The BRICK Times Vol. 24 - No. 41
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Meatball Competition Raises Funds For Veterans
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Government Page 7
Community News Page 8-12
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 14
Inside The Law Page 17
Photo by Judy Smestad-Nunn Hungry residents judged the meatballs to see which was their favorite. By Judy Smestad-Nunn BRICK - Meatballs with sauce. Meatballs without sauce. Swedish meatballs. Spicy meatballs. Meatballs with pink sauce. Meatballs made with a variety of ingredients and preparation methods.
These were some of the entries offered at a Meatball Competition, hosted by the American Legion Post 348 on a recent Sunday afternoon. Now in its third year, the contest has become so popular it will become an annual event, said chair Dina Guido. Participants, all American Legion members, were instructed to make 30-plus small meatballs in an aluminum half tray so they would fit into the chafing dish racks. The event was open to friends, to family and to the public, who paid $10 to sample the meatballs and received two tickets to judge their favorites. Guido, who is a teacher at Drum Point Elementary School, said she hoped for 10 entrees but got 12. The committee started advertising for chefs in December, she said. The chefs were anonymous, including the meatballs prepared by member Ed “Stix” Hammill - who loves to cook and oftentimes lends his talents to the post who enlisted his 14 year-old-son James to help him make over 100 meatballs. “We used fresh basil, fresh minced garlic, veal, pork and lean beef, but our secret is a fresh mozzarella pearl in the center of each meatball,” he said. “It’s our ‘go to’ meatball recipe.” (Veterans - 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 Education (CTE) to life. Attendees experienced
firsthand the enthusiasm, expertise, and hands-on 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 a growing appreciation for training in high-demand careers.
The Toms River campus alone provided a glimpse into the dynamic, real-world lear ning environ ments awaiting prospective students. The Electrical Studies classroom featured a framed structure alongside demonstration boards, wiring components, and workbenches equipped with tools like wire strippers, circuit breakers, and transformers - everything an aspiring (VO-Tech - See Page 4)
February 15, 2025
Route 35 Project Planned
By Alyssa Riccardi OCEAN COUNTY – A plan to preserve parts of Route 35 in Ocean County is in progress, with work slated to begin later this year, state officials said. Over a decade ago, a major construction project began on Route 35 after heavy delays due to Superstorm Sandy. The goal of the project was to alleviate flooding the area was prone to, as well as other goals such as widening certain intersections, aligning lanes, and integrating safety measures for bicyclists and pedestrians. After Sandy, Route 35 was severely damaged which called for a full roadway reconstruction. The project transformed the state highway by ripping up its old concrete surface and replacing it with a new asphalt roadway. The state Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is now intending to extend the life of the highway. “NJDOT has a project in design that will preserve approximately 12.5 miles of pavement on Route 35 in both directions between Island Beach State Park and Delaware Avenue in Point Pleasant Beach,” NJDOT spokesperson Steve Schapiro told Jersey Shore Online. The project will apply a High-Performance Thin Overlay (HPTO) to extend the useful life of the roadway. This technique to preserve the pavement uses micro-milling to remove a thin layer of existing pavement that may be cracked or fatigued. Afterwards, a new thin layer of high-quality asphalt is applied, which will result in a smoother and safer driving surface “The application will improve ride quality, skid resistance, and reduce noise, as well extend the lifetime of the pavement,” Schapiro said. Route 35 begins at the entrance to the Island Beach State Park in Berkeley Township. The preservation project will be rendered in South Seaside Park, Seaside Park, Seaside Heights, Toms River, Lavallette, Brick, Mantoloking, and Bay Head. According to Schapiro, the project is expected to be awarded in the fall of 2025 and completed in the fall of 2026. The Department will issue a traffic advisory before the project begins.
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