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Post by admin on Mar 17, 2007 11:10:25 GMT -5
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Post by admin on Mar 17, 2007 20:01:34 GMT -5
WANT OTHERS TO JOIN
3 hope to spotlight the positive aspects of their hometown
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 03/17/07
BY NICK PETRUNCIO
FREEHOLD BUREAU
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FREEHOLD — Three borough residents who love their town have volunteered to serve on a proposed public relations committee.
Residents Steven LeVine, Lisa Schofield and Brian Sullivan pitched their idea to the Borough Council late last month, and officials are mulling it over and appear to like it.
"God knows Freehold Borough could use some good PR," said Mayor Michael Wilson after the three made their presentation.
The borough has been publicly criticized in recent years for its stance on illegal immigrant day laborers and has been accused of being insensitive to minorities and the poor. Officials have stressed they have a problem only with illegal immigration, not with a particular ethnic group.
Schofield, 40, said while it is important to counteract that negativity, the idea for the committee was not prompted by the immigrant controversy.
LeVine, 25, said he, Schofield and Sullivan, 35, are good friends and were talking one day about how great the town is and how no one really knows about the positive things going on. He said they want to put a spotlight on those things.
"We just want to show the public how different this town is, how vibrant, and how many great things are always going on in the town."
Those include a Home Run Derby, Battle of the Bands and Olde Freehold Day, all of which the borough puts on. Freehold also has its own San Gennaro Festival, Cruise Night and antique festival, which are held by the Freehold Center Partnership and receive publicity through the partnership's public relations firm.
The three approached Steven LeVine's father, Councilman Marc LeVine, who introduced their idea to the mayor and council.
Through the committee, the group wants to improve the perception of the borough and market it in a way similar to brand-building in the business world, according to their mission statement.
Moreover, Schofield wants to communicate to the public, including visitors and potential homeowners, Freehold's small-town Main Street atmosphere, which she loves. She has lived in the borough for about 12 years and considers it her adopted home. She also has lived in Holmdel and Marlboro and said they didn't have that Main Street connection.
"I love the diversity. I love the history.," she said. "It's that hard-working small-town essence that I have an affinity for."
Positive reactions
Sullivan said the three recently talked with borough Administrator Joseph Bellina and borough Attorney Kerry Higgins about their ideas.
He also said they would like to see maybe one or two additional people on the committee.
"This is a very inclusive initiative," he said.
Steven LeVine said he cannot speak for the leadership, but he expects the committee to be in place before the start of the summer. He has lived in the borough all his life and works for Beckerman Public Relations in Bedminster.
Schofield describes herself as a self-employed writer and editor, and publishing and press-relations consultant. She writes for Asbury Park Press publications on a freelance basis.
Sullivan is a park ranger for Monmouth County and a spokesman for the organization PEOPLE, which is an acronym for Pressing Elected Officials to Preserve our Living Environment.
PEOPLE was formed by several Freehold residents in September 2003 as tensions mounted over the growing immigrant population and day laborers' muster zone. It is against illegal immigration, but also discusses other issues, the majority of which are borough-related, on an online forum.
Marc LeVine described the three as positive people and said their professional experience will be good for the borough. He said he does not know what role, if any, he would play.
Nick Petruncio: (732) 308-7752 or npetruncio@app.com
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