The BERKELEY Times Vol. 29 - No. 15
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Several Intersections On Route 9 Might Change
Former Ocean Gate Mayor Pleads Guilty To Misconduct
The entrance and exit to the ShopRite plaza might one day be right-in, right-out. BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Community News Pages 9-11
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 12
Inside The Law Page 16
Classifieds Pages 19
Photos by Chris Lundy Right now, Frederick Drive t-bones into a concrete barrier near a potential pad site at the ShopRite plaza By Chris Lundy BERKELEY – A busy strip of Route 9 will have some changes in the coming years, but a lot of it has to do with what the State Department of Transportation will allow – and it’ll be on the state’s timeline. Starting from the south, the town is applying to the state to get a traffic light at the intersection of Route 9 and Serpentine Drive. Sometimes, the DOT will refuse a light if it’s too close to other
lights. There is one nearby where 9 intersects Central Parkway on one side and Butler Boulevard on the other. Mayor Carmen Amato said that the intersection meets certain DOT requirements for a signal, regardless of how near it is to another. The town fought for years – and was ultimately successful – in getting a light at Frederick Drive despite it being close to other signals, he said. This took years, and
Bad visibility and heavy traffic make the intersection of Route 9 and Serpentine Drive dangerous.
Berkeley doesn’t want to wait too long. They are pushing the DOT to do a traffic study as soon as possible and to make recommendations. “It is a dangerous intersection because of the way it’s configured,” Amato said. There’s not much of a sight line from one side of Serpentine to the other. Additionally, the two sides of Serpentine meet at different angles.
September 30, 2023
One way to fix the problem is to turn Serpentine, heading east, into a right-in, right-out road. In other words, if you’re heading south on 9, you would still be able to make a right at Serpentine. If you’re heading east on Serpentine, you could only make a right at 9 and go south. If you need to go left on 9, you’d have to do it at Central Parkway, (Road- See Page 4)
By Chris Lundy ketplace account, with OCEAN GATE – For- the intent of using the mer Mayor Paul Ken- money for personal use. nedy pled guilty to the As investigators probed crime of Pattern of Of- further, they learned that ficial Misconduct for a Kennedy collected cash series of thefts he made from the sale of scrap while acting as the mayor metal from the borof the small town. ough’s recycling center. Kennedy, 66, was ini- He also converted funds tially charged with Of- donated by contributors ficial Misconduct and to “Friends of Ocean Theft on March 18, Gate” for his re-election 2022. Those charges campaign, as well as the state that Kennedy had campaign of his running sold borough assets on mates. the government auction One charge left off website GovDeals.com from the report of his and did not turn over the plea deal is that he alproceeds. According to legedly used his position authorities, he used this with the Ocean County money for personal use. Buildings and Grounds Additionally, detectives Department by requirsaid that Kennedy failed ing certain employees to deposit borough park- within the Department ing meter funds in the to do construction work borough’s bank account. at his home located at He also sold borough East Lakewood Avenue office furniture through (Ocean Gatea private Facebook MarSee Page 4)
Non-Profit To Aid Homeless At New Headquarters By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS RIVER - Paul Hulse, founder and CEO of the Just Believe organization, stood before a gathering of well-wishers as he cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the organization’s new headquarters. With enthusiasm and a sense of purpose,
Hulse recounted the inspiring journey that led to the momentous occasion. “Four years ago, we started Just Believe with a hope and a dream,” said Hulse. “It was something I’ve always wanted – to help the homeless here in Ocean County.” Hulse credited Pastor
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Paul Gifford as a significant inspiration in his mission, recounting their collaboration on the Code Blue program in the basement of a Toms River church. The organization has grown in a number of ways since its inception. The establishment of a thrift store in a shopping
center located at 734 NJ-37 in Toms River has proven to be multi-faceted in its impact. It not only generates funds for projects but also offers employment opportunities and valuable training. Just Believe has played a pivotal role in assisting individuals with (Homeless - See Page 5)
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan After the ribbon cutting, the Just Believe team stopped to pose for a photograph.
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