The BERKELEY Times Vol. 30 - No. 34
In This Week’s Edition
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Government Page 7
Community News Pages 6, 8-11
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 14
Inside The Law Page 17
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Bayville Firefighters Aid California Wildlife Recovery
ensure communities have the resources they need to rebuild stronger than before. They are part of a team overseeing the removal of debris and the reinstallation of critical infrastructure such as utilities, McKay said. They are also making sure homes are safe before families return to look for valuables. A house could have household hazardous materials like propane tanks that are vulnerable and could Photo courtesy John McKay cause injury. There are a lot Members of the relief effort meet at the NJ State Police Warehouse of electric cars and the batteries are dangerous when before being dispatched. damaged. About 18,000 structures were affected by the fires, By Chris Lundy BERKELEY – It’s in a firefighter’s blood to race to McKay said in a phone interview in early February the scene of a fire and help those in need. Sometimes while still on site. There are a lot of hands on deck right now, includthat takes them across the country. Two members of the Bayville Volunteer Fire Compa- ing the Federal Emergency Management Agency, ny, Chief John McKay and firefighter Antonio Nieves, California’s emergency crews, the Army Corps travelled to California on January 27 to help with the of Engineers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and more. Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire. “It’s good to see county, state and federal resources They are part of the New Jersey All-Hazards Incident Management Team. This is a highly trained statewide working together and helping each other,” he said. The departure of the team from all throughout New group administered and managed by the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management that responds to Jersey is a powerful reminder of the sacrifices first responders make – leaving behind their families, complex incidents and events nationwide. McKay served as Operations Section Chief while friends, and daily duties to serve wherever they are Nieves served as Finance Section Chief. Rather than needed most, McKay said. While they will be miles fighting fires, their job is strategic planning, organi- away, their courage, dedication, and compassion zation, and coordination - helping local, state, and will be felt both in California and here at home, federal agencies manage long-term recovery efforts and where their selfless service makes us all proud.
Route 35 Project Planned By Alyssa Riccardi tions, aligning lanes, and integratOCEAN COUNTY – A plan to ing safety measures for bicyclists preserve parts of Route 35 in Ocean and pedestrians. County is in progress, with work After Sandy, Route 35 was severeslated to begin later this year, state ly damaged which called for a full officials said. roadway reconstruction. The project Over a decade ago, a major con- transformed the state highway by struction project began on Route ripping up its old concrete surface 35 after heavy delays due to Super- and replacing it with a new asphalt storm Sandy. The goal of the project roadway. was to alleviate flooding the area The state Department of Transporwas prone to, as well as other goals tation (NJDOT) is now intending to such as widening certain intersec(Route 35 - See Page 7)
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Robocans Rolling Out For Recycling By Chris Lundy BERKELEY – The township will be converting some neighborhood recycling pick-ups to a can that gets lifted by a truck’s mechanical arm rather than Public Works employees arms to save on money. Mayor John Bacchione said he spoke to residents at Holiday City and Silver Ridge Park and the change was well received. He said during a recent Township Council meeting that 90% of the town’s workman’s compensation claims come from the Sanitation Department. “These guys are picking up cans all day and getting up and down off the truck.” Switching to an automated process saves fuel and time, he said. Resident Marilyn Miller asked if the robocans would cause layoffs. “I don’t want to see anyone lose their jobs.” Bacchione said that there are five different departments in Public Works, one of which is Sanitation. They can go to one of the other departments, or they can stay in Sanitation and work on bulk pick-up. “We’re understaffed as it is.” In other news, the township is applying for funding for a township project, a bike path at Veterans Park. The Township Council applied for the Fiscal Year 2025 New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Local Recreation Improvement Program to complete the third phase of the project. Defibrillator Ordinance Last year, the township enacted an ordinance that would require all restaurants in town to have at (Robocans - See Page 4)
Vo-Tech Open House Showcases Hands-On Training
By Stephanie Faughnan TOMS RIVER - For years, Ocean County Vocational Technical School (OCVTS) students and staff have been the strongest advocates for the school’s programs, and this year’s Open House was no exception. The event’s success was driven by the direct engagement between visitors and the students and instructors who brought the benefits of Career and Technical
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Education (CTE) to life. Attendees experienced firsthand the enthusiasm, expertise, and handson learning that appear to define OCVTS. School authorities noted that 1,786 individuals signed in to the Open House across its six campuses - Toms River, Brick, Jackson, Waretown, Little Egg Harbor, and Ocean County College. The event’s overwhelming turnout highlighted (Vo-Tech - See Page 4)
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