Highlands St. Patrick’s Parade - It’s a great day for the Irish and everyone else

Tim Hill (click for photos) has deep roots in Highlands, he married a local girl, Laura Horan whose family was very involved in the community, her late mother Jane was the co-founder of the Highlands Historical Society. Tim’s late great uncle Joseph Dempsey served as mayor in 1949 and 50.  Joe’s wife Clara was a founding member of Twin Light Historical  Society.

As a graduate of Henry Hudson Regional School (1978), Tim was attending Brookdale Community College (BCC) when approached by Mr. William McCrae, the Director of Recreation in Highlands regarding a volunteer opportunity within the department. After a year of volunteering, Tim was hired in June of 1979 as a recreation leader, while he continued his education. In 1980 Tim was working full-time at the center, attending college part-time, and was also a member of the BCC Men’s Cross Country team finishing 13th in the Garden State Athletic Conference Championship, and 15th in the National JUCO Region 19 Championships. In 1984 Tim received his Recreation Administrator Certification from the NJ Department of Community Affairs, and in 1988, he completed requirements for his National Recreation and Park Association (NJRPA) and his New Jersey Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Professional Certification in Recreation Management.

In 1981, Tim was promoted to the position of Co-Director of Recreation and in 1984 he was appointed Recreational Director by the then Mayor, Robert D. Wilson. He held this position until 2011. Through Tim’s leadership and vision, many new activities, special events and health & human service opportunities were offered for the pre-school, youth, teen, adult, and senior populations. By working together, the recreation department was able to utilize other facilities (HES, HHRS, Ptak Towers, etc) to offer programs sponsored by the community center, or by other non-profit, local, county, state, federal and private program providers. Activities ranged from a state approved school age child care program, to the NJ Green Thumb (Older Americans Act Program) that provided employment opportunities, to food distribution programs for local families, to the annual summer recreation program that included breakfast and lunch as part of its’ daily activities. He was also instrumental in assisting the Highlands Senior Citizen Group and its’ members with monthly special events, guest speakers and referrals to additional programs or services needed by individuals. In addition to the planning of recreation and human service programs, Tim was also given the task of evaluating conditions and overseeing park / beach improvements & general maintenance by the Department of Public Works. Tim obtained many successful grants for the Borough and also established many partnerships that provided funding for recreation & park related activities or facilities.

Tim was a founding member of the Highlands / Atlantic Highlands Municipal Alliance, Coordinator of the Jesse Owens Track and Field Event, Coordinator of Pepsi Pitch, Hit and Run Competition, and helped revive and coordinate the Atlantic Highlands / Highlands Youth Soccer Program. Tim also volunteered as a coach for the Sandy Hook Little League, the AH Rec. Basketball Program and the H/AH Youth Soccer Program. Tim was also a volunteer instructor for the Rutgers Youth Sports Councils’ S.A.F.E.T.Y program that provided over 750 local youth sports coaches with training to help minimize risk and injury, and to teach effective coaching methods. In 1999, Tim was asked to help coordinate the Borough’s 100th Anniversary events that were being planned for 2000. He also assisted the VFW and American Legion with the annual Memorial Day Parade.

In addition, he also served the borough as the municipal representative to the Monmouth County Office on Aging Municipal Coordinating Council, the Monmouth County Community Development Block Grant program, and the FACA Fort Hancock 21st Century Advisory Committee. Although Tim coordinated the Special Event Review Committee for the borough, he also volunteered countless hours to the Highlands Business Partnership (HBP) and responded whenever called upon to assist in any capacity for many events such as the St Patrick’s Parade, Guinness Run, Clam Fest (Clam Eating Clam Shucking, & Baby Parade), Twin Lights Bike Ride, and the Holiday Tree Lighting.

During Tim’s career in recreation, he was an active member of both the National Recreation and Park Association (NJRPA) and the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). As a respected member of NJRPA, Tim was an advocate for the smaller communities and recreation departments throughout New Jersey, understanding the challenges they faced. He served on the NJRPA Public Affairs, Annual Awards, Annual Conference, Strategic Planning, and other committees within the organization. He also served 10 years as a member of the NJRPA Board of Trustees as District IV Chair, Community Recreation Section Chair, Member-at-Large, and was elected President of NJRPA for the 2009-2010 term. He was recognized by NJRPA with numerous Presidential Service Awards, and in 2011, the Association Service Award for outstanding and dedicated service. Throughout his tenure, the borough was recognized by the Monmouth County Parks System for excellence in programming and outstanding facilities. Although retired, Tim still serves on the NJRPA Public Affairs Committee.

In May of 2011, Tim was named interim Borough Administrator and became BA in December of 2011. From late 2012, until his retirement after 37 years with the borough on June 1, 2016, Tim spent his time working on 100’s of tasks that required attention during the recovery efforts made necessary by Superstorm Sandy. Tim also served as a member of the Highlands Planning Board, Highlands Depuration Committee, FEMA Long-Term Recovery Planning Team, and continued to volunteer with numerous HBP events. Although Tim was an employee to the Borough, he was an outstanding, devoted volunteer to the Highlands Business Partnership. He volunteered hundreds of hours to our events over the 25 years. Most importantly Tim was a volunteer for the Highlands Business Partnership’s Hope For Highlands Committee and worked closely with the Board and Committee Members raising and distributing over a million dollars in grants and goods and services for residents post Sandy.

Tim is married to Laura (Horan) Hill and has two children – Shannon and Timmy. He currently resides in Orlando, FL and although retired, he is self-employed, working as a part-time sales rep for Swartz Associates, a company that sells park and recreation site furnishings and equipment throughout Florida, Georgia, Mississippi & Tennessee. (He is still an avid NJ Devils Hockey fan…….)

The Highlands Business Partnership is proud to present Mr. Timothy Hill as the 2024 Grand Marshal.

 

Click for directions

Click for directions

Click for directions

Click for directions

No Bycycles, No Skateboards, No Dogs

No Bycycles, No Skateboards, No Dogs

No Bycycles, No Skateboards, No Dogs

 

2024 Grand Marshal
Timothy Hill

2023 Grand Marshal
Karen Taylor Burke

2022 grand marshals
Nancy Burton and Eileen Ricco
In the Garden

2019 Grand Marshals
Christopher and Dolores Francy

2018 Grand Marshal
Gary Branin Senior, Branin’s Contracting Company
Gloria Miller, Seascape Manor Bed & Breakfast

2017 Grand Marshal
Ken Braswell, ShoreGrafx
Jay Cosgrove, Bahrs Landing Restaurant

2016 Grand Marshal
Joan Wicklund and
Rosemary Ryan.

2015 Grand Marshal
Daniel Shields and
Robert Higgins owners of
Windansea Restaurant.

2014 Grand Marshal
Henry Moyer and Nick DiBari
owners of
Off the Hook Restaurant.

2013 Grand Marshal
Rebecca Kane
Council President/Firefighter and
Deputy Grand Marshal
David “Bear” Parker
Office of Emergency Management Coordinator

2012 Grand Marshal
Helen Soyka and
Deputy Grand Marshal
Mary Ann Soyka
Resident & Business Owner

2011 Grand Marshal
Douglas Douty
Highlands Business Owner
Lusty Lobster Seafood Co.
Celebrating 30 Years

2010 Grand Marshal
Mrs. Dorothy Kovic
Resident & Business Owner

2009 Grand Marshal
Mr. Doug Lentz
Co- owner of the Inlet Café

2008 Grand Marshal
Mr. Jim Filip
owner/operator of
Doris & Ed's Restaurant

2007 Grand Marshal
Raymond Cosgrove
Highlands Business Owner
Bahrs Restaurant & Marina
Celebrating 90 years

2007 Deputy Grand Marshal
Freeholder Anna C. Little ESQ.
Highlands Resident and
Business Owner

2006 Grand Marshal
Highlands Councilman
Frank Lynch Nolan

2005 Grand Marshal
Highlands Chief Of Police
Joseph R. Blewett

2004 Grand Marshal
Highlands Councilman
John Urbanski

2003 Grand Marshal
Highlands Mayor
Richard O'Neil