The MANCHESTER Times Vol. 30 - No. 43
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute Features Singing, Dancing, And Refl ection
By Bob Vosseller MANCHESTER – The 56th Annual Martin
Luther King Jr. Tribute served not only to remember and recognize
the noted civil rights leader a few days prior to Dr. Martin Luther
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Photo by Bob Vosseller A Praise Dance was performed by Danei Obery and Shaniqua Hailey during this year’s 56th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute event held at Manchester Township High School.
Input Wanted On Transportation Issues
By Chris Lundy OCEAN COUNTY – Eve r yone k nows that traffic is getting worse, but what is the solution? T h e No r t h Je rsey Transpor tation Planning Authority is crafting a 25-year
strategy on improving various forms of transportation. It might be hard to imagine what 2050 will look like, but assuming we don’t have f lying cars yet, they want to know how to improve roads, bus service, and more.
The long-range plan is called Connecting Com munities. The survey can be found at njtpa.org/connecting. It only takes a few minutes and you can enter into a raffle for a $25 gift card at (Issues - See Page 7)
K ing Day, but also ser ved as a special community event. The ceremony feat u r e d at t e nd e e s of all ages and featured song, dance and spirit ualit y. The event, which fi lled the auditorium of Manchester High School, was hosted by Eric Lawson whose aunt, chor us founder Queen Cannon, started the event with the full support of the school district decades ago. Cannon was a teacher and guidance counselor in Manchester for 35 years and also served as an interim pr incipal. The prog r a m is one of t he longest conti nually r u n ning t r ibutes to the life of K i ng. It began the year after his assassination. “It is phenomenal how t h is event has grown over the years and how many people support this awesome event,” Lawson said. (Tribute - See Page 4)
January 25, 2025
New Mayor Takes Office
Photo by Bob Vosseller Manchester Township Councilman Joseph Hankins, left, takes the oath of office of mayor, administered by Township Clerk Teri Giercyk. He was joined by his grandchildren, Nathan, with tie, Daniel, and Kara while Carlee is holding the Bible for him. By Bob Vosseller MANCHESTER – Su r rou nde d by h is family members in the audience and his grandchildren at his side, Councilman Joseph Hankins was sworn in by Township Clerk Teri Giercyk as the newest mayor of Manchester during the latest Township Council meeting. He replaced Robert Arace who resigned to serve on the Board of
Ocean County Commissioners earlier this month. Arace was present to watch him take the oath of office. Hankins was nomi n a t e d by C o u n c i l Vice President James Vaccaro and the motion was seconded by Council President Roxy Conniff. He was unanimously voted in by those present. Councilwoman Michele Zolezi (Mayor - See Page 5)
JCP&L Rep To Talk To Residents By Bob Vosseller MANCHESTER – Lawmakers, County and local officials as well as senior residents want some answers from Jersey Central Power & Light about their service and next month they’ll get their wish. The Manchester Coordinating Council (MCC) will hold their next meeting at 1:30 p.m. on February 24 at the Crestwood Village V Clubhouse at 325 Schoolhouse Road, Whiting. Their guest speaker is a representative from the utility. The representative’s appearance was arranged
by 9th District Senator Carmen Amato who will be joined by other officials according to Township Senior Liaison Judy Noonan who also worked to set it up. The MCC forum will include a question-and-answer session and the JCP&L representative will have 20 minutes to speak. The representative will discuss last month’s power outage in Whiting and other areas of Ocean County. During recent Township Council meetings, officials and residents expressed their outrage (Residents - See Page 15)
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