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Middletown honors long‑serving volunteers, swears in two promoted officers and schedules youth parade
Summary
At its Dec. 15 meeting, the Middletown Township Committee swore in Lieutenant Michael Heaton and Sergeant Nicholas Zepkow, presented keys honoring decades of volunteer service to longtime department members and recognized championship accomplishments for local youth sports, including a parade announcement.
MIDDLETOWN — The Middletown Township Committee used its Dec. 15 meeting to swear in newly promoted officers, mark decades of volunteer service and celebrate youth athletic championships.
Lieutenant Michael Heaton and Sergeant Nicholas Zepkow each took the oath of office before the committee. Both recited the standard oath affirming support for the U.S. and New Jersey constitutions; committee members then congratulated the officers.
The committee presented commemorative township keys and plaques honoring long‑serving volunteers. Mayor Perry recounted the honorees' years of service, military backgrounds, and roles with the Middletown Township Police Department and the fire department. John Drucker was singled out for 50 years of service to Middletown Township Fire Company No. 1, with the mayor noting Drucker's long involvement as LOSAP coordinator and work related to 9/11 health and compensation efforts. A family member accepted one of the recognitions for a volunteer whose five decades of service were recounted by the mayor and by his son, who serves on the committee.
The committee also recognized Middletown High School South's boys varsity soccer team for a 17‑win season, the program's first conference tournament championship and a run to the NJSIAA Group 3 state final. Mayor Perry announced a parade for the River Plaza Chargers' national championship scheduled for Dec. 20, beginning at Normandy Park and ending at Trezza Field.
Comments during the meeting emphasized community volunteerism and encouraged residents to consider serving in fire, EMS or OEM roles. During public comment, resident John Spinelli offered a suggestion to add signage honoring the River Plaza Chargers; Mayor Perry replied that plans were "in the works."
Next steps: Promotions take effect per department procedure; the township's commemorations are ceremonial honors and the announced parade is scheduled to proceed on Dec. 20 as described at the meeting.
Attribution notes: quotes and attributions in this article are taken from the meeting transcript and mapped to the speakers list; where transcript spellings varied, the article uses names explicitly stated by speakers in the record (for example, “John Spinelli,” “Michael Heaton” and “Nicholas Zepkow”).
