The BRICK Times Vol. 21 - No. 39
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Brick Reservoir Offers Scenic Relaxation
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Community News Pages 9-13
Inside The Law Page 12
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 14
Classifieds Page 18
The Brick Reservoir offers many great views and amenities. By Mark Bator took two years to com- gravel pit was chosen BRICK - Sprawling plete from its initial to be the site for what over 120 acres between groundbreaking. The would become the largHerbertsville and Sally reservoir itself holds est construction project Ike Roads, the Brick ap p r ox i m at ely one in the history of Brick Reservoir offers locals billion gallons of wa- Tow nship. G rou ndthe chance to partake in ter, and encompasses breaking took place a variety of recreation- three-quarters of the on Sept. 18, 2002, and al activities in close total acreage of the site. today the location is proximity to a major Eighteen inches of soil managed by the Brick source of drinking wa- protects the lining be- Township Municipal ter for Ocean County neath the water, which Utilities Author it y, residents. runs to 50 feet in depth which maintains and Designed by O’Brien at its deepest point. oversees the site. The & Gere Engineers Inc., Nearly twenty years Brick Reservoir supconstruction at the site ago, a large sand and plies drinking water
─Photo by Mark Bator to the public and is deemed a “protected critical infrastructure” under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security. The entire site is under surveillance and has an established list of rules that ensure visitors can enjoy the passive recreation offered by the site. Reservoir staff routinely patrol the area and assist the public if (Scenic - See Page 4)
Governor To Lift Mask Mandate For Schools
By Bob Vosseller TR ENTON – After months of debates between officials, parents, school administrators and Boards of Education, Governor Phil Murphy declared that he will lift his executive order on March 7 and let school districts make their own rules about wearing masks. The gover nor has
been under fire by Republican lawmakers, accusing him of overreach. Litigation and parent opposition in school districts like his own home town of Middletown in Monmouth Cou nt y, and in Ocean County districts such as Jackson and Lacey, have called for the gover nor to surrender that control over to the school dis-
tricts allowing for their Board of Education to determine if the mask mandates will be left in place or become optional. In Lacey Township last month, two meeti ngs were canceled m i nut e s i nt o t he i r start when members of their audience including one member of their Board, refused to wear masks. One
meeting cancelation led to a rescheduling to a Zoom session while a second live meeting’s cancelation caused the creation of a hybrid session a few days later when the same Board me mb e r, Sa lvat or e Ar mato and a large portion of the audience did not put on their COVID-19 masks. Jackson Township has been no strang-
er to the controversy and many parents have expressed their view that students wearing masks was ineffective in combatting the virus and was creating undue stress on their children. Jackson and Lacey are among the school districts whose board members said they would prefer local control to determine (Mask - See Page 5)
February 12, 2022
Social Services Workers Ask County For Hazard Pay By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS RIVER – About a dozen members of CWA Local 1088 showed up at the Ocean County Board of Commissioners meeting to appeal for hazard pay for their work during the pandemic. CWA Local 1088 represents social services and clerical employees of the Ocean County Board of Social Services. Union officials presented the county’s governing body with a petition asking for an appropriation of funds to their workers. The union workers, all dressed in red, and carrying protest signs, sat in the front two rows of the county meeting room. They were not disruptive and were the first to speak when the public comments session opened. “My fellow employees would like you to know the conditions we have been working under during the pandemic,” said Nancy Lopez, a CWA Local 1088 member. “Our quest is for the allocation of funds from the American Rescue Plan.” (Hazard - See Page 4)
Who Are Ocean County’s Homeless?
By Chris Lundy TOMS RIVER – At the Riverwood overnight warming center, a few dozen men and women were settling in for the evening. This was a few days before the blizzard. Two people were playing pool in the building, which serves as a recreation center during warmer months. Three young men were discussing which version of the Bible they prefer. Zach Gershonowitz, 31, was going through his backpack and making sure he had everything for the night. Originally (Homeless - See Page 5)
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