Middletown Creates Neighborhood Spotlight Program

The Middletown mayor and township committee have created Neighborhood Spotlight, a program that will focus “on the uniqueness of Middletown’s neighborhoods as well as the interests and concerns of its residents,’’ according to a news release from the township.

“Middletown Township is comprised of more than a dozen unique neighborhoods,” Mayor Stephanie Murray said in a prepared statement. “Neighborhood Spotlight offers an invaluable opportunity to focus on the beauty of our many neighborhoods and chat with the people living and doing business in them. Keep an eye out for dates, times, and specific locations.”

According to the news release:

The police department’s Mobile Command Center will be set up in neighborhoods throughout Middletown over the next year, to encourage residents to chat with officers about neighborhood concerns.

Staffers from other township departments will also be present to speak with residents. The command center will also be stocked with general information about the township and popular forms.

The program will kick off next month and run though June 2016.

Here’s the schedule:

• North Middletown - August
• River Plaza - September
• Belford - October
• Harmony/New Monmouth - November
• Middletown Village - December
• Leonardo - January
• Locust/Navesink - February
• Port Monmouth - March
• Oak Hill - April
• Lincroft - May
• Fairview/Chapel Hill - June

Township officials said they will announce specific dates, times and locations at a later date.

“Neighborhood Spotlight is part of the township’s Community Identity Campaign (CIC),’’ the news release said. “Under this campaign, a series of programs and projects are being rolled out to help solidify a common community identity for Middletown as well as celebrate its diversity. ”

That campaign has also launched a new slogan for the 42 square-mile township that is home to about 66,000 people: Many Neighborhoods. One Middletown!