TOMS RIVER, NJ – The Township of Toms River has turned on the water for the Garden Club of Toms River that maintains the Blue Star Memorial on Route 37.

In the past, club members had to bring buckets of water to water the garden around the memorial, but the township installed a garden hydrant and turned it on for the first time this week.

Mayor Maurice B. Hill, a retired U.S. Navy Admiral, was on hand to celebrate the new service, which will allow members of the Garden Club to more efficiently maintain the memorial, dedicated to all of the men and women who served in the armed forces to defend the United States. Hill spent

“Prior to the installation of the hydrant, Garden Club members would lugged water from their homes to the site to care for the trees, plants, and flowers they planted to honor our Armed Forces,” said Art Gallagher, public information officer for the township. “Club Officer Nancy Bianchini approached the Township and Veolia last year with the idea of a permanent water source. With infrastructure donated by Veolia and labor from the Township, the project is done.”

The water pump was donated by Veolia, the township’s water utility provider. The Blue Star Memorial is located on Route 37 in Winding River Park, across the street from Community Medical Center.

Photos by Art Gallagher, Toms River Township

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