The HOWELL Times
Vol. 18 - No. 50
In This Week’s Edition
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Community News Page 8-10
Dear Pharmacist Page 15
Inside The Law Page 17
Classifieds Page 18
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
May 15, 2021
Howell High Names Head Football Coach
By Alyssa Riccardi HOWELL – A former Dallas Cowboy and local star is making a comeback now as head coach of Howell High School’s football team, the Rebels. Freehold Regional Schools Board of Education named Bill Hill as the head football coach at the end of April. Former coach Frank Edgerly had
resigned in winter of 2020 after one season, while Hill served as the defensive coordinator/running backs coach under Edgerly. Edgerly offered the position to Hill and he accepted, as he stated how he always wanted to coach at Howell. Between 1974 through 1977, Hill was an exceptional running back and baseball player at
Local Artist Pursues 100 Paintings In “Shore Things” Project
By Alyssa Riccardi JERSEY SHORE – A local artist has taken on the personal challenge of creating 100 paintings in a project titled “100 Shore Things.” Melissa Hood, an artist from Point Pleasant, launched the new project on April 1 with a goal to paint 100 Jersey Shore-themed paintings in 100 days. Hood began her project with the idea to challenge herself, then reached out to local photographers to paint their photos. “I’ve been painting and drawing for a long time. I wanted to start a project and I knew I wanted it to be a ‘100day challenge.’ I’ve heard of other people
−Photo courtesy Melissa Hood As her 14th painting, Melissa Hood captured the Tulip Festival from Holland Ridge Farms in Cream Ridge. doing similar challenges. I thought ‘I wonder if I could do that, 100 paintings in 100 days.’”
Hood said. “Once I had that idea, I was talking to my friend who is a photographer and asked
if I could paint one of her pictures. Then she said yes, she thought it (Artist - See Page 4)
Monmouth County Prosecutor Resigns After Serving Nearly A Decade
By Alyssa Riccardi MONMOUTH COUNTY – After nearly 10 years of serving his role, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni is resigning from his position, effective June 1. On April 30, Gramiccioni announced his decision in a letter to Governor Phil
Murphy. He served four years as acting county prosecutor before former Governor Chris Christie formally nominated him to a five-year term in 2016. He was confirmed by the state Senate in August of that year. It wasn’t clear whether Murphy, a Democrat, would renominate Gramiccioni,
a Republican, with his term expiring. “It has been one of my life’s greatest honors to serve as Prosecutor and chief law enforcement officer of this fine county for most of the past decade,” Gramiccioni wrote in his letter. “I am truly grateful to you and Governor (Prosecutor - See Page 2)
Howell. He also played in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys. This will be Hill’s third head coaching job, as he was the head coach at Toms River High School South for three seasons from 2008 to 2010. He also was the head coach at Asbury Park for one (Football - See Page 2)
Petition Created To Oust Vice Principal Over Transphobia
By Alyssa Riccardi MONMOUTH COUNTY – A petition has gathered over 4,000 signatures, calling out a Monmouth County Vice Principal who threw beer at people while his wife yelled transphobic remarks at a south Jersey restaurant. The petition was created by Philly Metro Activism Network urging that vice principal of Neptune Township Middle School and a Freehold resident Michael Smurro be terminated from his position. On April 24, Smurro had thrown beer at a table for recording his wife who was complaining aloud about a trans woman using the women’s bathroom at Fred & Ethel’s Lantern Light and Tavern in Galloway Township. In videos posted on Facebook, Smur ro’s wife Lisa was filmed saying, “A man just went into the women’s bathroom, and it’s not right. She’s a man in my bath room.” The video continues with Smurro’s wife com-
plaining to a hostess, who then leaves to get the manager. The filming ends after Smurro is recorded tossing beer on restaurant patrons. The petition, which cu r re ntly h a s ove r 4,000 signatures, was addressed to the Neptune Township Board of Education and the New Jersey Department of Education. “A violent, transphobic and hateful physical aggressor does not belong anywhere near NJ children. We demand that he be removed from his position IMMEDIATELY, without pay, until a full investigation of this situation is complete,” the petition reads. According to the Associated Press, Smurro stated an apology for the way he behaved as well as apologizing to the person he threw beer at. The Neptune Township School District released a statement discussing inclusivity within the district and ways they support all of their students, including (Petition - See Page 2)
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