The JACKSON Times Vol. 20 - No. 45
In This Week’s Edition
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Students Contribute To Health Of River
Cinco De Mayo BREAKING NEWS @
Photos Courtesy Of Plumsted Schools Students learned about macroinvertebrates and released rainbow trout into the Toms River.
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Government Pages 7
Community News Pages 8-10
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 12
Classifieds Page 18
By Bob Vosseller PLUMSTED – Students from New Egypt High School took part in two projects recently that involved lessons in environmental stewardship. The students who were members of New Egypt High School’s Environmental, and Fishing and Archery Clubs joined forces to release 35 rainbow trout into the upper reaches of the Toms
River. T he rele a se t ook pla ce at t he Forest Resource Education Ce nt e r i n Ja ck son , w h e r e t h e r i v e r ’s headwaters are fed by underground aquifers. Biology teacher Gabrielle Fox told The Jack son Times that “the initiative served as a hands-on learning experience for the students, who gained valuable insights into t h e i m p o r t a n c e of
clean water and its sources.” “Through their participation, they deepened their understanding of environmental conservation and the vital role that freshwater ecosystems play in sustaining life,” she added. Accompanied by educators and local environmental experts, the students actively engaged i n d iscu s-
sions about the significance of maintaining healthy aquatic habit ats. T hey lea r ned about t he i nt r icat e i n t e r p l a y b e t we e n human activities and the natural environment, emphasizing the need for responsible stewardship to preserve these delicate ecosystems for future generations. Fox noted that by (Students - See Page 4)
Piney Author Fights Stereotypes, Shares Rich Local History
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan Bill Lewis’ shirt shows his collection of books with the latest “South Jersey Legends & Lore’s” cover displayed top left.
By Stephanie Faughnan PINE BARRENS William “Bill” Lewis, 50, served as a Marine, studied hard at night to earn a degree with top honors, and works for the federal government. On top of all that, he’s authored four books, produced a documen-
tary film, and delivered guest lectures on several occasions. Lewis also just happens to be a third-generation Piney, a fact that might strike some as inconsistent with their image of a people quite proud of their deep-rooted lineage. The term “Piney” often
conjures up images of backwoods stereotypes or folklore characters. Lewis considers the word an unmistakable slur and has made it his mission to reclaim the narrative of the Piney identity. “We know with a stereotype there’s little to (Piney - See Page 5)
May 4, 2024
Slight Tax Decrease Proposed By Town By Bob Vosseller JACKSON – Residents will see a slight decrease i n t axes with the proposed $59,184,220.73 municipal budget. The average home assessed at $332,937.87 will have a tax decrease of $7.70, according to township figures. Of the total $59,184,220.73 budget, $36,039,725.53 will be raised with taxes. This is a 2% increase from last year’s $35,333,731.02. The Township Council unanimously approved the budget’s introduction and it has been released to
the public. The public hearing on the budget will be held on May 28. A budget presentation by Township Business Administrator Terance Wall showcased details of the budget. The 2023 municipal tax rate of .501 per $100 of assessed valuation went to .499 per $100 - a change of 0.46%. The assessed valuation of your property is set by township assessors; it is not how much you purchased your house for. Wall credited the 2024 tax decrease to
(Taxes - See Page 4)
Superintendents Push For Budget Solutions By Bob Vosseller JACKSON-PLUMSTED – As the deadline for finalizing school district budgets nears and the State Department of Education has announced that any applications for loans for the 2024-2025 school year would be denied, local districts are looking for a solution. Jackson Superinten-
dent Nicole Pormilli recently testified before a Senate budget committee hearing in Trenton. She told lawmakers that Jackson “has been among the hardest hit by state aid cuts prescribed under the school funding formula known as S-2.” She also noted that her district has asked (Budget - See Page 6)
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