The MANCHESTER Times Vol. 29 - No. 52
In This Week’s Edition
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Community News Pages 10-14
Dr. Izzy Sound News Page 18
Inside The Law Page 21
Classifieds Page 25
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New Superintendent To Offi cially Lead School District
By Bob Vosseller MANCHESTER – The word “interim” was officially removed from Diane Pedroza’s title following a vote of the township Board of Education. During the most recent Board of Education meeting, Pedroza became the first female superintendent in the school district’s history. The Board appointed her as the interim superintendent during a special meeting held last November. The announcement was welcomed by a standing ovation for Pedroza who was surrounded by a large audience during the meeting. Board of Education President Gayle Mount shared Pedroza’s deep roots with the Manchester School District, noting that Pedroza’s professional career experience has been solely dedicated to the students, staff, and families
March 30, 2024
Official Promotes Manchester As ‘Gemstone Of Jersey Shore’ By Bob Vosseller MANCHESTER – Council Vice President James Vaccaro continued to promote interest in the slogan of Manchester being “the Gemstone of the Jersey Shore” during a recent council meeting. He’s mentioned this during prior council meetings, as well as during a press conference before the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and members of the news media. Vaccaro urged his fellow council members to support the Economic Development Committee in “engaging a firm to market (Gemstone - See Page 4)
Town Receives Award From Northern Ocean Habitat For Humanity
Photo courtesy Manchester Schools Diane Pedroza and her husband Edwin pose during a Manchester Board of Education meeting of the township. “She has been educating the students and supporting the families and staff of Manchester for more than 23 years. She
started her tenure in September of 2000 as an English teacher at Manchester Township Middle School before moving into the role of vice principal in 2007,
and later as the acting principal in 2008, at MTMS,” Mount said. Pedroza was then chosen as the Principal (Superintendent See Page 5)
Critics: Ciba Presentation Lacked Info
By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS R I V ER – BASF recently hosted an event billed as an in-person poster session to detail its environmental restoration plans for the former Ciba-Geigy chemical plant site. However, many of those who attended expressed frus-
tration at the lack of information actually provided to them. Britta Forsberg , the Executive Director of Save Bar negat Bay, summed up her impression of the presentation which was echoed by others who hoped to secure some answers – and even some positive reassurances.
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“I think it’s just a bunch of pretty pictures with very little substance,” said Forsberg. “I’ve seen pictures of birds, bees, and butterflies but nothing new in the way of information.” “W hen you ap proached any one of the individuals standing near a poster,” Forsberg continued. “And you
asked them a direct question, they deflected away from it.” Some suggested that many of the posters mirrored slides used earlier in the year as part of an online presentation. Graceanne Taylor, Education and Outreach Coordinator for Save Barnegat Bay, pointed out the problems that
Ciba-Geigy caused. Its unsafe practices polluted everything including the groundwater, the forests, the ocean, the river, and more. A disturbing number of children and adults became critically ill with experts tracing the environmental exposure as a detrimental health
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(Ciba - See Page 7)
Photo by Bob Vosseller Manchester Mayor Robert Arace joins Northern Habitat For Humanity’s Executive Director Kristine Novakowski who recently made a presentation to the municipality. By Bob Vosseller MANCHESTER – The Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity presented a big ‘thank you’ to the township during a recent council meeting for helping provide for a family’s home. (Award - See Page 5)
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