The BRICK Times Vol. 23 - No. 50
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Student Podcasting: A New Spin On Journalism
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Government
Photo courtesy Joseph Stefanelli
Page 7
The “Straight from the Mustang’s Mouth” podcast brings entertaining content to Brick Memorial High School.
Community News Page 8-13
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 14
Inside The Law Page 16
By Alyssa Riccardi BRICK – “Straight from the Mustang’s Mouth,” a student-led podca st, ha s g iven young journalists the opportunity to expand their creativity. With a goal to amplify the voices of students at Brick Memorial High School, English teacher and Podcast Advisor Joseph Stefanelli creat-
ed the podcast in 2023 to grab more attention on the growingly unpopular student newspaper. “I was asked to take over the school newspaper over the summer of 2022, and I was hesitant but I agreed. I had also just been asked to take over the jour nalism class – which I had very little experience
in. However, I am in charge of our website, as I do all the press releases. I’ve been doing that for about a year or two. So, they asked me to teach journalism. Then came the newspaper and I decided to do that digitally instead of going through with printing them. I realized after about two months in, an average
of 15 kids were reading the newspaper,” Stefanelli said. “I went to the principal and asked if I could try something different. Fortunately, I am trusted there and they gave me the go ahead to try something new. So, I put together a podcast.” Stefanelli has experience with podcasts as he records his own along with his sister. He recorded the very first episode for Straight From the Mustang’s Mouth i n Febr uar y 2023 and has now made over 100 episodes. “In the beginning, it was just me really, and the kids still worked on the newspaper. The first 20 to 30 episodes it’s just me interviewing kids, teachers. Then the kids really wanted to be a part of it, they were a little jealous,” Stefanelli joked. “We developed about 200 to (Podcast- See Page 4)
AuTiSm FaIr CoNnEcTs FaMiLiEs To KeY ReSoUrCeS
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan Gianna Vazquez met a mermaid at the Autism Resources Fair.
By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS RIVER - Forget the stereotype of hushed whispers and dust y shelves – the Ocean County Library is proving libraries are more than just books. Most recently, the Toms River Branch held its
seventh Autism Resources Fair - empowering families by offering them a wealth of resources and a supportive community. Imagine the overwhelming flood of information that washes over parents after receiving an autism diagnosis.
While potentially vast, the internet can feel like an unnavigable ocean of conflicting advice and questionable sources. Wendi Smolowitz, a librarian who works for the Ocean County Library system, knows (Autism FairSee Page 4)
April 20, 2024
Department Heads Present Budget By Judy Smestad-Nunn BR ICK - T h re e de pa r t me nt hea d s presented their 2024 budgets during a recent Township Council meeting in preparation for a public budget hearing and its adoption by the governing body. Township Engineer Elissa Com mins introduced the engineering division budget. The cost to the township for salary and wages is $170,00 but the funds are recouped from inspections, escrow accounts and capital accounts, which vary from year to year, she said. “The primary functions of the Division of Engineering are to establish and maintain our public infrastructure and assist with its integration to private property,” Commins said. Her department also monitors site construct ion a nd of fsite improvements outside of a physical building envelope. Engineering is also the designated f lood plain administ rator, ser ves as the contact for the NJ Depar t ment of Environmental Protect ion, the A r my Corps of Engineers, and much more.
Commins’ request for the department’s operating budget is $75,200, which pays for general supplies, tools, renewal certif ications for professionals, required continuing education credits, professional services, permitting and much more. Building and Code Enforcement Official Daniel F. Newman was next, who presented his budget which includes the Division of Inspections, empowered to enforce the NJ adopted uniform construction code, and also for local ordinances related to property maintenance and rental unit occupancy. Some 3,607 permits were issued in Brick last year, and 987 permit updates, he said. His department also performed 18,039 inspections. “Much of the revenue from the permit fees is based on the value of construction,” Newman said. “In 2023, it was $117,227,054. The added value of improvements made to real property affects the property taxes, which are then paid to the township, so a higher number is good for the taxpayers.” Some $2,480,018 of revenue was generated (Budget- See Page 4)
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