The BRICK Times
Vol. 20 - No. 33
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Hindsight Is 2020: The Year’s Best Photos
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 14
Dear Pharmacist Page 15
Inside The Law Page 17
Classifieds Page 19
─Photos by Judy Smestad-Nunn (Above) Brick Beach III is one of the beaches being prepared for the season. (Right) Eric Czaplinski, #33, skates while surrounded by his teammates. By Chris Lundy JERSEY SHORE – While a lot happened this year that no one will
want to recall, there were also some memorable moments captured by photographers.
Every year, this newspaper presents the best photo taken during the year by staff members. Most of
these ran with articles, but some of these are being seen here for the first time. (Photos - See Page 12)
Contractors, Homes Proposed Near Red Lion
By Judy Smestad-Nunn BRICK - A township resident is seeking to develop a half-acre wooded lot at the corner of Old Silverton Road and Drum Point Road, behind the Red Lion Plaza. Samuel Pica III wants to construct two buildings on the 26,000 square-foot, L-shaped site. “Building A” would
house five contractor units on the first floor with two, three-bedroom /two-bathroom apartments on the second floor. The combined apartments would total 2,381 square feet. “Building B” would be for commercial use with garage space, office space and storage. The proposal fits in with the intent of the
township’s Village Zone that creates mixed-use development by combining commercial and residential use. The Village Zone is designed to protect t he t ow n sh ip f rom high-density residential development while providing a means to improve businesses on Drum Point Road, Mantoloking Road and
Herbertsville Road. During a recent Planning Board meeting (held on Zoom), Pica was represented by attorney Timothy B. Middleton, architect Richard Tokarski, site e ng i ne e r Dav id G. Eareckson and planner Barbara Ehlen for a preliminary and final site plan approval, along with variances for the
application. Pica said the purpose of the contractor units in the first building is “basically for mom and pop operations, like an electrician or a plumber that doesn’t have any room at their house. “It’s kind of hard when people have a small business to run it completely out of their home (Homes - See Page 13)
January 2, 2021
District Responds To COVID Increases
By Judy Smestad-Nunn BRICK - Coronavirus cases went from just nine cases in three school buildings to over a dozen cases in six buildings in the past month, which most recently resulted in the quarantine of nine separate classes, said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Thomas Farrell during a recent Board of Education meeting. Dr. Farrell reported the lower case number during the November Board of Education meeting. Just afterwards, the Department of Health upgraded Ocean County from moderate risk to high risk on the regional COVID-19 matrix, he said. “I think I might have jinxed us,” the superintendent said. There was yet another increase in the week following Thanksgiving, which resulted in Brick High School going to a 100 percent remote learning schedule for two weeks. The decision to switch over to remote learning is not taken lightly, Dr. Farrell said. “It is done with consultation and the recommendation of the Ocean County Health Department (OCHD). We felt it was the best decision to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff.” Brick High School was the only school in the district that went to remote learning since each school environment is continuously assessed individually, he said. The district works closely with the OCHD to receive updated COVID-19 data. Since November 15, the number of confirmed positive coronavirus cases that impacted the schools quadrupled, and every building in the district has been affected, Dr. Farrell reported. Data from contact tracing information suggests that family gatherings and social events outside of school is the main source of transmission for the new cases. As of December 17, no cases had been connected to in-school transmission, he said. “Acknowledging this uptick in cases, and our county high risk designation, I implore students, parents and staff to continue being responsible with practicing CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommended protocols to ensure our learning community’s health and (COVID - See Page 13)
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