Mayor Pasquale Menna, below, plans to return to his mayoral duties this week. They include participation at a library event on Saturday. (Photo above by Trish Russoniello. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Getting back into the swing of things after open-heart surgery, Red Bank Mayor Pasquale Menna said he hopes to preside at Wednesday night’s semimonthly council meeting.
But first, there are a couple of wedding ceremonies to officiate. And later this week, there’s an ice-cream party for kids at which he’s slated to do more than just make a cameo.
Menna, a self-employed attorney who is single, spent most of the past recuperating at the home of his parents in Little Silver. He’s been back in his own home, on River Road, for about a week, he said.
He told redbankgreen on Tuesday that he’s still somewhat weak but “getting stronger every day.”
Wednesday’s council session would be the first Menna’s attended since he underwent surgery a month ago. Council President Art Murphy has run the interim meetings in his absence.
Menna said he’s also planning to follow through with an appearance at the public library on Saturday.
The library bills the event as a “Super Duper Ice Cream Party Summer Reading Kick-Off” with this description:
Children of all ages are invited to kick off the Summer Reading Program at our Super Duper Ice Cream Party featuring Hometown Hero, Mayor Menna!
We will have build-your-own sundaes, games and crafts to enjoy. Mayor Menna will read a story and encourage the children to read during the summer months.
Menna tells redbankgreen that he plans to read “Dog Heaven,” by Cynthia Rylant. Bella, Menna’s canine companion of 14 years, died in January.