Looking Ahead For Middletown In 2021: What's Coming?

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — As 2020 (thankfully) draws to a close, here's what Middletown residents should expect to see happening in their town in 2021:

1. Coronavirus vaccinations take off in full force

Expect a gradual return to normal in the new year, as the Monmouth County Health Dept. began vaccinations this week at their East Main Street building in Freehold. By Dec. 31, they had vaccinated more than 200 people. Right now, vaccinations are done strictly by appointment only. If you fall within group 1a, email an appointment request to covid19vaccine@co.monmouth.nj.us. Here's the list of people who fall in group 1a. (It's bigger than you think, and includes not just doctors, nurses and EMTs, but also front-desk staff at doctor and dentist offices and even funeral workers.) Monmouth County Starts Vaccination Plan

Also, beginning Sunday, January 3, Middletown will be sponsoring weekly COVID testing every Sunday from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and Mondays and Fridays from 1:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Middletown Train Station. Visit www.middletownnj.org/covid19screening to register and for additional information.

2. Middletown schools

The three newest Middletown Board of Education members, Jacqueline Tobacco, Frank Capone and Harmony Heffernan, will begin their terms January 1. (Patch incorrectly reported Middletown schools will return to full-time, in person Jan. 19.)

Expect this trio to be big newsmakers in 2021. Not only will they aggressively push for an end to remote learning (the platform they campaigned on), but Capone and Tobacco have also promised tough negotiations with the Middletown teachers' union and cost-saving changes to school busing, such as seniors not having to ride the bus.

Capone is already angry the BOE signed a new contract with Middletown teachers, even though the current contract is still valid for one more year. To add to all that, redistricting is still a very real possibility for Middletown schools, even though Tobacco, Capone and Heffernan have said they are against it. Let's not forget there are six other members on the nine-member board.

Also, there are discussions underway to change Middletown schools' curriculum to make it anti-racist, and include more authors of color. Patch will keep readers updated on what's happening in Middletown public schools in 2021.

3. What will happen to the Circus Liquors/Evil Clown property on Rt. 35?

As Patch reported, the entire plan for The Shoppes at Middletown collapsed in 2020, thanks to the recession caused by covid. That land is owned by Mountain Hill/the Azzolina family, of Joe Azzolina who started the area's Foodtown grocery store chain. The Azzolina family has said they still want to move forward with finding a new developer to develop the site. So don't think that parking lot will stay vacant for long.

Toll Brothers is still on track to build 320 new homes, including 80 affordable housing units, at the site.

4. The fate of the Oceanic Bridge

Our prediction is this aging, decrepit bridge that connects Rumson and Middletown will be torn down in the new year, and entirely built anew. Some want to preserve the existing bridge and rehab it, but Monmouth County has been leaning towards entire bridge replacement. When it's rebuilt, the bridge will either be a drawbridge, as it is now, or a fixed-span bridge.

"Constructed in 1939, the Oceanic Bridge is in need of a major rehabilitation or replacement," said Monmouth County in a statement.

We can already hear howls from the multi-million dollar homes along the Navesink that overlook the bridge; after all, who wants to look at (and hear) bridge construction for the next 16 months? But we will learn more in 2021. Middletown, Rumson: What Should We Do About The Oceanic Bridge?

5. Monmouth County political predictions for 2021

And it's worth reading these 2021 political predictions from Art Gallagher at More Monmouth Musings, who predicts Old Bridge, Matawan, Marlboro and Holmdel will be redistricted in the new year, setting up Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso (R) to run against Senator Vin Gopal (D) in November. It's worth a read: 2021 Predictions

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