The BRICK Times Vol. 23 - No. 10
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
Educator, Author Strives For Representation In Children’s Book Furlong is currently an Assistant Professor at Georgian Court University and an English language interventionist at Brick Township Public Schools. She’s taught public school for over 20 years and is also a Brick Township High School Graduate. The trio met years ago when they all taught together at Freehold
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Borough Schools, and they’ve now come together again to create this book. Furlong said the inspiration behind the book is to showcase different types of children and how often times they are not represented. “About a year and a half ago, I was teaching at Georgian Court and (Book - See Page 4)
Photo courtesy Dr. Denise Furlong Dr. Denise Furlong reads her new book to a group of children at a local bookstore. By Alyssa Riccardi BRICK – A local educator is discussing the importance of inclusivity and representation in children’s literature through her co-written book “Ben and the Amazing Animal Adventure.” The book features Ben, a kid who has severe food allergies. The book takes children through the story of Ben’s adventure on
his first class trip and discusses the obstacles he goes through as someone with food allergies. Dr. Denise Furlong co-wrote the book with Sarah Szamreta Tang, who was a teacher for about 15 years teaching bilingual Spanish and ESL. Leslie Daily, who was an elementary school teacher for 35 years, illustrated the book.
July 22, 2023
Town Wins Grant For Open Space
By Judy Smestad-Nunn BRICK - The Garden State Preservation Tr ust has approved the township’s Green Acres application for a matching grant in the amount of $1.2 million for the purchase of the Breton Woods property, which was owned by Visitation Roman Catholic Church and the Trenton Diocese. The State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection sent a letter to Mayor Lisa Crate informing her of the grant award. Crowds of residents came out to Planning Board meetings in opposition of a plan to build “The Havens at Metedeconk” - a 59home development to be built by D.R. Horton of Texas - for the 31.6acre wooded parcel, located east of Laurel Avenue. “I’m ver y excited about that and happy
that we’ve received this approval, and a shoutout to our boss team who worked very hard to get us to where we are today, and to [business administrator Joanne] Bergin and to all the people who have dedicated time to make sure that we can preserve that property,” the mayor said during a recent Township Council Meeting. “I’m very happy to bring this announcement to ever yone… who has worked so hard to preserve that property,” she added. In January of this year, an $8.55 million deal was struck between the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust Fund Advisory Committee, the township and the c ont r a ct pu rch a se r D.R. Horton whereby Ocean County would pay $6.84 million and Brick Township would pay $1.71 million for (Council - See Page 4)
Advocates Applaud New Homelessness Trust Fund
Photo courtesy Destiny’s Bridge Some homeless live in tent cities in the woods.
By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS RIVER – Upon learning of the Ocean County Commissioners’ intention to establish a Homelessness Trust Fund, a multitude of prominent advocates made a personal appearance to witness the historic event unfold. Commissioner Bobbi Jo Crea is credited with spear-
heading the creation of the fund, widely regarded as a significant milestone in addressing homelessness in Ocean County. Joining twelve other counties in New Jersey that have already adopted similar measures, the Ocean County Clerk’s office will charge a $5 fee on most recorded documents to
generate resources for the when it comes to providing the assistance our residents fund. “A county-run home- need to keep them from lessness trust fund gives becoming homeless or us the opportunity to look to get them reestablished at real-time economics once they are homeless.” and have great funding Crea added that one of the flexibilities providing help critical benefits of the fund where some state and fed- is that it will also allow for erally funded programs the provision of services may not, ” said Crea. “It to individuals who were is far from one size fits all (Homeless - See Page 4)
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