Community Corner
Proud Community Welcomes New Residents
A reception was held at the Old Wharf House for new residents of Oceanport in a very welcoming manner.
On Wednesday, July 22, the Quality of Life Committee of Oceanport held a reception for those residents who recently moved into the town. The reception took place at the Old Wharf House, located at 316 Main Street.
Pretzels, potato chips, grapes, cheese and crackers, chocolate covered strawberries, a fruit bowl, a cake, a six foot sub, mozzarella sticks and stromboli were some of the items offered to attendees. In addition, upon leaving each resident was given a package of sailboat-shaped cookies to match the sailboat used alongside the Oceanport name.
Most of the food was provided by Councilman Will Johnson, who also happens to be a co-owner of in West End. After trying their food, Scalla’s is certain to increase their clientele by a percentage of the Oceanport population.
Find out what's happening in Little Silver-Oceanportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Being new to Oceanport, Joan Lennon asked Mayor Michael Mahon how she could better “assimilate” herself with this town. This led to Lennon joining the Quality Of Life Committee, which is run by Councilwoman Ellynn Kahle.
Joan Lennon relayed a story to the night’s attendees about how the people of Oceanport saved her husband Kevin’s life. A neighbor heard her husband fall off a ladder, while Joan was out picking up a set of Christmas lights that were paid for, but not present with the rest of the lights purchased when Kevin got home. Imagine her surprise to see police and an ambulance when she returned home!
Find out what's happening in Little Silver-Oceanportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Mayor Michael Mahon talked about how residents can “get in the loop.” Mahon urged people to get involved with an activity within the community. According to Mahon, the thing that makes Oceanport unique is “the number of generations that live here.”
Barbara Bonforte (referred to as the Chairwoman of Newcomers), Kelly McGowan (President of the Board of Education) and Jackie Cole (promoting the Garden Club and the ) also spoke.
With the walls decorated with scenes from 1977 Oceanport, John Bonforte explained how there used to be more businesses along Main Street. Photos reflected upon The Turf Bar, Tony’s Tonsorial Parlor, The Village Market, The King and Queen Restaurant, The Olde Village Sport Shoppe, among others. John Bonforte, of course, is popular at this site with his .
Prizes donated by local businesses were raffled off during the evening, with the first winner being Curtis Corral. His wife, Elizabeth Corral, won one later in the evening. With this couple growing up in Middletown, the Corrals bought their very first home a year ago in Oceanport. Before this, they resided at rental properties in Rumson and Red Bank. Elizabeth works in sales at Horizon. Curtis is a union carpenter, with keeping him very busy.
Another couple in Oceanport for only a year is Don and Darcy Lawes. Not only nice people, but rumor has it that Darcy bakes the best coffee cake in town.
Also in attendance was Charles Ryan, who recently moved back to Oceanport. He lived here for 56 years and then moved to the Carolinas. His father owned a boatyard in the 1920’s. His dad also built a tractor plant for Ford. Ryan told me how the building that we were currently in used to be a port for ships.
Ryan also recollected how the building of the railroad bridge screwed up the creek. The railroad was eventually forced to build a new bridge with a swing in it.
One could sit for hours and be enthralled by the stories of John Bonforte and Charles Ryan. It was a great turnout considering the stormy weather. One thing is for sure, the people of Oceanport take great pride in their community. It was also great to see how they welcomed these new residents into their town.
