The HOWELL Times
Vol. 19 - No. 38
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Howell First Aid Founder Passes Away At 95
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Community News Pages 5-7
Dear Joel Page 8
Inside The Law Page 10
Dear Pharmacist Page 11
–Photo courtesy HTFARS Pictured is Founder of the HTFARS John Menschner Sr. in the squad’s 1970 Cadillac Superior Ambulance. By Alyssa Riccardi HOWELL – Residents, colleagues and fellow first responders throughout the Township are mourning the loss of John Menschner Sr., the founder of the Howell Township First Aid & Rescue Squad #1 (HTFARS) who passed away at 95 years old. “It is with heartfelt
sadness and deep regret, that we, the members of the Howell Township First Aid & Rescue Squad #1 mourn the loss of our Patriarch and Founder, John Menschner Sr.,” HTFARS President John Zicha said in a statement. In 1955, Menschner moved i nto Howell Township and heard
that the town did not have its own fi rst aid squad. Menschner later thought “maybe I can start one,” since he previously was a member of the East Keansburg First Aid for five years. Menschner decided to join the Southard Fire Department No.1. to meet new people and find potential members
for a squad. With help from the township who provided $1,000 to start up, Menschner alongside nine Charter Members founded the Howell Township First Aid & Rescue Squad #1 in February of 1957. “If it wasn’t for him, the squad and all of its (Founder - See Page 2)
Complaint Accuses Official Of Conflict
By Alyssa Riccardi HOWELL – A Howell Township resident has filed litigation against Planning Board member Robert Nicastro stating his dual appointments were unlawful. On January 21, resident Steven Morlino filed a complaint in Superior Court citing how Nicastro’s dual appointments to both the Planning Board and the Manasquan River Regional Sewerage Authority were unlawful. In the legal documents Morlino submitted, he discussed how his wife, Karen
Morlino was once in the same spot as Nicastro. In 2001, Morlino’s wife was appointed to both the Howell Township Planning Board and the Manasquan River Regional Sewerage Authority (MRRSA). During that time, a dispute over these appointments arose due to the “statutory and common law that an individual could not serve simultaneously as a municipal officer on the MRRSA and as a Class IV citizen member on the Planning Board.” Planning Board Attorney Ronald Cuc-
chiaro told Morlino’s wife her appointments were conflicting and unlawful, which resulted in her resigning from the Planning Board. Nicastro was appointed to the Howell Planning Board in 2019, and then was appointed to the MRRSA in 2020 again in 2021. Morlino states that allegedly, a resident notified Township Attorney Joe Clark that Nicastro’s dual appointments were illegal and nothing was done to resolve the conflict such as asking Nicastro to (Complaint - See Page 3)
February 19, 2022
Some Schools To Be Mask “Optional”
By Alyssa Riccardi HOWELL – Both the Howell Township Public Schools District and the Freehold Regional High School District have announced that they will be moving to a “mask optional environment.” This month, Governor Phil Murphy declared that he will lift his executive order and let school districts make their own rules about wearing masks. This will take effect on March 7. Murphy said during the February 7 news conference that the decision was based on positive metrics showing COVID-19 cases on the decline and hospitalizations from the pandemic at low levels. “The state wide school mask mandate will be lifted in 30 days. Additionally, we will lift the state wide mandate in all child care settings. We are announcing this for plenty of notice to determine how this will affect them. Masking continues to be an important tool in preventing the spreading of COVID. It should be used in many circumstances,” the governor said. On February 9, Superintendent of Howell Township Public Schools District Joseph Isola put out a letter to families stating that the (Mask - See Page 3)
“Wall Of Heroes” Will Honor Those Who’ve Served
By Alyssa Riccardi HOWELL – A Wall of Heroes is in the works to be unveiled in Tow n Hall, the proje ct st e m m i ng from Deputy Mayor Pamela Richmond’s creative idea. “I think it’s always important to honor our military. I am a daughter of a Marine, my brother is a Marine, my grandpa was
in the Army as well,” Richmond told Jersey Shore Online. The Wall of Heroes memorial is set to be displayed in the foyer at town hall. The initiative will feature photos of armed forces members looped on a television as well as a designated area for fallen soldiers. “We’re going to have (Heroes - See Page 2)
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