The JACKSON Times Vol. 20 - No. 6
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Memorial High School’s Lasko Turns Pro On Diamond
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Government Pages 5
Community News Pages 8-11
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 13
Classifieds Page 15
July 29, 2023
School Removes Transportation Consultant
Photo By Bob Vosseller Jackson school officials discuss the salary of the district’s transportation consultant during a recent Board of Education meeting. Ex-Jackson Memorial High School standout Ryan Lasko displays a potent bat for Rutgers University. By Chris Christopher JACKSON - Ryan Lasko has become a professional athlete. The former Jackson Memorial High School and Rutgers University standout has signed a $1.7 million contract to play for the Oakland A’s. He was selected 41st overall as an outfielder by Oakland on the initial day of the 2023 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. The pick was slotted at a $2,094,900 signing bonus. He was the second selec-
tion in the second round. He was ranked the No. 89 prospect in the grab bag by mlb.com. “We love the athleticism,” Oakland general manager David Forst told mlb.com’s Martin Gallegos. “Middle-of-the-diamond player who just got better every year. Plus runner, plus outfield defense. Talk about highlights on defense. You can look up some of the plays he made crashing into the wall in center field. A guy that we think is on the ups and really helps the
Photo courtesy Mark Kuhlmann Ryan Lasko registers an out for Rutgers University.
athleticism in our system. I’m excited to see him play in person.” A criminal justice major at Rutgers, he was a three-year starter. Lasko, a righty, stroked his 200th career hit and became the first player in program history with three straight seasons with 10-plus home runs. He ripped 32 extra base hits en route to 73 overall. “Ryan is an excellent
player who continues to improve,” Rutgers coach Steve Owens said. “Congratulations to Ryan for his high draft selection by Oakland! He is a tremendous player with elite defensive skills in center field that are game changing at every level.” With Lasko in the lineup, the Scarlet Knights won a total of 77 games during the past two years. (Baseball - See Page 4)
By Bob Vosseller JACKSON – Weighing what is a necessity and what is a luxury was a point of discussion which resulted in removing a consultant which will save $30,000 for the township school district. Du r ing a recent Boa rd of Education meeting Board President Giuseppe Palmeri brought up a line item on the bill list that concerned the consultant. “Finance number 14 relates to a transportation consultant which
is a ret i red for me r director of transportation. This consultant was approved last year for Mr. (Kristopher) Soto who wa s new coming on board to help acclimate a transition to our district,” he noted. “The budget constraints that we now face...is this a necessity or a luxury because how I see this $30,0 0 0 consu lt a nt fee, we may be able to bring back a secretary, a janitor, a maintenance worker maybe... (BOE - See Page 7)
Official: Public Has Fear Of Speaking Out
Photo by Bob Vosseller Michael Silvestri, seated at left during a Plumsted Township Committee meeting, addresses Township Clerk/Business Administrator Jennifer Witham, at left on the dais, Attorney Jean Cipriani, Deputy Mayor Herb Marinari and Committeeman Leonard Grilletto about giving invocations at township meetings and the use of the municipal building.
By Bob Vosseller PLUMSTED – No one should feel intimidated about presenting their questions, concerns, and general ideas before the governing body. That was the message expressed by a township official. During a recent Township Committee meeting, Deput y Mayor
Herb Marinari shared with the governing body and public a conversation he had with a resident who has lived in the community for more than 20 years. The person asked him to look into an issue of concern. Marinari invited the individual to come to a Township Committee
meeting to personal- that and other people ly present his concern who have made that during a part of the comment - it is one of meeting where the pub- the worse things I’ve lic is invited to speak. heard since I’ve been “Every resident has the here. As long as you sit opportunity to do that.” there and are respectful The Deputy Mayor there is no reason you said the resident re- can’t come here to make sponded, “‘Herb I’m a comment. You heard not going to do that me say this a couple of because I am afraid of months ago: This is not reprisals.’ When I heard (Plumsted - See Page 10)
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