The MANCHESTER Times Vol. 27 - No. 44
In This Week’s Edition
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Tuskegee Airmen Community Park To Be Upgraded
Community News Page 10-14
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 16
Inside The Law Page 19
Classifieds Page 21
–Photos By Bob Vosseller (Above) The two-sided Tuskegee Airmen Community Park entrance/exit sign shows a bit of wear and tear and will most likely be redone as part of an upgrade. (Right) This swinging airplane, one of two at the Tuskegee Airmen Community Park may never leave the ground except in the imagination of young people but it is a fixture at the park’s playground. By Bob Vosseller MANCHESTER - The township’s Tuskegee Airmen Community Park was named to honor the famous 332nd Fighter Group that became part of the 15th Air Force. Now that park is about to get an upgrade. Mayor Robert Hudak recently announced that the upgrade would include new playground equipment and the rehabilitation of basketball courts. The park currently includes two basketball courts, three playground pieces for all age groups and spring-mounted airplanes, a picnic area, a
(Superintendent - See Page 4)
stamped-concrete entryway, a stone monument and other amenities, with the park surrounded by post and rail fencing. Street parking is available adjacent to the park. Hudak said the State Department of Community Affairs has awarded Manchester with a $80,000 grant, through their Local Recreation Improvement Grant (LRIG) program. Out of several hundred applicants, Manchester was among 162 that were awarded a grant and is tied for (Upgraded - See Page 5)
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
New Superintendent Welcomed
By Bob Vosseller MANCHESTER – Teachers, students, parents and administrators welcomed John Berenato as the district’s new superintendent during a recent Board of Education meeting. He previously served as Assistant Superintendent of the Little Egg Harbor school district. Berenato was approved by a unanimous vote. Board member Melanie Biscardi, who served as chair of the Superintendent Committee, explained how he was chosen. She noted that the search began “with a needs assessment questionnaire that was posted on our website and our town’s website. It asked what are the most important issues that we as a school district are concerned about. Your answers are what drove our search. You told us and we had that
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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.” Lopez said that social services workers had been plagued
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with what she termed “ineffective human resources” since COVID-19 hit the area. She also complained that the contract impacting union workers contradicts itself and presents a great deal of confusion because it is unclear. “The COVID-19 policy has been used to drain employees of (Workers - See Page 9)
Official Wants Dog Park In County Project
By Bob Vosseller MANCHESTER – Township officials questioned whether a dog park that was initially proposed by Ocean County was part of the current plan. Councilman James Vaccaro cited a recent story in The Manchester Times regarding the plans for a new county park located along Route 571 that would feature a park for dogs. This 250-acre facility will be the county’s 28th park and will serve both passive and recreational needs, according to Board of Ocean County Commissioners Deputy Director Virginia E. Haines. She noted the first part of the park would be from “the railroad track to Ridgeway Boulevard.” She noted the passive area (Dog Park - See Page 18)
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