The BERKELEY Times Vol. 30 - No. 29
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
Berkeley’s Top Stories Of 2024 Photo courtesy BTUSAR (Below) Berkeley Township Underwater Search and Rescue divers clean jellyfish polyps off of lagoon structures.
Photos by Chris Lundy (Above) Third Avenue in Manitou Park will be named after the late Charlie “Pops” Parker. (Left) The 5th Annual Survivor Day 5K Run/Walk was held in memory of a fallen officer.
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January 11, 2025
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By Chris Lundy BERKELEY – Given how many miles of coastline Berkeley has – and how residents feel encroachment of development from neighboring areas – it’s no surprise that much of the most important issues of 2024 involved the environment and development. Change In Leadership Longtime Mayor Carmen Amato graduated to his new role as Senator representing the 9th District, tackling such things as taxes and veterans issues. “It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve my hometown,” Amato said. “We have a good foundation here. Berkeley Township is moving in the
right direction.” Longtime Councilman John Bacchione was sworn in as mayor, and vowed to steer the ship in the same direction. He said it was a humbling moment that he didn’t take for granted. “I have been blessed to work with so many wonderful people,” he said, through the bad times, like Superstorm Sandy, to the good times, where the town has been able to grow fiscally strong. Meanwhile, Bacchione’s wife, Berkeley Township Board of Education president Jennifer Bacchione and Manchester Mayor Robert Arace were chosen by county Republican leadership to become County Commissioners instead of
Jewish Federation Honors Heroes Against Hate By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS RIVER - The Jewish Federation of Ocean County honored five individuals and one organization for their dedication to combating hate and promoting unity at a special event at the Clarion Hotel. The evening, which celebrated local “Heroes Against Hate,” was attended by community members, activists, and leaders. “In recent years, we’ve been honoring local heroes against hate, recognizing that hate, in all its forms, including antisemitism, has been
on the upswing,” said Jewish Federation of Ocean County Chairwoman Annabel Lindenbaum. “And the best way to counter that is for diverse communities and people to be upstanders and stand up against hate together.” The recognition aligns perfectly with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office’s “Hate Has No Home in Ocean County” campaign, which earlier this year received the Attorney General’s Initiative Award for its success in addressing bias and hate crimes. (Honors - See Page 5)
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incumbents Gary Quinn and Director Bobbi Jo Crea.
how to donate or how to get help as a veteran, visit T2T.org.
Veterans Village A “Veterans Village” made up of 124 homes was approved to be built on Route 9. The development will be at the intersection of Atlantic City Boulevard (Route 9) and Sloop Creek Road. It will contain 99 apartments and 25 one-story houses and will be deed restricted so that only veterans and their families could live there. There would also be 24/7 onsite support services. The developer is Tunnel To Towers Foundation, a nonprofit that supports veterans and their families. For more information, including
Flooding Flooding in low-lying areas is common, but it’s become more so in recent years. Sometimes, it accompanies a storm, like the one that made its way across the state on January 9 and left thousands of people without power. Certain areas of Ocean County reached nearly five feet of water levels. But other times, the sky is dry but the roads are wet. Tidal flooding has become more and more of a problem in the last few years, indicating that something is happening with the climate. People are worried that if there’s (Top Stories - See Page 4)
Commissioner Quinn Bids Farewell To County Office By Bob Vosseller OCEAN COUNTY – For years Gary Quinn has been a public servant. He’s served on the schoolboard and Lacey Township Committee, county boards and for two terms, as a member of the Board of Ocean County Commissioners but now he’ll be focusing more on family and maybe some Lacey Township interests. Quinn, a longtime Republican, didn’t
run for re-election last year. He and fellow commissioner Barbara Jo Crea did not receive the endorsement of the Ocean County Republican Chairman George Gilmore who instead chose Manchester Mayor Robert Arace and Berkeley Township Board of Education President Jennifer Bacchione, whose husband serves as mayor of Berkeley Township, to take their place (Quinn - See Page 15)
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