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Seacrest Partners with Local Leadership and VFW Post 12173 for Recognition Event
LITTLE EGG HARBOR, N.J. (June 23, 2023) — Hometown heroes like Bert Politoski deserve special recognition, and that’s just what Seacrest Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center had in mind when he was being discharged from there after his recovery from a recent knee surgery. The Little Egg Harbor skilled nursing facility partnered with local leadership, including Mayor of Tuckerton Susan Marshall and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12173 to honor Politoski for his military service and commitment to preserving the environment.
Politoski’s story is a unique one. Well known and beloved in the Little Egg Harbor-Tuckerton area, he has dedicated himself to walking 20 miles a day since 1989, picking up nearly 2,000 pounds of trash along the way. Politoski, who was a West Point graduate and rose to the rank of Captain serving at Fort Dix, has walked over 200,000 miles, which is the equivalent of more than eight times around the earth.
A seven-minute-mile runner in his youth, Politoski had knee replacement surgery in April, choosing Seacrest for his rehabilitation and recovery. He knew it well as his mother had previously stayed there. “I have always said that what makes this area so special are the people,” said Politoski. “I certainly felt that here at Seacrest and am touched by all the recognition.”
During Seacrest’s recognition event, Bonnie Beau of the VFW presented Politoski with a Proclamation “For Meritorious and Distinguished Service in Furthering the Aims and Ideals of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.” Also in attendance were Little Egg Harbor Committee Member Ken Laney, Police Chief James Hawkins, Captain Michael Hart, Lieutenant Thomas Thornton and Ken Hagerman of the VFW, as well as Seacrest leadership.
“Thanks to my rehab at Seacrest, I plan to get back to my walks and helping preserve the natural beauty of our area,” said Politoski. He credits the entire team at Seacrest for his recovery with particular recognition to Laura Jones, life enrichment assistant; Mark Collins, rehab director; Kim Hoffman, director of admissions; Samantha Brown, CNA; and Donna Hickman, social worker.
Located at 1001 Center Street, Seacrest provides post-hospital care, short-term rehab and long-term residential care. The 171-bed skilled nursing facility, which is undergoing a multi-million-dollar enhancement, carries a five-star designation from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for both overall quality and quality of resident care. More information on the facility and its programming can be found at seacrestrehabhc.com.
PHOTO CAPTION (L-R): Bert Politoski, Mayor of Tuckerton Susan Marshall and Seacrest’s Jacqueline Phillips, director of community relations
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About Seacrest Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center
1001 Center Street, Little Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08087
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Media Contact:
Sandy Crisafulli / David Wilderotter
Caryl Communications
201-796-7788
sandy@caryl.com / david@caryl.com