As the township prepares to celebrate Memorial Day today the administration recently announced a new method of getting information out to residents. 

The Township of Howell recently launched a Facebook page. In an email sent to residents the goal of the page is to provide "continuing updated official information."

Councilman Robert Nicastro said he is hopeful residents will use the page to get information from the township. "One of the goals of this Council is to increase communications with our residents," he said. "We know the importance of disseminating quick and accurate information."

Nicastro said social media tools like Facebook and Twitter are other ways of accomplishing that goal. Other steps the councilman said the township has taken include email blasts and an electronic newsletter as well as code red alerts. "The more avenues we have to get information out, the better it is for our residents," he said. 

Township Manager Helene Schlegel also has a Twitter account used for official purposes and the Howell Police Department also recently launched a Facebook page which is used for traffic updates and emergency situations. 

The Howell Board of Education also has utilized social media with a Twitter account of their own. 

In honor of Memorial Day township offices will be closed today. The annual Memorial Day ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Town Hall followed by a ceremony in Farmingdale at 11:30. Farmingdale's annual Memorial Day Parade is set to head down Main Street at 1 p.m.