TheTOMS RIVER Times Vol. 18 - No. 32
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
County Tree Lit For Holiday Season
What Do You Think Should Happen To Ciba Land?
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Government Pages 9
Community News Pages 7-15
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 18
Inside The Law Page 21
─Photo by Bob Vosseller Commissioner Director John P. Kelly seen at right gestures toward the Ocean County holiday tree. This year the tree was illuminated by a push of the county’s legendary magic button by Kelly’s grandchildren Cecillia Grace Kelly, Juliana Faith Kelly, Sullivan Perry Martin, Evelyn Elizabeth Kelly and William C. Kelly. By Bob Vosseller OCEAN COUNTY – As meetings of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners go, the
one most favored by its members - as well as the public - is the one connected to the annual tree lighting ceremony that
takes place immediately afterwards. Commissioner Director John P. Kelly was particularly happy and proud
this year because his five grandchildren would be present to push the magic button that illuminated (Tree - See Page 4)
Land To Be Preserved By Bob Vosseller BERKELEY - The county will be buying about half an acre that is currently wooded land, forever preserving it as open space. The resolution making the purchase was unanimously approved by the Board of Commissioners. It is approximately 0.52 acres
to be purchased for no more than $50,000 plus up to $200 for property tax adjustments. Deputy Director Virginia Haines said that the land is within the Mill Creek headwaters. It is on the west side of a previous purchase the county made, a roughly 800-acre site of a former pulverizing com-
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pany west of Route 9. Berkeley Township Mayor Carmen Amato was present at the Commissioner meeting to provide support. Commissioner Director John Kelly asked Mayor Amato if he had anything to say about the purchase and his response was short and to the point.
“Thank you,” Mayor Amato replied to much laughter from the audience and the dais. “Thank you,” Director Kelly responded. No one else spoke on the matter. The Ocean County Natural Lands Trust Fund brings in more than $10 million in f u nding ever y year
based on a 1.2 cent tax on every property in the county - both residential and commercial. Berkeley has its own open space fund. Many towns find that they don’t have the buying power to make large purchases, so they ask the county to do it instead. Often, towns
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(Land - See Page 8)
By Chris Lundy TOMS RIVER – The State Department of Environmental Protection is asking the public for comments on a proposed settlement that would remediate the Ciba-Geigy property into passive open space, an environmental center, and a solar field. Ciba once manufactured dyes and other chemicals, and was one of the region’s largest employers. They were also dumping waste directly into the water, the ground, and burying drums of toxic chemicals. Many people attribute the area’s cancer cluster to its operation. The property changed hands several times
over its history and is now owned by German company BASF. On December 5, the DEP announced a settlement with BASF that would preserve 1,000 acres as open space. Additionally, hundreds of acres would be restored through “a variety of ecological improvement projects.” This includes the creation of a freshwater wetlands complex, upland grasslands, and a pollinator habitat. There would be walking and running trails, a boardwalk, and an environmental education center. The project could break ground as soon as spring of 2023 and be open to the public in phases over the (Ciba - See Page 8)
Drug Settlement, Roadwork Planned
By Bob Vosseller OCEAN COUNTY – The Ocean County Com m issioners accepted the settlement of a lawsuit against dr ug manufacturers that were accused of partially creating the opioid epidemic. The Board accepted two parts of the National Opioid litigation settlement, in the amount of $182,454.84 and $437,843.89. The settlement came from a lawsuit against
several of the largest opioid manufact u rers. These companies knowingly lied to doctors which made them prescribe painkillers more frequently, and for ailments that the drugs were not designed for. This, in turn, has been one cause of the opioid epidemic that’s gripping the countr y as people get off the prescriptions and turn to heroin and fentanyl. (Settlement - See Page 5)
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