The MANCHESTER Times Vol. 26 - No. 34
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Kevin’s Kids Toy Drive Needs You To Be A Child’s Santa
In This Week’s Edition
Council Raises Concerns About School District
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Community News! Page 11-13
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 18
Inside The Law Page 21
Classifieds Page 25
Wrapping presents is a team effort that fills the gym. By Bob Vosseller MANCHESTER – Nearly 40 years ago, a township first grade teacher unknowingly sparked a Christmas tradition when she simply asked her class, “What is Santa Claus
going to bring you on Christmas Eve?” Sadly, one child broke the teacher’s heart with his response of “Santa Claus never comes to my house.” Saddened by the boy’s story, the school staff started a
−Photos courtesy Manchester Schools
drive to help the boy and his family as well as a handful of other needy children. The Kevin’s Kids Drive didn’t end that holiday season. It continued on and remains to this day. It operates
with a list of families that school officials anticipate will include some 300 children and their families this year. The goal of the annual Kevin’s Kids Drive is to provide not only toys (Toy - See Page 8)
Freeholders, In Split Vote, Decline Buying Land From Towns
By Bob Vosseller TOMS RIVER – The all Republican, five-member Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders were divided on whether the county can buy land from a town to preserve it as open space. Their most recent meeting featured some strong words with voices a bit louder than usual. Ultimately, the measure
to buy land from towns was shot down. In a 3 to 2 vote, the Board did not adopt this year’s Ocean County Open Space, Parks and Recreation Plan amendment to its “master plan” regulating economic and community development and to preserve and protect its natural resources. Had it been passed the plan would have permitted Ocean County’s leadership to
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buy existing public land owned by the 33 municipalities in the county. It would have used revenue from its 1.2 cent-dedicated open space tax that voters passed back in 1997. Currently that fund holds around $50 million for property conservation but the sticking point was that the amendment (Freeholders - See Page 10)
December 5, 2020
By Bob Vosseller LAKEHURST – Councilman Robert McCarthy brought up concerns about the borough school district during a recent Borough Council meeting. “They did approve another superintendent bonus. It is frightening to think from my perspective as we get very little in the way of answers how we could possibly, given the nature of education in this pandemic, state how we are achieving merit goals but apparently we are as it was approved unanimously” McCarthy said. “That is crazy,” Mayor Robbins said. He added, “it is concerning because in going over the monthly bill statements which was $348,693.57 as of October now the cash balance as of August 31 was negative $178,438.34. The August 18 balance was a negative $396,971.94 which would indicate some money has been received during that point. This has been a trend in my reports for well over a year now.” “The continued reasoning is slow state funding. I don’t know how the funding is distributed exactly but it doesn’t seem possible that (School - See Page 4)
Officials: Borough Can’t Enforce Rent Control
By Bob Vosseller LAKEHURST – After months of presenting his reasons for the need for rent control in the borough, a resident was disappointed to hear that nothing could be done. Borough Attorney Ian M. Goldman and Mayor Harry Robbins both made comments during a recent Borough Council meeting stating that there was nothing the borough
could do concerning his requests to have some form of rent control in the community. A resident who feared reprisals if his name was mentioned, by the management of the private trailer park facility he lives at, has been urging the governing body to investigate the issue as increases in rent have occurred. The resident said this (Rent - See Page 8)
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