The HOWELL Times
Vol. 17 - No. 35
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Marine Receives Key To Smart Home
Letters Page 7.
Community News! Page 9-11
Dear Pharmacist Page 15
Wolfgang Puck Page 23
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
—Photos Provided By The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation (Above) United States Marine Corporal Scott Nokes stands beside his new Smart Home. He took residence of the home late last month. (Right) United States Marine Cpl. Scott Nokes speaks at the podium thanking those responsible for his new Smart Home located on White Street in the township. By Bob Vosseller HOWELL – United States Marine Cpl. Scott Nokes got his Christmas present a few days early this year. He received the key to a new Smart Home on December 23. The home is located on White Street and he was joined for the official ceremony by
township and state officials and members of veteran support organizations that morning. The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation presented Nokes with the key a specially adapted, mortgage-free Smart Home. A smart home is a residence that is specially equipped with
electronic devices that can be controlled remotely by phone and/ or computer. Nokes ser ved two deployments in Afghanistan and was a rif leman assigned to 1/8 Charlie Company. While on his second deployment, he developed dysentery, which led to unresolved is-
sues, sepsis and the eventual amputation of both his legs below the knee as well as most of his eyesight. The Marine is an avid hiker and camper who hopes to develop a career in peer mentorship. His time with the U.S. Marine Corps began on his 17th birthday (Marine - See Page 6)
Petition Started For Freehold School Funds By Bob Vosseller FREEHOLD – New Jersey has cut in half the amount of state aid funding the Freehold Regional High School District will receive over the next several years. Senate Bill 2 (S-2) reflects the state’s belief that the taxpayers of the Freehold Regional
High School District are undertaxed. With that position, the state will no longer subsidize communities who are not paying their “Local Fair Share.” As a means to oppose this, the district started a petition to Governor Phil Murphy calling the move “an arbitrary calculation that we con-
tinue to challenge. Even if tax levy increases were maximized under the state-imposed cap, S-2 will generate annual budget deficits that will require meaningful cuts to the programs and services that have distinguished this district in the State of New Jersey.” The petition adds, “the
impact of a revenue loss of this magnitude cannot be overstated. Over the next several years, programs and services in the areas of student supports, academic offerings, athletic and extracurricular opportunities, bussing, as well as progress towards targeted refinements outlined in our strategic
plan, will all be markedly diminished.” This year, the Freehold Regional’s state aid was reduced by $3.8 million, next year it will lose between $6 and $7 million with subsequent reductions for the next four years thereafter continuing on until it loses approximately (Petition - See Page 6)
January 25, 2020
Public Input On Monmouth Commerce Jan. 30
By Bob Vosseller HOWELL – Those hoping there would be closure regarding the controversial Monmouth Commerce Center application were disappointed to learn that the issue would be carried further into the month. Many members of Howell for Open land and Preservation of the Environment, (HOPE) headed by resident Dawn Van Brunt came out for the latest Planning Board meeting. They learned it would be carried to the board’s Jan. 30 meeting. “The meeting went well. We had the most amazing turn-out ever, unfortunately though the meeting was rather uneventful and we did not get to public comment. There were residents literally sitting on the floor,” Van Brunt said. Van Brunt added, “some great questions were presented to (Traffic Engineer Justin Taylor) that were able to really open up everyone’s eyes to the grave concerns we have about this project. A new exhibit was presented by MCC changing the driveways that HOPE was not privy to prior to the meeting.” The application involves around 1.2 million square feet of warehouse space in nine buildings, plus 234 truck loading spaces, 142 trailer parking spaces and 700 spaces for passenger vehicles. Environmentalists have expressed displeasure over the 30,000 trees that would be removed from the 100-acre site at Randolph and Oak Glen roads. Traffic concerns are also a big issue for residents both on nearby roads and in and out of the site. Those traffic concerns led to several modifications to the site plan. One such change to was made to accommodate for the turning of tractor trailers into the site. Planning Board members and the township’s engineer raised concerns about the turns in and out of the proposed complex could result in the trucks having to cross into an opposing traffic lane in order to make the turn. During the Jan. 16 meeting, alterations to address that issue were presented to the board which led members to carry the application further to allow for the township’s engineer and several experts from HOPE the time needed to (Commerce - See Page 17)
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