The HOWELL Times
Vol. 22 - No. 18
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Children Read With Therapy Dogs
Parents Worried About Busing Problems
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Community News Pages 7-10
Inside The Law Page 12
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 13
Classifieds Pages 15
Photo by Liz Ciocher Children’s librarian Mary Mattia and her trusted therapy dogs, Molly and Pippin. By Liz Ciocher HOWELL – Once a month, the Howell public librar y hosts a children’s event to encourage reading: a scheduled visit from therapy dogs.
The dogs, who are there to be read to, sit on the library f loor, circled by excited child ren with books in their hands. The latest therapy dog reading was held on
Sept. 25. The children’s librarian, Mary Mattia, thinks of the event as a way to get children excited about reading. “Specifically, what we are doing is attracting more of a ruse to
October 5, 2024
get kids to read,” she said. “It’s a way to get them here, with books, and to act ually get them reading.” Two therapy dogs were present at the (Dogs - See Page 4)
By Liz Ciocher HOWELL – The first Board of Education meeting for the 2024/2025 school year was held on Sept. 25, but was met by many confrontations from parents and guardians in the district. When it came time for public comment, there were eight comments that focused on an issue of busing and transportation for Howell Township students of all ages. Many of the comments from the parents revolved around the buses arriving late, unprepared drivers and buses getting lost. The superintendent of Howell schools, Joseph Isola, spoke about the issue early on in the meeting as well. “I certainly recognize and have dealt with some of the challenges that transportation [has caused],” he said. “We understand why people are upset that buses run late early on. There’s still a couple of routes that the transportation department is evaluating. [They are] determining if there are needed supports or changes of routes that need to be put in place.” In their public comments, one parent said her child was not getting home until one to two hours after school dismissal. Another father said his child fell and cut himself because the bus was moving before the child was properly seated. “I k now this is a ver y challenging, multi-faceted issue, but I believe the safety (Parents - See Page 3)
Mail-In Ballots Now Available
By Alyssa Riccardi MONMOUTH COUNTY – With the general election a month away, mail-in ballots are now available for Monmouth County residents. “Voter turnout is expected to be high in the 2024 General Election, as it has been in all presidential election years, and voting by mail is a convenient way to vote and a great way to avoid potential lines at the polls or other inconveniences,” Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon said. To vote by mail, registered voters must first complete
a vote-by-mail ballot application form, which can be downloaded from the County Clerk’s Elections website, MonmouthCountyVotes.com, or from the County Clerk’s “Monmouth County Votes” mobile app. The form can also be obtained in person at the County Clerk’s Elections Office located at 300 Halls Mill Road in Freehold or from the municipal clerk of a voter’s hometown. Completed vote-by-mail applications submitted by regular mail must be received by the County Clerk’s Office at least seven days before an election. For the November 5 General Election, the deadline is October 29. Applications may also
be submitted in person at the County Clerk’s Elections Office up until 3 p.m. on November 4, the day before Election Day. If applying in person, voters may obtain and cast their mail-in ballots early. Drop box locations throughout Monmouth County are also now available for the return of completed mail-in ballots for the General Election. To see the complete list of the county’s 35 drop box locations, visit monmouthcountyvotes.com/voter-information/vote-by-mail-drop-box-locations or on the free (Ballots - See Page 4)
TO ADVERTISE, CALL 732-657-7344 EXT. 206