Vote: 2012 Brigantine Person of the Year

Vote for Brigantine’s Person of the Year. Click thru to vote and see the most recent tally. Read some incredible testimonials too.

It’s true. Brigantine is one amazing place with the most amazing people. Brigantine’s also evolving into an even better town, as fresh new leadership and ideas are being adopted. Candidates for Brigantine’s Person of the Year show respect and caring not only for full-time residents, but for 2nd homeowners, business operators and visitors as well.

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Mike Feely has initiated and participated in many community activites and organizations over the last 20+ years. Mike was a key volunteer during Superstorm Sandy and at the BCC before, during and after Sandy. Mike is an all around good community activist.

Linda Simpson quietly organizes the true spirit coalition into a wonderful giving entity. She wants no credit, will shy away from photos or accolades. She truely wants to help people with no personal gain. Linda works year round to give through this organizaion anf she worked tirelessly to help all affected by super storm sandy. She deserves our thanks.

Ernie Purdy is the invisible man — most everyone on this list gets recognized in the news on a regular basis, and rightfully so. Ernie does his job and doesn’t receive the credit he is do. The storm brought him front and center, and he lived up to the challenge. Now would be a good time to recognize his contributions to the City all these years, not just during the storm.

Because of the exceptional circumstances this year, you may even want to award two or three winners. A great number of people deserve this award. Perhaps a Sandy award could be presented this year. Afterall, it was 50 years ago when we had our last really big storm.

Even before the superstorm had cleared, Marjorie Goodman was thinking of others. While she was worried about her own home, she was trying to take care of others. As soon as she got home and removed what had to go from her home, she was leading the movement in efforts to help others with not only food and shelter but clothing and whatever was needed. She even put out that if someone was too embarrassed or felt ashamed to send her private messages and she would go out, get what they need and bring it to them. She is what caring is about. She is the very essence of what we should all be. She is exceptional, extraordinary, she is… I could go on and on about what she is, but there is simply not enough room here. She cares about everyone else, she should be person of the year for Brigantine

John Scotland puts everyone and everything before himself. A great example to the youth and community. Can connect with anyone on a personal level. Makes everyone feel welcomed, has never turned anyone down. A true hero and a true gentleman. Yes the other votes are good but John is above and beyond!

Lieutenant Jim Bennett should be added to this list for a incredible job with Sandy as Brigantine’s Emergency Management Coordinator. He added friends and kept them updated on all social networks….so we can all stay informed…aside from managing a “once in a lifetime” responsibility. This is a hard list, because Jim Mogan did an INCREDIBLE job with the Community Center during Sandy….and Rev. Scotland has come forward as a key person in Brigantine’s community with on-going recovery efforts….Tough Choices Brigantine…tough choices…

Because Marjorie Ileen Goodman volunteered during the storm of the century along with organized a turkey day dinner and is such a nice person. She is also a person that is not involved in a community sponsored organized that would normally get recognition.  Time for someone to win who isn’t winning for doing their job. This person did it out of kindness of their own heart.

Reverend John Scotland: during the hurricane never ever seemed to sleep, because he worked tirelessly to ensure the safety I everyone he could reach out too and then some. Not only does his food pantry work all year long , but that stepped up after Sandy, the church got truck after truck from all over the country donating all kinds of items A to Z, and John could always be found there whenever you needed anything. And during that selfless time, his wife had surgery, his daughter gave birth , and there was the turkey dinner, it’s almost as if he cloned himself , I vote John Scotland as man of the century if I could.

The award should go to the Public Works and Police Departments. They worked around the clock to get Brigantine back in shape fast…faster than any town along the NJ shore. Their extraordinary effort should be recognized by everyone who owns a home in Brigantine. It would be great to have the Brigantine Council pass a proclamation recognizing everyone of them by reading all their names at the council meeting and creating a plaque with their names on it and hanging it in the town hall for future generations to read!

Police Chief John Stone is a caring and giving person. He is a leader and accomplished so much in the Police Department in a short time that will have a positive affect within the department and with the quality of life issues in the community. John is a life long resident of Brigantine and gives back to the community when the opportunity arises. He is not only the Chief of our Police Department, he is a father and mentor to our future generation.

If it wasn’t for Ernie Purdy & his crew our beautiful island wouldn’t be back to normal! Thank you for all your hard work & dedication!

Marjorie Goodman is there when you need her. During hard times she brought the community in touch through Facebook – gathered clothing, furniture and amazingly start the momentum for Thanksgiving feast. She help gather toys and distributed the toys so kids could have Christmas. If you didn’t know Marjorie is of the Jewish faith – but she ensure all was taken care of for the children. Thanks Marjorie for all you do and will do for your community.

Mayor Phil Guenther. The man is a work horse…He helps so many people that you never hear about. I see a lot of what he does because I live close to him. He is a saint and Brigantine is a better place because of people like Phil.

Jim Mogan. He was terrific when we were faced with tragedy. He was calm,smiling and helpful at the community donation center.

Lynn Sweeney was helpful when my class donated over 40 toys to the annual toy drive. She went out of her way to allow us to the deliver the toys on the weekend and wrote an incredible thank you note to my class. I’m sure the city of Brigantine benefits from having such a dedicated worker in City Hall.