The BRICK Times Vol. 23 - No. 9
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Girl Scout Helps Teachers With School Supply Costs
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Government Page 7
Community News Page 8-12
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 16
Inside The Law Page 15
Photo courtesy Rylee Sherwood Rylee Sherwood of Brick has a mission to collect school supplies to support teachers who normally pay out-of-pocket.
By Alyssa Riccardi BRICK – Have you ever wondered why teachers have to spend their own money to buy school supplies for students? Brick Township Girl Scout Rylee Sherwood is determined to change that with her Silver Award Project – “Fill the Classroom.” For the new school year, kids start out with supplies like pencils and notebooks but the items don’t last long before they run out. As a result, teachers try to stock up their rooms to provide these necessities. “On average a teacher spends a minimum of $500 per school year on their own classroom,” Rylee said. Rylee said the idea for “Fill the Classroom” began after she heard about a Book Drive someone was doing to (Scout- See Page 4)
July 15, 2023
Veterans Apartments To Be Built
By Judy Smestad-Nunn BRICK - The township is conveying a vacant parcel of property that will be developed into an eight-unit apartment building for affordable housing for veterans, which was recommended by the Council’s Land Use Committee. Homes Now, Inc. will pay $1 for the irregularly-shaped half acre lot - located at 1707 Route 88 West - so they can take title as needed for HMFA (New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency) funding to build the units and manage the site, said township Business Administrator Joanne Bergin. HMFA has different affordable housing programs for homebuyers and renters, and uses proceeds from bond sales and federal tax credits to fund affordable rental housing. Homes Now Inc., es-
tablished in 1997, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit community development corporation organized and incorporated for the purpose of providing affordable housing in the area. The project will be funded by Community Development Block Grants, the township’s Affordable Housing Trust and additional grant funds that Homes Now will be seeking, according to a summary sheet prepared by Bergin. Homes Now not only develops affordable housing but they are also the administrative agent for affordable housing in Brick Township. In 2018, the Fair Share Housing and Affordable Housing Plan included the creation of an Affordable Veterans Housing project as one of the proposed developments to create inclusionary
(Veterans- See Page 5)
GOP Leaders Endorse Democrat Prosecutor
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan OceanCountyProsecutor Bradley D. Billhimer at a recent presentation given to high school and college studentsaboutthedangers of bias crimes.
By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS R I V ER Breaking the mold of traditional partisan politics, the Ocean County Commissioners have asked Governor Phil Murphy to reappoint Bradley D. Billhimer to a second five-year term as the county’s prosecutor. All f ive members of the Ocean County
Board of Commissioners are prominent Republicans; Billhimer is a Democrat. During a recent meeting, the Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution requesting Mur phy to consider Billhimer’s reappointment. The resolution highlighted Billhimer’s commitment to justice and his efforts to address the evolv-
ing needs of Ocean County. It praised his establishment of various community outreach programs, including Ocean County Cares and the Escape the Vape Taskforce, as well as his initiatives to combat the opioid epidemic. Billhimer’s work in st reng theni ng relationships between law enforcement and the
faith-based community was also commended. Additionally, the prosecutor’s focus on bias prevention and his collaboration with numerous organizations for public safety and education in Ocean County were recognized. The resolution passed by the Ocean County Commissioners includes references to Billhimer’s commit-
ment to school-aged children. He and his team have conducted over 145 presentations in more than 70 schools during the 2022-2023 academic year alone. Through these meetings, they have reached over 20,000 students, educating them about topics such as internet safety, social media, and bullying. As the county’s top
law enforcement officer, Billhimer has taken his role beyond prosecuting crimes. In a remarkable initiative, he organized a symposium for local police officials to engage in a candid and accelerated discussion about perceived biases in law enforcement interactions. This proactive approach distinguished (Leaders- See Page 5)
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