2024-02-03 - The Brick Times

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The BRICK Times Vol. 23 - No. 39

In This Week’s Edition

BREAKING NEWS @

jerseyshoreonline.com

Government Page 6

Community News Page 8-11

Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 12

Inside The Law Page 20

MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS

February 3, 2024

Upgraded Facility Is A Big Hit With Little League

By Chris Christopher BRICK - The Brick Township Little League has gone high tech as part of its nearly $24,000 facilities renovation. The lynchpin is a HitTrax Hitting and Pitching System, a baseball simulator which tests and measures launch angle, exit velocity, distance and other statistics on each swing. “Games and tournaments can be played on it with screens where you can select the park to play on and watch your hit balls fly in virtual stadiums,” league president Michael Desmond said. “HitTrax is a training and entertainment system.” New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone, speaking after a Meet and Greet with Ocean Township High School g radu ate Keit h McPherson of WFAN fame at the Baseline Social Club in Oceanport, said of the league’s use of analytics, “I don’t feel they should be beholden to them for any reason. As kids, they are

Open Space Plan Funded By Judy Smestad-Nunn BRICK - The township has authorized an agreement with NJ Department of Environmental Protection Green Acres program to provide funding for the Township’s Planning Incentive Grant Program. “This agreement will increase Green Acres fund-

JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM

ing for the township’s open space acquisition by $1.2 million,” said Mayor Lisa Crate during the January 23 Council Meeting. While explaining the Planning Incentive Grant Program, township business administrator Joanne Bergin said that the township (Open Space- See Page 4)

going through the growth process. The biggest things at that age are having fun and learning the fundamentals. You don’t want to get too married to exit velocity and launch angles, especially at a young age.” The indoor facility opened Jan. 6 with a Baseball Skills Clinic. A soft opening took place last Dec. 30. The project began Nov. 11 and concluded Dec. 16. It was financed with player registrations, corporate sponsorship and snack stand revenues. “The soft opening was amazing,” Desmond said. “Players smiled. The volunteers who helped introduce the facility to them were very happy to do so. We completed the project ahead of its target date and on budget because of the drive of the volunteers to make the league the best it can be for the kids. Several volunteers worked weekends, days and nights on the project.” Desmond said the facility needed repair. “It began to show its age with the turf beginning to

Photos courtesy Mike Desmond (Above) Brick Township Little League members enjoy the facility. wear,” he said. “The facility was built with metal batting cages in its interior that limited training to hitting and pitching. A new, more open layout with retractable netting will provide more opportunities for fielding and throwing and many other drills. The idea of renovating the facility started about 10 years ago and over (Little League- See Page 4)

The opening of the facility was celebrated with a ribbon cutting.

Women’s Rally Becomes Forum For Reproductive Rights By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS RIVER – When winter weather threatened the planned outdoor Women’s March Rally for Women’s Lives on January 20, organizers quickly pivoted to an indoor location. The unexpected venue change to the Ocean County Library made room for a forum on advocacy and dis-

cussion. The event’s timing held just two days before the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade on January 22, 1973, was no accident. Women’s advocacy groups across the country chose the date to hold similar events, highlighting the ongoing fight for reproductive rights and the enduring legacy of the

landmark decision. In the wake of the Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, advocates and attendees expressed deep-seated apprehension about the future of women’s reproductive rights in America. Lynda Fote, president of Ocean County’s NOW

chapter, helped plan the rally t u r ned for u m but couldn’t attend. Barbara Crystal and Wendy McClure, both Ocean County NOW members from southern Ocean County, underscored the broader significance of reproductive freedom in their joint organizational efforts to (Rally - See Page 4)

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