The
SOUTHERN OCEAN Times Vol. 7 - No. 47
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Township Selling Old Firehouse
jerseyshoreonline.com
Community News! Pages 8-9
This old firehouse on East Bay Avenue will be sold to the highest bidder.
Pages 12
Dear Joel Page 18
Inside The Law Page 14
More County Parks Opening
−Photo by Chris Lundy Mill Creek County Park in Berkeley is one of the parks that will be opening.
BREAKING NEWS @
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News
May 16, 2020
By Chris Lundy BARNEGAT – The Township is in the process of selling the old firehouse on East Bay Avenue, although some residents would rather that the township keep it. The building, located at 686 East Bay Ave., was put up for bid. The minimum bid was set at $50,000. The highest responsive bid was $56,551. It was made by H. Kenneth Matthews, 1001 Hawaii Dr. in Forked River. A few residents commented on the sale during
−Photo by Chris Lundy
the public portion of the meeting. Since social distancing is required, the town hall is closed to the public and residents email their comments. Amanda Sapp, a resident who lives nearby, asked if the new owner could be required to restore it rather than knock it down. Mayor John Novak, who said he lives near the building, thought that request made sense and had it sent to the new owner. A former committeeman and mayor, Bill (Firehouse - See Page 4)
Homeless Still Struggling Through Pandemic By Chris Lundy OCEAN COUNTY – While the governor has issued orders for everyone to stay at home unless on emergency business, there are some who don’t have a home to begin with. “It is hard right now for the homeless in Ocean and Monmouth counties,” said Minister Steve Brigham, a longtime advocate for local homeless. “A lot of pantries have closed, and the ones that are still open, a lot of them have cut back their hours.”
Due to the virus, everyone has to be careful about exposure to the public. “The churches that were hosting dinners for the homeless have stopped doing dinners. I’m getting calls from the homeless almost every day saying they need food and water,” he said. Paul Hulse, the CEO/President of Just Believe, Inc. said his group has been working with private agencies and the Board of Social Services to (Homeless - See Page 6)
−Photo courtesy Paul Hulse There are volunteers putting themselves on the front line through the pandemic.
By Chris Lundy OCEAN COUNTY – Add three more to the roster of county parks that are open for passive recreation. On May 14, these parks were opened to the public: Enos Pond County Park in Lacey, Mill Creek County Park in Berkeley, and Lochiel Creek County Park in Barnegat. “As we continue to follow our plan to gradually reopen all 27 of our County parks, I again want to stress these parks are being reopened for passive recreation only – walking, jogging, hiking, running and similar activities,” said Ocean County Freeholder Virginia E. Haines, Chairwoman of the Ocean County Depar tment of Parks and Recreation. “Park visitors must maintain social distancing and adhere to the other requirements set in place for the safety of the public and our County staff.” These three are added to the total list of
parks that are now open for passive recreation: Cattus Island County Park, Toms River Township, Cloverdale County Park, Barnegat Township, Tip Seaman County Park, Tuckerton, Wells Mills County Park, Waretown, John C. Bartlett Jr. County Park at Berkeley Island, Jakes Branch County Park, Beachwood, Ocean County Park and Lake Shenandoah County Park, both in Lakewood, Patriots County Park, Jackson Township, and Freedom Fields, Little Egg Harbor Township. The county has also opened the Barnegat Branch Trail and its natural land sites. “Our playgrounds, public bathrooms, nature centers, and pavilions will remain closed to the public as will the dog parks and some other smaller parks,” Haines said. “As per the Governor’s executive order there cannot be any large gatherings, no sporting events, picnics (Parks - See Page 4)
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