Midday on Friday, July 21, several dozen municipal employees, various local elected and appointed officials, plus friends and associates gathered at Newtown Municipal Center to honor Jean St Jean, who has retired after working for nearly a half century in the field of local land use regulation.

Participants posed for commemorative photos with Ms St Jean and socialized as they ate hot buffet items.

They recalled Ms St Jean's decades of town and borough service, remarking at her deep and broad knowledge of local land use dating back to the late 1960s.

Ms St Jean has worn many hats in the local land use sphere, with her job title on her retirement listed as zoning coordinator and liaison official.

Her primary work has been as a staff member for the Newtown Zoning Board of Appeals, as well as a staff member for the Borough Zoning Commission and the Borough Zoning Board of Appeals. Besides administrative tasks, Ms St Jean has been involved in zoning enforcement.

For decades, Ms St Jean has served as a liaison in town/borough zoning matters, explained George Benson, town planning director.

"She's great. She knows everything," Mr Benson said, adding that Ms St Jean "has a great sense of history."

"She was fair, but she was tough," Mr Benson said, adding that Ms St Jean required that applicants for land use proposals meet the terms of the applicable zoning regulations.

Having worked in land use regulation for nearly five decades, Ms St Jean served as a mentor to many people, providing guidance based on her experience, Mr Benson said.

Borough Warden James Gaston lauded Ms St Jean's knowledge of real estate transactions within the borough, noting that she knew the sales histories of many individual properties.

Mr Gaston presented a handsome glass plaque to Ms St Jean at the reception, commemorating her decades of service.

Cathy Monckton, the town's zoning/wetlands enforcement officer, read a statement to Ms St Jean, honoring her years of public service.

"You're an incredible woman in faith... You have a memory that is absolutely unparalleled," said Monsignor Robert Weiss, pastor of St Rose of Lima Church. He thanked Ms St Jean for the guidance that she provided to St Rose Church during its various projects that required zoning review and approvals.

Joan Crick, the senior burgess on the Borough Board of Burgesses, told Ms St Jean, "Thank you for all your service.... Stay well."

"I'll miss everybody," Ms St Jean told those assembled. "It's [land use regulation] been part of my life forever... I've appreciated being with the borough and the town."

During her retirement, Ms St Jean plans to visit Cape Cod, Florida, and Texas.

Ms St Jean then sliced a colorful cake decorated with a beach scene, depicting the sunny setting where she plans to spend time.