The BERKELEY Times Vol. 27 - No. 40
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
History Being Protected To “Take Pride In Berkeley”
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Community News Pages 10-13
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 16
Inside The Law Page 23
Dear Joel Page 18
─Photo by Chris Lundy (Left) The Manitou Park Schoolhouse has seen a lot in its history, and locals want to make sure it will have a future. (Right) These shirts are being sold by the Historical Society to fund some much-needed building improvements. By Chris Lundy At a recent Town- Alan Dittenhofer said. The grounds around BERKELEY – While ship Council meeting, Mayor Carmen Amato the school are used by the town is spending they awarded a contract said that a few years community groups and grant money to shore to a company to sta- ago the town received there are picnic areas up the Manitou Park bilize the old school- a grant that is given to and basketball courts Schoolhouse, the His- house in the amount of towns trying to pre- there. The inside is torical Society is rais- $326,000. “This is to serve and update his- off limits because it is ing funds to protect do remedial work be- torical buildings and unsafe. The residents the exterior of their fore the architect comes that’s where the money want it converted into museum. in,” township engineer is coming from for this. (Pride - See Page 9)
Toms River Man’s Blissful Transformation From Life On The Streets
By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS RIVER – For much of the first decade of his adult life, a somewhat iconic Toms River man tottered between living in the woods to under bridges in the streets of downtown New Brunswick. Now 52, Gregory An-
drus easily recalls the brokenness that was once his life. He says it’s a matter of second chances that led him to what he considers a vocation and his role in street ministry. With sandy hair almost reaching his shoulders, Andrus easily looks ten years younger than his age. Meanwhile, there’s
no mistaking the old soul behind his bright blue eyes that bear an undeniable sense of warmth and trust. The world might discourage people from talking to strangers, but the concept seems utterly foreign to Andrus. The same might be said for the over 2,000 individ-
uals who have entrusted the local man to tell their story in photos and words. “After every person I meet has shared their story,” said Andrus. “I give them a hug, just to affirm them. I let them know they’re not alone. Sometimes, I’ll share with them my own story
as a guy who cares about them.” Andrus published the book “Portraits of the Jersey Shore” in 2018. His collection of portraits and stories about the people he meets represent only part of his work in the community. While readers wait for (Life - See Page 4)
March 19, 2022
Town Leaders Want State, Feds To Support Seniors More
By Chris Lundy BERKELEY – The Township Council passed a number of resolutions urging the state and federal governments to give more financial support to seniors. Berkeley has a large population of seniors – especially in the 55+ communities but also in other areas of town like Bayville or Pinewald. Mayor Carmen Amato spoke about Social Security increases – “or lack thereof” – during a recent meeting. SSI is supposed to follow cost of living increases based on a formula called the consumer price index for wage earners. Amato listed increases in the SSI from 2014 to the present, which varied from zero percent to 2.8 percent. The average increase from 2014 to 2020 was 1.38 percent. The real cost of (Seniors - See Page 4)
Chef’s Night Out Serves Up A Delicious Fundraiser By Bob Vosseller LACEY – It was one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for the Ocean County Vocational Technical School Foundation and if you went home hungry, it was your own fault. After a year’s absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual OCVTS Chef’s Night Out fundraiser returned recently and to a whole new venue, the Lacey Elks Lodge which allowed for more space and different rooms to accommodate the many participating restaurants and organizations as well as the varied culinary programs provided for OCVTS students. (Chef - See Page 5)
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