The MANCHESTER Times Vol. 29 - No. 37
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Community News Pages 10-16
Dr. Izzy Sound News Page 20
Inside The Law Page 23
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By Bob Vosseller MANCHESTER – Township school district teachers and Educational Services Professionals were surprised recently when interim Superintendent Diane Pedroza visited each building to join administrators in congratulating the 2023-24 Teacher of the Year and Educational Service Professional of the Year. As a part of the New Jersey Teacher of the Year and Educational Service Professional Recognition Program, each school building in town forms a committee that compiles the votes from their colleagues which then determines the two winners per building. Interim Superintendent Diane Pedroza, along with school administration, shared the news with each of the building’s two winners and celebrated their being named the 2023-24 Teacher of the Year and Educational Service Professional of the Year winners, respectively. The winners will be submitted to the New Jersey Department of Education’s Governor’s Educator of the Year program. Pedroza said, “I am honored to have been able to share the good news with our 2023-24 Teachers of the Year and Educational Service Professionals of the Year. These exceptional educators were chosen by their
December 16, 2023
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Teachers And Educational Services Professionals Of The Year Named
In This Week’s Edition
Page 26
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
Water, Sewer Rates To Increase
Photos courtesy Manchester Schools Interim Superintendent Diane Pedroza announced the teachers and educational service professionals of the year.
By Bob Vosseller MANCHESTER – Not the most welcome news to come out during the holiday season but municipal sewer and water rates in the eastern and western service areas will be going up in the new year. Director of Public Works Al Yodakis made a presentation during a recent Township Council meeting explaining why this was necessary and what the fee increase would be. Yodakis discussed a rate study that was done that ultimately led to a recommendation for an increase. “I know that is not great news however our utility has not seen a rate increase in 12 and 13 years in the eastern and western service areas.” “We have two water and sewer systems in our town. One is the eastern service area of Manchester the other is the old Crestwood water system which is the western side of town known as Crestwood. They are separate utilities. They statutorily have to function separately,” he added. That includes their budgets. “When you see different rates for the ESA and the WSA that is why. As a utility operator I would love it if they could be connected but we’re not there. Our rates have not increased in 12 years since we bought the Crestwood water system in 2010 and 13 years on this side of town,” Yodakis said. “Our rates really should be analyzed every year and based on a capital plan,” Yodakis said. He then presented the capital plan. “We have had a kind of rolling capital plan but we (Rates - See Page 4)
(Teachers - See Page 5)
Local Sheriff Tours Israel With Fellow Law Enforcement
By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS RIVER – In a move destined to enhance local law enforcement strategies and community safety, Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy recently joined a delegation of senior law enforcement officials from across the United States on a trip to Israel. The visit, funded by the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), took place in mid-November. It was designed to
provide American law enforcement officials with firsthand insights into the challenges and triumphs of Israeli police and security forces since the Hamas terror attacks on October 7. Jonathan Thompson, the Executive Director and CEO of the National Sheriffs’ Association, reported that JINSA had prearranged a visit to Israel before October 7. Similar trips involving six or seven county sheriffs and police chiefs have been orga-
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nized over the past several years. “They (JINSA) chose to delay the visit after discussions with us, saying it was more important than ever for people to see what’s happening with law enforcement in the communities,” said Thompson. “They encouraged us to put a small group together and told us the Israeli government wanted to help.” Sheriff Greg Champagne of St. Charles (Sheriff - See Page 18)
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy.
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