CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING OF CLIFFWOOD BEACH COMMUNITY CENTER

Close to 150 members of the Aberdeen Township community gathered on May 15th to celebrate the grand opening of the Cliffwood Beach Community Center following extensive renovations. The project transformed the former Aberdeen EMS facility at 651 Prospect Ave. into the new home of the H.A.M. Therapeutic Recreation Program and a site for additional recreation activities, community meetings, and an office for the Aberdeen Township Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association (P.B.A.).

On hand for the grand opening were members of the Aberdeen Township Council, H.A.M. employees and participants, members of the Aberdeen Township P.B.A., and family members of the late Fiorendo Sigismondi, a dedicated patrolman with the Aberdeen Police Department, and a charter and life member of Aberdeen First Aid, for whom the building was dedicated. They were joined by representatives of Quality 1st Basement Systems, CME Associates, T&M Associates.

The work, which included general repairs and updates, a new parking lot, upgrades on the restrooms and doorways, and other improvements to make the building ADA-compliant, was performed by Cliffwood-based Quality 1st, which emerged as the low-bidder on the project.

With construction completed, the H.A.M. Program, which provides a variety of educational and social activities for developmentally disabled residents of Hazlet, Holmdel, Aberdeen and Matawan, has a new, expanded home that will be used for camp and other organized events, including its weekly Night Owls program of various social activities, as well as regularly scheduled cooking, arts and crafts, exercise and dance classes. Previously, the group operated out of a small classroom in Matawan which it had outgrown.

In addition, the building will now serve as a site for community events including an upcoming Aberdeen Township Council meeting on June 21, PBA meetings, community events such as exercise classes, mommy and me programs, and father-daughter/mother-son dances, explained Township Manager Holly Reycraft. The facility, which can accommodate up to 150 people and has a fully-equipped kitchen, is also available to rent for private parties.

The building became vacant with the privatization of the Aberdeen Township EMS, and ownership was initially transferred to the Aberdeen P.B.A. as a facility for their meetings. In late-2014, ownership was transferred to Aberdeen Township for H.A.M.’s headquarters and general community uses.

“The Cliffwood Beach Community Center is something that Aberdeen has needed for a long time,” said Mayor Fred Tagliarini. “In addition to providing a home to the H.A.M. program, this newly-renovated facility will provide our volunteer organizations with a place to conduct meetings and serve as a venue for a variety of town events for children to senior citizens. Our thanks go to Quality 1st of Aberdeen for renovating this building, the Aberdeen PBA for helping the Town to secure the building, and Township Manager Holly Reycraft and her staff for making this project a reality.”

Deputy Mayor Margaret Montone added, “It was truly an honor to recognize a lifelong first aider and police officer, Fiorendo Sigismondi, by dedicating this building in his name.”