The BERKELEY Times Vol. 26 - No. 36
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Governor A llows Limited Attendance At School Athletics
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Community News Page 9-10
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 16
Inside The Law Page 19
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Central Regional High School’s football team takes the field. By Chris Lundy TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy announced just before the spring season gets underway that a limited number of people will be allowed in person to watch indoor and outdoor school athletics. He announced this on February 12. The Executive Order went into effect immediately.
Districts can choose to allow up to two parents/ guardians per participating athlete under the age of 21, according to a statement he put up on social media. This also includes practices. The attendance still cannot exceed 35% of the room’s capacity or 150 people. This doesn’t mean 150 parents, it means 150 peo-
─Photo courtesy Central Regional
ple in the area – including coaches, referees, players, parents, etc. Other public health guidelines, such as social distancing and the wearing of masks, must be adhered to. One key point is that the school districts have the choice to open it up to the public. Each district can be more restrictive than the state if
the local officials deem it appropriate. Interstate competitions at high schools are still prohibited. “As a father of four, I know how difficult it has been for many parents to not be able to see their kids participate in sports,” said Governor Murphy. “With our metrics trending in the (Sports - See Page 4)
In-Person Education Expands For Toms River Regional Students
By Chris Lundy TOMS RIVER – St udents who are goi ng to school in-person will be going four days a we e k i n s t e a d of t wo, a s t he n ex t st age of t he d is t r ict’s re op e n i ng
plan is scheduled for March. Parents who want their children to stay home were given the choice to stay virtual. They had to make that choice or else the child would default to in-person. Parents
can change their mind once per marking period. Kindergarten through 5th grade students will retur n March 1 and grades 6-12 will ret u r n Ma rch 15. I nschool classes w ill be Monday through
Thursday. Friday will be virtual for all students. T he decision to bring more students to school was announced during a Board of Education meeting that was broadcast virtually because COVID-19
has prevented the public from being in school. This has been a cont roversial top ic, as some parents are saying that their children struggle with virtual instruction.
(School - See Page 9)
February 20, 2021
Winter Storms Erode Beaches
By Bob Vosseller OCEAN COUNTY - The winter forecast has raised cause for concern for not only public safety on the roads but for the damage sustained to the Jersey shore coastline. Recent storms have left behind as much as three feet of snow in the northwestern portion of the Garden State, while strong winds and waves have eaten away at some beaches. Waves reached up to 12 feet in height and carved away beach areas causing drop-offs of 10 feet or more in Ortley Beach and Bay Head. This caused severe damage to dune walkovers at numerous sites. Communities blocked off walkways that normally lead down sloped paths to the beach out of concerns for safety. That damage is now slated for repair and restoration before the summer beach season starts. Governor Phil Murphy announced that the federal government should be stepping up to address the severe erosion in Bay Head and the Ortley Beach section of Toms River as well as other areas that have been identified. The governor said his administration has been in contact with federal officials. “They are completely exposed right now,” Governor Murphy said noting that this situation is far more serious than the usual sand replenishment that would occur in preparation of the summer beach season. It is also a matter of protection for those communities. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection representatives surveyed 81 beach sites from Raritan Bay to the Atlantic coast and Delaware Bay prior to the February 7 storm. They conducted examinations following the storm as well to discern the degree of damage that occurred, according to NJ State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick Callahan. He noted that this was a painful lesson learned from Superstorm Sandy in 2012. U.S. Army Corps Office public affairs representative Steve Rochette stated that each of the beach fill projects in the state would be performed through a partnership with the NJDEP. The February 7 storm might not meet the parameters to qualify for approval to install sand to areas damaged by what would be considered ‘extraordinary storm events.’ (Erosion - See Page 4)
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