The BERKELEY Times Vol. 29 - No. 48
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Program Urges Staff, Students To Look Out For Each Other
BREAKING NEWS @
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Government Page 7
Photo by Chris Lundy Gian-Paul Gonzalez told students about playing basketball with justice-involved youth at New Jersey juvenile facilities.
Community News Pages 9-13
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 16
Inside The Law Page 18
By Chris Lundy BERKELEY – School d ist r ict s a re goi ng through a Renaissance in lifting up all students – even those wallflowers who don’t stand out from the crowd. More than 30 schools throughout New Jersey and even Pennsylvania took part in Jostens Renaissance, hosted at Central Regional High
School. This is a day of listening to uplifting speeches as well as sharing techniques for how to make all students and staff move in the right direction. Superintendent Dr. Michelle CarneyRay-Yoder is the Renaissance “Champion” for the North-Atlantic Region which includes New Jersey. She said she wanted
to host other districts to show “how wonderful our school is.” The fact that it happened to fall on the same day as the art show helped. The framework of Jostens Renaissance is “Identify the values that you RESPECT and then RECOGNIZE and REWARD actions you want to see. REINFORCE your values through
traditions and words, while looking for ways to create strong RELATIONSHIPS. All of this drives RESULTS.” Besides the staff members, there were students from a variety of grades. They gathered in the theater to hear the keynote speaker, Gian-Paul Gonzalez, 9th grade history teacher in Union and the chaplain for the New York Giants. He spoke about playing basketball with juveniles going through the justice system, and how these children think no one cares about them. He drew a comparison to the lonely kids in every school district. “We go all in for the one who sits alone and walks alone to show we care,” he told the crowd. After his speech, but before he met with a line of students wanting to meet him and ask him questions, he took a few minutes with The (Program - See Page 4)
Habitat For Humanity: Building Houses And More
Photo courtesy Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity built this home in Ocean County.
By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS RIVER - For many people in Ocean County, hopes of owning a safe and affordable home can seem out of reach. But thanks to the work of Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity, that dream can be a reality for some families
in need. The organization doesn’t just build houses; it builds a sense of pride. They offer a path to home ownership through a unique program that combines affordable mortgages with sweat equity from the families themselves. This “hand up, not a handout” approach fos-
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ters a sense of dignity and personal investment in homes people can call their own. “We’re there to help those who want to help themselves and do better for their families,” explained Kristine Novakowski, Executive Director. “So, the people we (Habitat - See Page 4)
May 18, 2024
Tentative Date Set For New VA Clinic Opening
Photo by Chris Lundy HVAC and other workers were on site during a recent visit to the Toms River VA Clinic. By Chris Lundy TOMS RIVER – After years of preparation for the new facility, the grand opening of the Veterans Administration clinic is July 16. A VA official told The Toms River Times that the date is tentative and subject to change. The building’s official address is 1051 Hooper Avenue, and there’s an
entrance to the parking lot from that road. There’s another entrance on Caudina Avenue, which is the back road past two banks that leads to the Seacourt Pavilion. When groundbreaking ceremonies took place in 2022, the expectation was that it was going to open in spring of 2024. (VA Clinic See Page 4)
NRC: Nuke Plant Cleanup Needs More Detail By Stephanie Faughnan LACEY - Holtec International has chosen to postpone the submission of the Oyster Creek License Termination Plan (LTP) for an unspecified period following a recent assessment by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Patrick O’Brien, Holtec International’s Director
of Government Affairs and Communications, said the decision stems from ongoing collaboration with the NRC during the LTP preparation process. O’Brien explained that rather than submitting a final draft of the plan all at once, Holtec has been working closely (Oyster Creek See Page 19)
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