The HOWELL Times
Vol. 22 - No. 38
In This Week’s Edition
BREAKING NEWS @
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Community News Pages 7-9
Dear Pharmacist Page 12
Inside The Law Page 13
Classifieds Page 16
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Local Scientists Find Invasive Species On Jersey Beaches By Alyssa Riccardi WEST LONG BRANCH – An invasive species that originates from Europe has now found a new home at the Jersey Shore. Student and faculty researchers at Monmouth University discovered the Actinia equina, also k nown as the beadlet anemone, on a half-dozen beaches f rom Long Branch to Manasquan in Monmouth County. The species is native to the rocky coastlines of the British Isles and northern Europe, officials said. “We don’t really have the kind of rocky ecosystems where they t h r ive h e r e i n t h e Mid-Atlantic, but they have invaded the human-made groins that were constructed decades ago for sand retention,” said Diederik Boonman, a senior marine and environmental biology and policy student at Monmouth. (Species - See Page 2)
Photo courtesy Diederik Boonman The beadlet anemone, shown in a tank, originates from the coast of northern Europe.
Polar Bear Plunge Returns For Charity
By Bob Vosseller SEASIDE HEIGHTS – There isn’t anything quite like a dip into the frigid waters of the Atlantic Ocean on a winter afternoon and thousands of people came out again to do just that for this year’s Polar Bear Plunge at Seaside Heights presented by New Jersey Law Enforcement. The effort is part of the yearround fundraising of Law Enforcement Torch Run events and involves individuals, orga-
nizations, and businesses who support Special Olympics New Jersey athletes by jumping into the ocean. Registration started at 9 a.m. and parking started to dwindle around the borough especially around Blaine Avenue where the registration area was. By 12:30 p.m. the boardwalk was crowded with thousands of spectators, many of them were bundled up. Plungers carried towels and other items as they (Plunge - See Page 3)
Photo by Bob Vosseller Polar Bear Plungers jump in as others exit the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean off the Seaside Heights oceanfront for the 32nd Annual Polar Bear Plunge.
March 1, 2025
Farmers, Council Find Common Ground By Liz Ciocher HOWELL – After many months of push and shove, members of Howell Farmers United and Howell Township Council have come to a clearing in their war. Howell Farmers United is a group run by residents of Howell township that own farmland. As the council has passed various ordinances and resolutions that sometimes have a direct impact on farms in the town, there have been various conflicts between the two groups. Based on previous statements made at council meetings, farmers in Howell often felt their freedoms and liberties were being controlled from the council seats. But, most recently, the passing of a new ordinance has brought the two sides peacefully together. Betty Lou Velez-Gimbel, who has often spoken for the farmers group, took the microphone during public comments to be complimentary, not combative towards the council members. ”We are pleased our township has aligned the direct marketing ordinance with the state’s right to farm act,” she said. “Thank you Mr. Howard and Mr. Clark; at times we seemed to be speaking different languages but we kept at it and we appreciate your efforts.” The ordinance Velez-Gimbel is referring to is Ordinance 25-06, which amended a previously established right to farm act that dealt with farmers’ marketing activities. The amendments to the act included the addition of details and guidelines to provide more clarity to the farmers trying to follow it - prior to this change, it was much easier to fall in violation as the established rules were very broad. “We are grateful the township acknowledged this in the ordinance being introduced this evening,” Velez-Gimbel said. “The farm direct marketing ordinance tonight has restored our faith in Howell Township as a farm friendly municipality.” Along with addressing gratitude to Howell Council as a general whole, Velez-Gimbel also personally thanked Mayor John Leggio and Councilman Ian Nadel for their efforts. According to her, “collaboration resumed because of [them] both.” (Farmers - See Page 6)
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