The BERKELEY Times Vol. 25 - No. 32
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Flood Insurance Will Be Discounted
Planning Board: South Seaside Park Shouldn’t Leave Berkeley
Community News! Pages 12-14
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 20
Dear Pharmacist Page 21
Wolfgang Puck Page 35
BREAKING NEWS @
–hoto by Chris Lundy South Seaside Park is between Island Beach State Park and Seaside Park, yet still a part of Berkeley Township. By Chris Lundy BERKELEY – After five years of testimony, the Planning Board made a recommendation to the township that South Seaside Park should not de-annex (secede) from the township. South Seaside Park (SSP) is located between Island Beach State Park and Seaside
Park. Residents have claimed that they have more in common with these beachfront communities than the rest of the town. They have also noted that they pay more in taxes for what they have said is less services. In a unanimous 7-0 vot e, t he Pla n n i ng Board recommended
to the Township Council that SSP should stay. Planning Board attorney Gregory McGuckin said he will draw up a resolution to that effect and then the council will have to act on it. After half a decade, the decision was not much of a sur prise. Mai n la nd Berkeley
residents would see an increase in taxes if SSP left. One study said that it would raise taxes about 8.5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The example given was that the average homeowner would pay $156 more a year. And indeed, it is expected that the Township (Seaside - See Page 11)
jerseyshoreonline.com
Politician Faced 3 Different Protests
By Bob Vosseller TOMS RIVER - New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney got a loud reception when he arrived at The Grove Restaurant in the Howard Johnson’s motel on the morning of January 7. It was not, however, the kind of reception he may have appreciated. Sweeney came
to the township as the scheduled guest of the Ocean County Mayors Association. T h r e e g roup s of protesters came out to voice their frustration over the issues of school funding cuts, a vaccinations bill and the continuation of a bear hunt in the state. Sweeney’s appearance was noted on the
association’s website. The association invites all 33 municipalities in Ocean County and regularly meets at The Grove restaurant on 955 Hooper Ave. Protestors began lining up in front of the restaurant/hotel around 7:30 a.m. with signs, bull horns and plenty of loud voices to chant their discontent
about a state bill that would remove religious exemptions for vaccinations for school children. Others called for restoration of school funds cut by the S-2 state school funding formula which parent groups and officials have criticized for not being transparent. The “Sweeney Showdown” as it was billed
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on a Facebook event was designed to “show him that we are not going away! We will not consent!” The event was led by the group New Jersey for Medical Freedom. The vaccinations bill, S-2173/A-3818, was passed by the state Assembly last month but failed in the Senate a (Protests - See Page 4)
By Chris Lundy BERKELEY – Shore homeowners will see a discount in their flood insurance rates as Berkeley has improved their flood management program in town. This discount applies to the roughly 2,700 homeowners that have flood insurance policies, Mayor Carmen Amato said. Berkeley residents’ flood insurance policies are going down another 5 percent, to a total discount of 25 percent. These discounts will start May 1. The mayor said the average Berkeley Township flood policy holder’s total discount will now average $189. Township-wide, the nearly 2,700 policy holders will receive nearly $500,000 in discounts. The National Flood Insurance Program is run by the federal government. It also creates a Community Rating System. A town is rated on how they prepare and respond to floods. These changes fall into categories like public information; mapping and regulations; (Flood - See Page 10)
Curtain Opens For Performing Arts Academy
By Bob Vosseller TOMS RIVER – They arrived by bus and car and entered with excitement for their first day of class in the brand new Ocean County Vocational Technical School Performing Arts Academy building. It wasn’t just the students that were excited about the state-of-the-art facility but administrators, staff, OCVTS Board of Education members and elected officials. The building is on the campus of Ocean County College in Toms River. It provides a showcase for those seeking careers in several areas of the performing arts. It also provides college credits and a modern, safe environment that Freeholder Director Joseph Vicari proudly said equals anything available in the northern part of the state. “I’ve been in education as a teacher, principal and superintendent for 40 years and (OCVTS - See Page 10)
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