The JACKSON Times Vol. 21 - No. 23
In This Week’s Edition
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December 7, 2024
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Photos by The Jackson Times and courtesy Barry Calogero Former Jackson Council President and now author, Barry Calogero sits in the Jackson Township Town Hall chambers. By Bob Vosseller JACKSON – Barry Calogero has had a challenging life. He faced abuse while growing up, but rose up to turn his life around becoming a family man, politician and even worked for the president of the United States. The township resident was appointed as the state executive director of the New Jersey
USDA Farm Service in 2017 by President Donald Trump and just when his life appeared to reach a pinnacle, he faced the devastating diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. Nonetheless, he sees his life as remarkable and decided to share his story with the world. His autobiography, “A Life Finally Worth Living… And Then Came Parkin-
son’s” was recently released. Calogero shared his thoughts about writing his book with The Jackson Times. “All my life I have been told that I had told great stories about my life and I should share them as they could help other people,” the new author said. “I had a unique childhood. In many cases it was bad, abused by my father men-
tally and physically. He was an alcoholic.” “My mother was a shut in, she had to stay in one room for many years. We lived over a bar in a dirty area of Queens under an elevated train station. It was dirty living conditions, rat infested, filthy and there was alcoholism and fighting. There was a time in my generation, (Story - See Page 5)
Students Prepare Thousands Of Meals For Those In Need
Photos courtesy OCVTS Thousands of meals were prepared by culinary students.
By Alyssa Riccardi BRICK – The Ocean County Vocational Technical School’s Brick Center was buzzing with activity during the week before Thanksgiving, where students worked tirelessly to provide a holiday meal for those in need. There were 182 culinary students who prepared over 3,500 Thanksgiving dinners for “Feed the Need,” an initiative that began more than 25 years ago. “Feed the Need started with
us just providing 25 meals to a local church,” Culinary 1 instructor Chef Gary Lesniak said. “Every year it seemed to build. The program back then just relied on donations; people dropping of turkeys, etc.” The program now partners up with Fulfill, who provided over 400 turkeys this year, as well as RWJ Barnabas Community Medical Center, who supply the grocery products for the side (Meals - See Page 11)
By Bob Vosseller JACKSON – The township Planning Board recently reconsidered a proposal to build a 200,000 square foot campus that will include four schools. After two years and a number of contentious Planning Board meetings, Board members who previously rejected the application approved it unanimously after several hours of testimony during their latest meeting. The campus will serve 2,500 students and will be located on Chandler Road and Jackson Mills Road. The application was submitted by 394 Chandler Holdings, LLC. A large audience of neighbors came out to the latest meeting of the Planning Board to learn the fate of the application. Back in August the project was rejected by Board members primarily due to a proposed circular driveway. During that meeting the applicant’s lawyer Donna Jennings threatened legal action (Campus - See Page 6)
Officials Discuss MUA Rate Increase By Bob Vosseller PLUMSTED – Township Committee members discussed the township Municipal Utilities Authority rate hike and the need for the township to subsidize that agency. The township wastewater treatment plant was built for $32 million several years ago as a means to reinvigorate the community’s downtown business district. The facility was described as being able to make wastewater so clean that it can discharge into Crosswicks Creek which f lows into the Delaware River. (MUA - See Page 4)
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