The Ocean Signal | October 11th - 24th, 2013
JACKSON
Hearing on Private High School in Jackson to Continue in November
by Phil Stilton JACKSON-Over 500 residents from Jackson and Lakewood were present at Wednesday night’s zoning board meeting where opening testimony was given regarding a variance application for the construction of a new 400 student private high school. The school is being proposed in a residential zone on Cross Street, near the intersection of East Veterans Highway. Ray Shea, attorney for the applicant, Rabbi Ephraim Birnbaum who operates Oros Bais Yaakov High School, along with Ian Borden of Professional Design Services presented their case to the planning board stating on numerous occasions that the school would be beneficial to the community. While Shea said early in the meeting he had hoped for a preliminary and final approval, he received neither from the board, instead, the board adjourned the meeting after a three hour hearing that also included an hour of public comments. Shea and Borden present-
ed the construction of the school to the board as a benefit to the community that would educate 400 students at the Orthodox Jewish all girls school. If approved, the building would be a two story brick structure that is 75 feet wide and 200 feet in length with recreational facilities in the rear including a swimming pool and basketball court. Today, the property is a faded snapshot of Jackson’s past. Dilapidated chicken coops are surrounded by automobile and lawn mower parts and a small engine repair garage operated by GS Equipment. A spokesperson for the company said on Thursday that prior to the announcement of the school, the conditions at the site had forced him to begin relocating his business to a location in the Cassville section of town. The property is also home
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to James Curtis. Curtis said he had no idea he would soon be losing his home at the public meeting. On Thursday, he said the site has been neglected by the owner and has become a place for transient squatters who come and go, some, he claimed, ending up in jail. Curtis said the site has been scene to numerous domestic disturbances in the years since he has lived there. Michael Mandracchai, a White Road resident and former NJ DEP employee raised questions regarding water drainage and septic tank run off on the down sloping side of Cross Street adjacent to the property. His property lies downhill from the proposed site. ”All of that water is going to run down hill, at least 20 homes are impacted,” he said. “They are going to have art supplies, biology and chemicals…where is that going to go…my home is right there. This is a major concern.” Also at issue at the meeting with residents was their concern over recent news regarding the Lakewood School District’s financial problems related to the cost of busing private school stu-
dents under a state mandate that requires the student’s home district to foot the cost of the bill. Although only one student attending the school currently resides in Jackson, at a cost of just over $800 to the district for busing, residents were concerned about the addition of future housing projects that could be built by the Orthodox community in Jackson. While Jackson’s School District would not be responsible for any transportation costs for students who reside out of district, they would be responsible, under state law to oversee any future grant funding for the school. “For any private school in the state, the public school in that municipality would oversee the management of grant funds allocated to the private school by the New Jersey Department of Education,” said Jackson
School District Communications Officer Allison Erwin. ”The private school itself would come up with its own plan for how to run their school and allocate their funds, but the public school district would have a planning meeting to confirm that the school’s plan for the funds conformed with grant guidelines. After
that, we would turn over the oversight of those grant funds to the Middlesex Regional Educational Services Commission, which is paid through the grant funds, not by the Jackson School District.” Erwin said it’s a function the district already performs at two private schools in town. ”This is what happens with St. Aloysius and Jesus Harvest Time,” she said. The often contentious deliberation between the applicant’s representatives and the board became apparent in an exchange between board member John Suttles and the applicant. Borden, testifying on behalf of the applicant, said the school would be a benefit to the community, prompting Suttles to ask, “Which community…define the community we’re benefiting.” “I define the community to be the surrounding area,” Borden said. ”We don’t distinguish the communities, the community is the public in general.” Despite back and force debate about the public versus private school issue and dancing around the subject, Shea finally stated. ”Yes, this is a private school for Orthodox Jewish girls…we aren’t hiding that.” His response was met with jeers from the audience. At several points during the meeting, board Chairman Steve Coztanzo reminded the audience to remain silent after outbursts and cheers. Five Jackson police officers ringed the meeting room. Other issues with the application raised by the audience and the board’s team of professionals included
traffic safety, tax impact, soil studies and future expansion of Cross Street, all prompting the board to postpone their vote on the application until the November 20th meeting. All of which the board said, should be in order and addressed at the next meeting prior to any vote on the application. One of the underlying concerns expressed by the public was their opinion of the state of the Lakewood school district and how the large amount of private schools have negatively impact the public school district. Others raised concern over the over development of the southern end of Cross Street where several private schools have been built or are in the early stages of construction. While the board has the decision to vote yes or no on the application, the applicant also has the right to pursue legal recourse in the court of law should the board turn down the application, an action Shea has become all too familiar with against this board in years past. After the meeting Shea and the applicants were provided police escort out of the building. The meeting is open to the public.
Jackson Memorial Jaguar Marching Band 2013
This year, the Jackson Memorial Jaguar Marching band has done it again. Combining band with theater in this year’s performance of Les Miserables, the band once again has set themselves apart from their peers. The performance can be seen at half-time during Jackson Memorial home football games. Last weekend, the band performed at the Yamaha Cup at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford where they won for best effect and best percussion, according to US Bands.
The Howling Woods Wolf Dogs
by Carly Kilroy JACKSON-Years ago, while living in Tuscon, Arizona, Howling Woods Farm owner Michael Hodanish took in a stray dog only to realize months later that what he actually took in was a wolf dog. “Her name was Heidi, she became my best friend. I took her for hikes in the desert and when I returned to New Jersey I brought her back with me,” Mr. Hodanish said. Now, Mr. Hodanish houses up to 18 wolf dogs at a time on his 10 acre farm in Jackson Township. Howling Woods Farms is essentially an animal shelter dedicated to rescuing wolf dogs and placing them into homes with the appropriate living environment for the animals temperament and needs. “In the beginning there were a couple that we liked so much we couldn't let them go,” Mr. Hodanish said. While some of the wolf dogs live with Hodanish
permanently, most of them are awaiting adoption. Often times the farm takes in animals who were either abandoned or surrendered by those who did not anticipate the amount of work that goes into caring for a wolf dog. “Usually they're about seven months to a year and a half when we get them. That's the age at which the become destructive and the people who purchased them from the breeders aren’t really told what to expect,” Mr. Hodanish said. According to Mr. Hodanish, one of the biggest mistakes people make when adopting a wolf dog, aside from not having enough space, is not providing it with a companion dog of equal size to play with. Having some of the same characteristics they would in the wild, wolf dogs don't like to be left alone for long periods of time since they instinctively like to be in packs. “They go through separation anxiety. When people
leave to go to work or go to dinner or whatever they panic because they don't realize the people will come home,” Mr. Hodanish said. Training wolf dogs can be just as easy as training any other domesticated dog, but according to Mr. Hodanish, training them to do something on command is a whole other story. “They learn quickly, just as quickly as other dogs, but they are not always as motivated to listen,” Mr. Hodanish said. Howling Woods Farms isn't open to the public, however, tours are provided on the weekends for those who call ahead of time. A donation of $20 for adults and $10 for children is suggested and goes toward maintaining the needs of the animals. They also travel through out the state, sometimes with some of their wolf dogs, and give presentations educating the public about the ecology of wolfs and wolf dogs. Even though the donations help with the costs, Mr. Hodanish says one of the biggest challenges for Howling Woods still, is keeping up with the costs of feeding the animals and vet visits. To date, Howling Woods Farm has rescued over 100 wolf dogs and for Mr. Hodanish and the rest of the volunteers, it's hard not to get attached. “It's always hard to see them go, but then again you realize that you can take in and safe another one,” Mr. Hodanish said.
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