The JACKSON Times Vol. 18 - No. 24
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Jackson Holiday House Ready For Yuletide Season
jerseyshoreonline.com
Community News Pages 9-10
Page 16
Inside The Law Page 14
Classifieds Page 19
─Photo courtesy Cook family Decorations were placed earlier this month as part of the annual display at 1 Carlson Court in Jackson Township. By Bob Vosseller JACKSON – It has been nearly a decade since the Cook Family began a holiday tradition in the township that has many people t raveling into their neighborhood for a yuletide spectacle. Their home will be lit
up once again to dazzle holiday revelers with the side benefit of also raising money for a good cause, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. “My stepson was diagnosed with juvenile MS at the age of 13. They say that between
5,000 and 11,000 kids have MS. It is rare that they are diagnosed that young. His first symptom was that he went blind in his left eye. He got the vision back after some treatments but he’s doing great,” Michael Cook said. Last year, the event
was more well attended than ever. It appeared that the coronavirus pandemic drew even more people to the holiday house of Michael and Carol Cook as they were looking for some brightness - not only for the holidays but in their (House - See Page 4)
Concerns Rise Over Bank Closures In Ocean County
By Alyssa Riccardi TOMS RIVER – With many Ocean County residents, especially senior citizens, concerned about the increase in brick-andmortar bank branch closures, officials have passed a resolution asking banking officials to review the practice. “Many seniors and business owners have voiced their concerns
Three New Private Schools Proposed
By Bob Vosseller JACKSON – Testimony was heard during a recent Planning Board meeting concerning a plan that would create three private schools on a 13.5-acre tract on Leesville Road. The Jackson Planning Board and the public listened to representatives of the applicant, Lees Village, LLC, who is seeking approval to construct two, two-story elementary schools and a two-story high school at 31 Leesville Road in a Neighborhood Commercial zone. The applicant is seeking preliminary and final major site plan approval from the Planning Board but no decision was reached during a November 15 meeting. The application was carried over to the Board’s December 20 session at which time additional testimony will be heard.
BREAKING NEWS @
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News
December 4, 2021
to the Ocean County Office of Senior Services and the Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs that their local bank branches, which they have patronized for years, are suddenly closed,” Ocean County Commissioner Joseph H. Vicari, Chairman of Senior Services, said. “And, bank employees are redirecting them
to ‘nearby’ branches which, based on the size of Ocean County, may be miles away, forcing them to drive further distances. “Our seniors have worked their entire lives and deserve to enjoy their retirement w it hout t he a d d e d stress of finding and traveling to a bank far from their homes,” Vicari said, who request-
ed the Board’s support for the resolution. On November 17, residents and members of the Ocean County Tourism and Business Development Advisory Council attended the meeting of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners to express their concerns about the bank closures and how it will affect seniors, low-income residents
and also businesses. “Ocean County is home to more than 200,000 senior residents, many of whom are over the age of 85 and often rely on caregivers to assist with their day-to-day routines, which can also make them more vulnerable to elder fraud,” Vicari said. “When you close a bank branch
(Schools - See Page 8)
District To Use Relief Funds On Student Programs By Bob Vosseller JACKSON – After months of waiting and some rumors about approval, the township school district can now make plans concerning what to do with COVID-related funding. Superintendent Nicole Pormilli previously said she had heard rumors “that our application that we submitted will be approved.” At the time however, she had nothing in writing and didn’t want to give the Board or the public any false hopes until it became official. Board member Gus Acevedo said that as the Board votes on expenditures “we are doing it counting on the fact that we are going to get that money.” Assistant Superintendent Robert Rontate provided some positive news during the latest Board of Education meeting stating, “one of
(Banks - See Page 6)
(Funding - See Page 4)
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