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GET TO KNOW Expecting the unexpected
Middlesex County Office of Emergency Management and Preparedness (OEM)
Mural Contest
Middlesex County hosted its first Mural Design Contest, inviting residents of all ages and artistic abilities to showcase their creativity by developing a mural design. The winning design now graces the concessions/comfort building at Raritan Bay Waterfront Park in South Amboy, serving as a vibrant testament to the County’s artistic spirit and rich heritage. Throughout the month of March, Middlesex County received a staggering 120 design entries. A jury of esteemed local artists and community leaders deliberated on the finalists, choosing the top three designs to be put to a public vote via Facebook. Metuchen resident Julia Virginia Win emerged victorious. “My design mimics my usual mediums of watercolor and collage,” said Win. “It is an homage to the transportation and history of South Amboy which depicts NJ TRANSIT, the first airmail flight in NJ, biking at the waterfront, a sailboat, a ferry to NYC, and the ‘hole in the wall’ tunnel. The quilt-like quality is meant to add interest to all parts of the mural and pack in lots of color!” Once the winner was chosen, the mural was then painted by professional muralist Louie Blacka with Win’s help. Over the course of a few weeks in May, the artists brought Win’s design to life, sketching rough outlines of figures before finishing the fine details of the design. On May 24, the County hosted a mural unveiling event with County and local officials and Win and Blacka in attendance.
When disaster strikes, who spearheads Middlesex County’s response? That would be the County’s Director of Emergency Management and Preparedness: Bill Johnson. Johnson, who oversees the Office of Emergency Management and Preparedness (OEM), says OEM’s primary function is to “be ready for any emergency that may impact the residents of Middlesex County.” That includes preparing for, mitigating, responding to, and recovering from the effects of any emergency caused by natural, man-made, or technological disasters, or a national security crisis. OEM assists other County departments and the County’s 25 municipalities by aiding them in their planning for emergencies and by responding to incidents in accordance with the policies of the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners and the New Jersey State Police Office of Emergency Management. Officially enacted by resolution in the early 1950s under the name “Civil Defense,” OEM is headquartered at the Middlesex County Fire Academy, an ideal location since Johnson’s office and County Fire Marshal Mike Gallagher’s office work closely, coordinating responses to everything from major fires to natural disasters to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to having offices at the Fire Academy, OEM has fully equipped emergency response vehicles ready to deploy as needed
and a state-of-the-art emergency operations center from which Johnson and his team can coordinate the County’s response. In fact, when a hurricane or tropical storm strikes, Johnson and Gallagher ― along with other first responders ― typically hunker down in the building, working practically around the clock directing the response. The Office of Emergency Management and Preparedness includes bureaus that accept community volunteers to help in emergency response and coordinated operations. The bureaus include the Emergency Services Bureau, Emergency Medical Services, Auxiliary Emergency Communications, the County Animal Response Team, the Middlesex County Auxiliary Police Academy, and the County Emergency Response Team. OEM also strives to educate the public about emergency preparedness, including what residents should do to protect themselves, their families, their pets, and their property in the event of storms or other emergencies. To learn more about the Office of Emergency Management and Preparedness ― including how you can volunteer your time or for information about how you can protect yourself and your loved ones in an emergency ― visit middlesexcountynj.gov and search “Office of Emergency Management and Preparedness.”
(L-R) Professional muralist Louie Blacka with
Mural Design Contest winner, artist Julia Virginia Win
2023 Middlesex County Employee of the Year: Marybeth Caruso! Middlesex County conferred its first- ever Employee of the Year award at 2023 Celebrate. Marybeth Caruso, MSN, RN, who joined the County 27 years ago and serves as director of nursing for the County’s Office of Health Services, was selected from a pool of 30 qualified submissions. Caruso, who began her career as a staff nurse and considers working directly with patients – particularly in the County’s tuberculosis clinics – the most enjoyable and rewarding part of her career, is grateful for this honor and the attention it brings to the important field of public health. “This is such an honor and quite humbling,” said Caruso. “It means a lot because it originated from a colleague and the Commissioners chose me. It’s also a nice spotlight on public health, our great team, and the work we do here.”
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Marybeth Caruso with her award
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12 Your Middlesex | 2023 Issue 1
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